The Paris trip should have been Elena's chance to focus on design—but instead, she found herself distracted by Alexander Knight's presence at every turn.
And tonight, at the grand gala hosted by the French business council, she saw exactly what kind of world Alexander truly lived in.
The ballroom shimmered with chandeliers, gold, and silk gowns. Every woman's eyes followed Alexander as he entered, tall and commanding in his black tuxedo, like he was the only man worth noticing. Elena told herself she didn't care. She wasn't here as his date. She was here as part of his project.
But when Victoria Hale appeared at his side, Elena's chest tightened.
Victoria—the glamorous ex-fiancée the tabloids adored—was everything Elena wasn't. Tall, blonde, draped in diamonds, she looked like she belonged in Alexander's world.
"Elena Carter, isn't it?" Victoria's smile was sharp as glass when they met. "I've read about you. Alexander does have a habit of picking up… unusual strays."
Elena's cheeks burned, but she forced a calm smile. "And yet, he seems to have a habit of leaving some things behind."
Victoria's eyes narrowed, but before she could retort, Alexander arrived. His gaze flicked between them, sensing the tension.
For the rest of the night, Elena tried to ignore the way Victoria clung to his arm, whispering in his ear like she still owned him. She reminded herself it wasn't her business. She wasn't his lover. She wasn't even his friend.
But when Alexander's eyes found hers across the room, steady and unyielding, Elena realized something terrifying—
It mattered to her.
Too much.