The grand ballroom glittered with crystal chandeliers and polished marble floors. Soft classical music floated through the air while wealthy businessmen and elegantly dressed women mingled in small groups, laughing and discussing deals worth millions.
But Lina barely noticed any of it.
She stood beside Damien Blackwood, trying to remain calm despite the dozens of curious eyes staring at her.
It was obvious she didn't belong here.
Most of the women in the room carried themselves with effortless confidence. They wore designer gowns, sparkling jewelry, and smiles that looked practiced and perfect.
Lina felt like an outsider.
She kept her hands folded neatly in front of her, hoping not to draw attention.
Unfortunately, that seemed impossible.
Wherever Damien Blackwood went, people watched.
And tonight, he had brought her.
"Relax," Damien said quietly beside her.
Lina glanced at him.
"I am relaxed."
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You're holding your breath."
She immediately exhaled, embarrassed.
"I just don't want to make a mistake."
"You won't."
His voice was calm and confident, as though mistakes simply didn't exist in his world.
Before Lina could reply, another group of guests approached them.
Three men in expensive suits greeted Damien warmly.
"Blackwood! I heard you closed the Tokyo deal," one of them said.
Damien nodded politely.
"Last week."
"Impressive as always," another man said before glancing curiously at Lina.
"And who is this lovely lady?"
Lina felt her cheeks warm under their attention.
Damien answered without hesitation.
"Her name is Lina."
That was all he said.
He didn't explain who she was or how they knew each other.
Strangely, that seemed to make people even more curious.
One of the men smiled at her politely.
"It's nice to meet you, Lina."
"Nice to meet you too," she replied softly.
They talked for several minutes about business matters Lina didn't fully understand. She stayed quiet, listening carefully while observing the world around her.
This was the world Damien belonged to.
Power.
Money.
Influence.
Everything here felt so different from the small apartment she had grown up in.
Just as the conversation ended, Lina suddenly felt a strange sensation.
Like someone was watching her.
She slowly looked across the room.
And froze.
A tall man stood near the bar, holding a glass of whiskey.
His dark eyes were fixed directly on her.
Unlike the others, he wasn't pretending to glance casually.
He was openly studying her.
The man looked confident, dangerous, and incredibly wealthy. His suit was perfectly tailored, and the faint smile on his lips made Lina uneasy.
When he noticed that she had seen him, his smile widened slightly.
Then he began walking toward them.
Lina's heart skipped.
Something about him made her nervous.
"Damien," the man said smoothly as he approached.
Damien turned.
For the first time that evening, his expression changed slightly.
"Adrian."
The name sounded tense.
The man stopped in front of them, his gaze briefly flicking toward Lina again.
"Well," Adrian Wolfe said with a small chuckle. "This is unexpected."
Lina looked between the two men.
"You know each other?"
Damien's voice became colder.
"Unfortunately."
Adrian laughed softly.
"You make it sound like I'm a problem."
"You usually are."
The tension between them was clear.
Even Lina could feel it.
Adrian took another sip of his drink before extending his hand toward her.
"And who might this beautiful mystery be?"
Lina hesitated.
But before she could respond, Damien spoke firmly.
"Her name is Lina."
Adrian looked amused.
"Just Lina?"
"That's all you need to know."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"My, my. You've become very protective, Damien."
His eyes returned to Lina, examining her carefully.
"I've attended these parties for years," Adrian continued. "But I don't believe I've ever seen you before."
"I'm new to this kind of event," Lina admitted honestly.
"That explains it."
His smile grew slightly more interested.
"You don't look like the type of woman Damien usually brings to these things."
Lina wasn't sure how to respond to that.
Damien stepped slightly closer to her.
"That's enough, Adrian."
"Relax," Adrian said casually. "I'm only being friendly."
But his eyes told a different story.
They lingered on Lina in a way that made her uncomfortable.
"You're very beautiful," he said suddenly.
Lina felt her face warm again.
"Thank you."
Adrian tilted his head slightly, studying her expression.
"But beauty isn't the only interesting thing about you, is it?"
Lina blinked in confusion.
"I'm not sure what you mean."
Adrian chuckled softly.
"Your eyes."
She frowned slightly.
"My eyes?"
"They're too innocent."
The words made her heart stop for a second.
Too innocent.
Did he somehow know?
Lina forced a small smile.
"I think you're imagining things."
"Am I?"
Adrian looked amused.
But before he could continue, Damien spoke again.
"We're leaving."
Lina looked up at him in surprise.
"So soon?"
"Yes."
His voice left no room for argument.
Adrian smirked.
"You're leaving because of me?"
"No," Damien replied coldly.
"I'm leaving because I'm bored."
Adrian laughed.
"You've always been terrible at lying."
Damien ignored him.
Instead, he gently placed a hand on Lina's back and guided her away from the conversation.
As they walked toward the exit, Lina finally spoke.
"Who was that man?"
"Adrian Wolfe."
"He seems… confident."
"That's one way to describe him."
Lina noticed the tension still in Damien's voice.
"Is he your enemy?"
Damien paused briefly before answering.
"Yes."
The word was simple.
But it carried weight.
They stepped outside into the cool night air, leaving the bright lights of the ballroom behind.
Lina felt relieved.
"That party was overwhelming."
Damien looked down at her.
"You handled it well."
"Really?"
"Yes."
She smiled slightly.
"Thank you."
But after a moment, she asked the question that had been bothering her.
"Why did he say my eyes were too innocent?"
Damien studied her face carefully.
For a moment, it seemed like he was thinking deeply.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Because you are different."
Lina looked away.
"You don't know that."
"Don't I?"
His voice was softer now.
"You don't behave like the other women at the club."
Lina's heart began beating faster.
"Everyone is different."
"True."
He stepped closer.
"But you're hiding something."
Her breath caught.
"I'm not hiding anything."
Damien watched her silently.
The city lights reflected in his dark eyes.
Then he finally spoke again.
"Lina."
"Yes?"
"If someone hurts you because of me…"
His voice became colder.
"I will destroy them."
Lina stared at him in surprise.
The intensity in his words made her heart race.
She didn't know whether to feel protected…
Or frightened.
Because deep down, she had the feeling that tonight had only been the beginning.
And Adrian Wolfe was not the type of man who easily forgot something that interested him.
Especially when that something was Lina.