The Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel had been transformed into a garden of winter roses. Thousands of white blooms dripped from the chandeliers and wound around the marble columns, their scent heavy and sweet.
It was perfect. It was expensive. It was suffocating.
Sienna stood at the entrance of the ballroom, her arm linked through Roman's. The red Valentino dress was a second skin, the silk pooling around her feet like spilled wine. Her hair was down in soft waves, just as her father had ordered, and her makeup was flawless.
But behind her eyes, everything was a little fuzzy. A little soft. The pill she had taken earlier—followed by a second one an hour ago—had wrapped her brain in cotton wool.
"Smile," Roman murmured, his hand warm on the small of her back. "The vultures are looking."
Sienna blinked, focusing on the bank of photographers stationed by the velvet ropes. "I am smiling."
"You look like you're about to pass out," Roman corrected, though his tone was devoid of judgment. He pulled her closer, his grip tightening. "Lean on me. If you fall, I catch you. That's the deal."
"That's the deal," Sienna echoed.
They stepped onto the carpet. The flashes erupted—a wall of blinding white light.
"Sienna! Over here! Look right! Roman, hand on her waist!"
Sienna posed automatically. Hip out, chin down, smile. It was muscle memory. She didn't feel the lights; she just felt Roman's body heat anchoring her to the ground. He looked devastating in his black tuxedo, his expression dark and unreadable, the perfect contrast to her bright, artificial joy.
"And here comes the man of the hour!" a reporter shouted.
Senator Sterling and Evelyn appeared behind them. The Senator was beaming, waving to the crowd like a king greeting his subjects. Evelyn was by his side, pale and ethereal in silver, her smile fixed and brittle.
"Sienna," the Senator said, clapping a hand on Roman's shoulder but speaking to his daughter. "You look radiant. The red was the right choice."
"Thanks, Dad," Sienna said. Her voice sounded far away to her own ears.
"Go inside," he ordered, still smiling for the cameras. "Table One. Don't wander."
They moved into the ballroom. The noise was deafening—a roar of conversation and clinking glass.
"I need a drink," Sienna said immediately.
"You need water," Roman countered, steering her toward their table. "You're floating, Sienna. I can feel it."
"I'm fine," she insisted, leaning heavily against him. "Just get me through the speeches. Then we can leave. We can go to the penthouse and... forget."
They reached Table One. It was center stage, right in front of the podium.
Maya was already there.
She was sitting alone, staring at the centerpiece of white roses. She looked beautiful in the grey chiffon dress, her hair swept up to show the delicate line of her neck. But she looked terrified. She was gripping her water glass with both hands, her knuckles white.
"Maya!" Sienna exclaimed, sliding into the chair next to her. "You made it! You look amazing."
Maya looked up. Her eyes were wide, darting around the room. "Sienna. You're... late."
"Fashionably," Sienna winked. She reached for the wine bottle on the table, but Roman moved it out of her reach. She pouted. "Spoilsport."
"Where is Kai?" Sienna asked, looking around.
Maya went rigid. She nodded toward the far side of the room, near the VIP bar.
Kai was there. He was wearing a navy velvet tuxedo.
And Elara Vance was standing next to him. Her hand was resting casually on his chest, claiming him. She was whispering in his ear, and whatever she said made him smile—a tight, forced smile, but a smile nonetheless.
"Oh," Sienna said softly.
"Yeah," Maya said. Her voice was flat. "
The lights dimmed. The orchestra swelled. A spotlight hit the stage.
Senator Sterling walked out to thunderous applause. He stood at the podium, basking in the adoration.
"Thank you," he boomed, his voice filling the room. "Thank you for being here tonight to support a vision for our future. A vision of safety. Of prosperity. Of family."
He gestured to their table. The spotlight swung, blinding them.
"My beautiful wife, Evelyn. My daughter, Sienna. They are my heart. My compass."
The crowd awed. Evelyn wiped a tear from her eye. It looked genuine, but Sienna knew it was probably just exhaustion.
Sienna waved, flashing her camera-ready smile. Under the table, she dug her nails into Roman's thigh until it hurt. He covered her hand with his, prying her fingers loose and interlacing them with his own.
The speech went on for twenty minutes. It was a masterclass in manipulation. By the time he finished, half the room was ready to name a building after him.
As the applause died down and the music started up again, the Senator stepped off the stage. He didn't come to sit down. He worked the room, shaking hands, kissing babies, moving like a shark through water.
Sienna finally got her wine. A waiter filled her glass, and she downed half of it before Roman could stop her.
"Easy," Roman warned.
"I'm celebrating," Sienna slurred slightly. "My dad is a hero. Didn't you hear?"
"I'm going to the restroom," Maya announced abruptly. She stood up, her chair scraping. She looked like she was about to be sick.
"I'll come with you," Sienna started to rise.
"No," Maya said quickly. "Stay. The cameras are on you. I'll be right back."
She hurried away, disappearing into the crowd.
...Maya didn't go to the restroom. She went to the terrace. She needed air. The sight of Elara's hand on Kai's chest was burning a hole in chest, and the smell of the roses was making her gag.
The terrace was empty, a long stretch of stone overlooking the city skyline. It was cold, the wind whipping at the hem of her chiffon dress, but Maya didn't care. She walked to the far end, into the shadows, and leaned against the railing, taking deep, shaky gulps of air.
She closed her eyes, trying to block out the music.
"You left early."
Maya stiffened. She didn't turn around. She knew that voice. It was the voice that had promised her everything in the dark and then ignored her in the light.
"I'm not in the mood for company, Kai," she said to the skyline.
Kai stepped up beside her. He had ditched his jacket and loosened his tie.
"You look beautiful," he said quietly. "The dress... Sienna has good taste."
"Don't," Maya snapped, finally turning to face him. "Don't come out here and compliment me after spending two hours pretending I don't exist. It's insulting."
"I wasn't pretending," Kai argued, though he looked guilty. He ran a hand through his hair. "I saw you. Every second. I saw you walk in. I saw where you sat. I saw you leave."
"But you stayed with her," Maya pointed out.
"It's a performance, Maya! You know that."
"Is it?" Maya stepped closer, her anger flaring hot. "Because it looked pretty real from where I was sitting. You looked comfortable, Kai."
"I hate it," Kai hissed. He grabbed her hand, pulling her toward him. His grip was desperate. "I hate every second of it.OKAY MAYA STOP MAKING IT HARD.
She didn't pull her hand away. "Walk back in there and tell them you're done. Tell them you don't want Elera . Tell them you want... whatever this is."
Kai looked at her.
"I can't," he whispered. The words were a physical blow. "Not yet. My dad... if I blow this deal, the company goes under. It's not just me. It's hundreds of employees. It's my legacy."
Maya smiled bitterly. She tried to pull her hand back, but he held on.
"Wait. Please." Kai stepped into her space, crowding her against the railing. "I can't give you the public life, Maya. Not right now. But I can give you this."
He kissed her.
It wasn't gentle. His hands tangled in her hair, messing up the intricate updo. His mouth was hot against hers, tasting of wine.
For a second, Maya melted. She kissed him back, letting herself believe that this was enough. That the secret moments in the dark could sustain her.
But then the door to the ballroom opened.
Laughter spilled out.
Kai broke the kiss instantly. He pushed himself away from her as if she were on fire, smoothing his shirt, fixing his tie. He turned his back on her, facing the skyline, putting three feet of distance between them in a heartbeat.
It was a reflex.
Maya stood there, her lips swollen, her heart hammering. She watched him compose himself. She watched him put the mask back on.
Elara walked out onto the terrace. She was holding two glasses of champagne.
"There you are, darling," Elara cooed. She walked straight to Kai, ignoring Maya completely. She handed him a glass.
Kai took the glass. He didn't look at Maya.
Elara turned, her eyes finally landing on Maya in the shadows. She smiled.
"Enjoying the view?" Elara asked sweetly.
"It's lovely," Maya choked out.
"Don't stay out too long," Elara advised, looping her arm through Kai's. "You'll catch a cold. And we wouldn't want you to miss the dessert course. It's white chocolate. Very rich."
She led Kai away.
Kai didn't look back. Not once.
Maya stood alone on the terrace. She touched her lips. She felt the ghost of his kiss, and the sting of his rejection.
"Coward," she whispered.
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, smearing her lipstick.
The door opened again.
"Maya?"
Sienna stumbled out, holding a wine glass. She looked disheveled, her eyes glassy. "There you are! Roman is ordering shots. Come on. I need to get wasted."
"Okay," Maya said. Her voice was hard. "Let's go."
She followed Sienna back inside.