Chapter 6 - Chapter 6 – The Night of the dinner

Amara barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined walking into a room full of strangers who were all watching her, judging her, waiting for her to make a mistake. When morning finally came, she felt both relieved and nervous. The entire day passed slowly as she helped her mother around the apartment and tried not to think too much about the dinner waiting for her that evening. By the time the clock reached five, her heart had already started racing. She carefully took the blue dress out of the bag and placed it on the bed. The fabric looked even more beautiful than she remembered. After taking a deep breath, she began getting ready. The makeup the salon had given her was simple enough to apply again, and she styled her hair the best she could remember from the previous day. When she finally finished, she looked at herself in the mirror. The girl staring back at her looked elegant, confident, and completely different from the cleaner who had spilled coffee on Adrian Blackwood just two days ago. Her mother knocked gently on the bedroom door. "Amara? Are you ready?" Amara opened the door slowly. Her mother's eyes widened with surprise the moment she saw her. "Oh my… you look beautiful." Amara smiled shyly. "Thank you." Her mother walked around her slowly, clearly impressed. "If this is just a company dinner, they must have very high standards." Amara laughed softly. "Something like that." Just then her phone buzzed. She already knew who it was before looking at the screen. Adrian: "I'm outside." Amara grabbed her small purse and turned back toward her mother. "I have to go." Her mother smiled warmly. "Have fun. And don't let those rich people intimidate you." Amara nodded, though inside she felt the exact opposite of confident. She walked downstairs and stepped outside the building. The same black car was waiting at the curb. The driver opened the door as soon as he saw her. When Amara stepped inside, Adrian looked up from his phone. For a moment he didn't say anything. His eyes moved over her carefully. Amara shifted slightly in her seat. "Is something wrong?" Adrian shook his head once. "No." "Then why are you staring?" Adrian leaned back slightly. "You look… convincing." Amara smiled faintly. "That's the goal, right?" Adrian nodded. The car began moving through the evening traffic. The city lights slowly flickered on as the sky grew darker. After a few minutes Amara spoke quietly. "I'm nervous." Adrian didn't look surprised. "That's normal." "Your message last night didn't help." Adrian glanced at her. "Which part?" "The part where you said your father isn't the most dangerous person at the dinner." Adrian was silent for a moment before answering. "Sophia's family has influence." Amara frowned. "Influence?" "Power. Connections. Control." Amara felt her stomach tighten slightly. "And she's the woman your father wants you to marry." "Yes." Amara sighed. "This keeps getting better and better." Adrian gave a faint smile. "Just remember the rules." "Act like your girlfriend, follow your lead, and don't tell anyone the truth," Amara repeated. Adrian nodded. "Exactly." The car finally turned into a long private driveway surrounded by tall gates and carefully trimmed gardens. Amara stared out the window in amazement. At the end of the driveway stood a massive mansion glowing with warm lights. The building looked more like a luxury hotel than a private home. "You grew up here?" Amara asked quietly. "Yes." The car stopped in front of the entrance. Several staff members were already waiting near the large doors. Amara suddenly felt very small again. Adrian stepped out of the car and then held out his hand toward her. Amara hesitated for only a moment before taking it. His grip was firm and steady. As they walked toward the entrance together, Amara could already see people inside the house moving around the large dining area. Conversations and soft music drifted through the open doors. Just before they stepped inside, Adrian leaned slightly closer to her and spoke quietly. "Remember what I said." Amara nodded. "Stay close to you." Adrian's expression became serious. "And no matter what happens tonight… don't let Sophia provoke you." Amara swallowed nervously. "I'll try." Adrian looked at her one last time before they walked inside together. The moment they entered the room, several conversations stopped. Every pair of eyes turned toward them. And standing near the center of the room, watching them with a cold smile, was Sophia.