The city had begun to wear its night like a crown. Strings of golden lights draped across the skyline, cars hummed like distant lullabies, and laughter poured from street corners.
But there, in the heart of it all, stood a restaurant grand, elegant, and alive with warmth, every window glowing with soft amber hues. Its entrance was lined with flowers and fairy lights, and at the door, a private event shimmered on a golden plaque.
Inside, the air was thick with joy. It wasn't just another dinner; it was a celebration of ten years. Ten years of stories, struggles, lights, and applause. And every person in that restaurant tonight had been part of it.
The entire place, all three floors, had been booked by Kai himself. He had originally reserved it for lunch, after his emotional live stream earlier that day, where he thanked his fans for their unwavering love, he decided to change plans.
So, he cancelled the lunch and booked the entire venue for dinner. Because tonight, he wanted everyone together, his team, his people, his employees.
By 8 PM, every table was filled. On the ground floor, the staff from the technical and design teams laughed loudly, their chatter a mixture of relief and happiness.
The second floor buzzed with the PR crew, editors, and makeup artists, glasses clinking, cheers echoing.
And on the third floor, a more intimate, quiet space sat Kai himself. Ryan sat on his right, always the calm anchor to his storm of stardom. Evelyn, on the opposite side, was still beaming with the satisfaction of pulling off the exhibition surprise.
And next to Kai, just slightly hesitant but beautifully composed, sat Alina. She hadn't wanted to join. The crowd, the spotlight, the attention, it wasn't her thing. But Ryan, persuasive as always and convinced her. And now, here she was. Sitting beside him.
The restaurant smelled of roasted herbs, vanilla candles, and expensive wine. The chandeliers above shimmered like scattered constellations. Laughter rose and fell in the air, soft music played somewhere in the background, the kind of music that made moments feel eternal.
Kai sat there, a quiet contrast to the chaos. He wore a black tailored suit that framed his tall figure perfectly. His tie was loose now, the top button of his shirt undone, his hair still styled but slightly tousled, giving him that effortless charm that cameras could never fully capture.
There was an ease about him, a quiet kind of power. The kind that didn't demand attention, but commanded it anyway. Everywhere he went, the air seemed to shift lighter, warmer, brighter. Even the waiters who walked past seemed to move with a little more care when he was near.
Now and then, he'd glance at Alina, who was quietly stirring her drink, her eyes occasionally darting up to meet his before she quickly looked away. He found it oddly endearing how she could stand in a room full of people and still hold herself with such grace.
After a while, laughter from the lower floors drifted up. Someone was singing off-key. Someone else was clapping in rhythm. The sound was infectious.
Then, without warning, he pushed his chair back and stood. The movement drew attention instantly, not because he demanded it, but because when Kai Arden moved, people noticed.
The chatter began to quiet. Forks were set down. Even the live band stopped mid-note. He walked toward the railing at the edge of the third floor, hands tucked casually into his pockets. From there, he could see everything the two floors below, glowing with laughter, filled with faces that had walked beside him through every late-night shoot, every reshoot, every storm. A smile touched his lips. He leaned slightly forward and spoke, his voice steady yet warm.
"Attention," he called out, and the sound traveled effortlessly through the room. Instantly, all eyes turned upward.
There he was, their star, their boss, their Kai Arden, standing with that calm confidence, the kind that came not from fame, but from gratitude.
"First of all," he began, a soft grin playing at his lips, "I just want to say… thank you."
A quiet ripple spread the kind that came before applause, but no one dared interrupt him.
"I know I say that a lot to my fans, to the media, to the people watching online, but you guys always have a complaint that I never talked with you guys, but this time. This one's for you guys. The people who actually made me." His voice carried easily, rich and sincere.
"Every light, every poster, every word I say on-screen, none of it would exist without the hands, hearts, and ideas sitting in this room. Everyone sees the star standing in the spotlight, but no one appreciates the people behind the scenes''
There was silence. Not the empty kind, but the kind filled with emotion, the kind that made people's throats tighten. Kai smiled faintly, glancing down at the glass in his hand. The liquid inside shimmered like amber under the lights, though it was just a cold drink sparkling, fizzy, untouched.
He raised it slightly. "So, tonight," he said, "order whatever you want. Eat, laugh, sing, enjoy the bill's on me."
A few surprised gasps echoed from below, followed by laughter and cheers. Someone clapped, then everyone joined in.
"But more than that," he continued, his tone softening, "tonight isn't just my anniversary. It's ours. Because if there's one thing I've learned in ten years… It's that a star doesn't shine alone."
He paused, his eyes sweeping the crowd. "So cheers," he said at last, lifting the glass high, "to every person sitting here to the hard work, the sleepless nights, the miracles you pull off every day. You're the real reason I'm standing here tonight."
And then he smiled that small, genuine smile that fans dreamed of but few ever saw up close. "To us."
The room erupted in applause, louder this time, heartfelt and alive. People whistled, clinked glasses, and called out his name. A few shouted, "We love you!" and he smiled, raising his hand in acknowledgment.
He took a sip of his drink, cold, crisp, simple, and stepped back. As he turned around, his eyes found Alina again.
She was watching him quietly, her expression unreadable. But there was something in her gaze, admiration, yes, but also pride. Maybe even… affection.
For a brief second, their eyes held. The room around them blurred again. And in that silence, between the roar of cheers and clinking glasses, something shifted, something neither could quite name.
He felt that pull. That warmth. The same one he'd felt when he'd seen her walk through the exhibition crowd. And this time, he didn't look away. But she did.
Among the laughter and clinking of glasses, Alina sat quietly at the far end of the third-floor table beside Kai, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The glow of the chandeliers shimmered softly over her olive-green satin dress, but her expression seemed distant, calm, yet detached. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the moment; she just felt… out of place.
Everyone around her was laughing, chatting, toasting to their success, and sharing memories of the exhibition that had turned out to be such a grand surprise. She smiled faintly when someone met her gaze, but the truth was her heart wasn't entirely there. She was surrounded by people, yet she felt like an observer in a world that didn't quite belong to her
But when he returned to his seat, something in his sharp gaze softened. He noticed Alina wasn't laughing or eating much her fork barely touched the plate. Instead, she sat there politely, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass, lost in thought.
Kai tilted his head slightly, observing her. For some reason, seeing her uncomfortable bothered him more than he expected. He leaned slightly toward Ryan, whispering something, and then quietly got up from his chair, vanishing before anyone could ask where he was going.
Ryan noticed instantly but didn't comment. He had known Kai long enough to understand that when the man suddenly disappeared from a crowded room, he wasn't running away; he was preparing for something.
Minutes later, the sound of footsteps echoed near the staircase. Four men in expensive suits, middle-aged, maybe in their late forties or early fifties, entered the restaurant with an air of authority and arrogance that didn't match the evening's warmth.
Their eyes darted from table to table as they murmured among themselves. "Are you sure he's here?" one asked.
"Yes," another replied, straightening his tie. "I checked. He booked the entire restaurant. Kai Arden should be somewhere inside."
The waiters exchanged nervous glances as the men climbed to the next floor, clearly ignoring the fact that this was a private event.
Upstairs, Ryan had been talking to a few employees when he spotted them. The second he recognized their faces, his expression darkened. He excused himself immediately and walked briskly back to the main table.
The table of four, Kai, Alina, Ryan, and Evelyn, had now turned into three. Kai's seat was empty. Evelyn looked up as Ryan approached.
"What happened?" she asked, noticing the tension on his face. "You look furious."
"They came." Ryan muttered, "whose appointment we refused last week."
Evelyn's eyes widened. "You mean… those directors?"
"Exactly," he said bitterly. "They must've found out Kai was here. Probably thought they'd corner him in public."
Alina, who had been quietly sipping water, looked between them in confusion. "Who are they?" she asked softly.