𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 | 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄

WARNING: This following chapter will contain a scene of a brief coercive situation.

With a steadying breath, I smoothed out my Supernova costume and forced my legs to move, walking out of the room and into the hallway. The elevator ride down was agonizingly slow, each floor ticking by like the countdown of a bomb. I stared at my reflection in the mirrored walls, trying to summon the version of myself that Vought wanted—the version that could smile on command, that could make men like Lieutenant Colonel Hayes feel important and powerful.

When the doors finally slid open, the grand lobby of the Vought building was bustling with activity. Security, event coordinators, and staff were everywhere, all rushing around to make sure the gala went off without a hitch. I spotted Ashley across the room, talking animatedly with one of the PR people, but I wasn't ready to deal with her yet.

Instead, I took a moment to gather myself, scanning the room for any sign of the lieutenant. I couldn't help but wonder how this night would go. Would he be just another sleazy suit who saw me as nothing more than a pretty face with superpowers? Or was there something else lurking behind his military rank?

Either way, I would have to endure it. That was the job.

As I headed toward the main event hall, my phone buzzed again, and I froze in place. Another message.

UNKNOWN: You look stunning tonight. He won't be able to keep his eyes off you.

My heart pounded in my chest as I read the message. I hadn't even stepped into the room yet, and this person was already watching me. I scanned the crowd, looking for any suspicious faces, but everyone seemed busy with their own tasks. No one stood out. No one looked out of place.

I shoved the phone back into my side pocket, trying to keep my expression neutral as I walked through the massive double doors into the gala. The room was breathtaking, with chandeliers casting a warm glow over the elegant décor. Tables were set with fine china, and a string quartet played softly in the background. It was a picture-perfect event, just as Vought liked it.

I spotted Madelyn across the room, deep in conversation with Stan Edgar, CEO of Vought International, and several high-profile guests. And then I saw him—Lieutenant Colonel Derek Hayes. He was standing near the bar, surrounded by a small group of people, laughing and sipping on a glass of whiskey.

I took a deep breath and started walking toward him, my heart pounding in my chest. Play the game, I reminded myself. Be what they need you to be.

But as I approached, the lieutenant's eyes locked onto mine, and a slow smile spread across his face. He stepped away from the group, moving toward me with a confident stride. He was handsome in a rugged, military sort of way, with close-cropped hair and sharp, calculating eyes. But there was something about his presence that made my skin crawl.

"Supernova, isn't it?" he asked, his voice smooth and warm. "I've heard a lot about you."

I forced a smile, tilting my head slightly. "All good things, I hope."

"Of course," he replied, his gaze lingering on me a second too long. "Vought has quite the investment in you. And from what I can see, they chose wisely."

I could feel the weight of his eyes on me, assessing, calculating, like I was just another piece of military hardware. My smile tightened, but I kept it in place. "Glad to know I meet your standards, Lieutenant Colonel."

He chuckled, the sound deep and practiced. "Call me Derek. No need for formalities tonight."

I nodded, trying to keep the small talk going, trying to stay in control. "So, Derek, what brings you to a Vought gala? Looking for new partnerships?"