Just Once

Chapter 10-Zayden

The next morning, I stared out of my office window, the city's skyline sprawling endlessly before me. Sofia Volkov. The woman was as frustrating as she was fascinating. Last night had gone better than expected, though not without its complications.

Her father, Alex Volkov, was one of those complications.

The man's handshake had been a warning, his eyes colder than the Siberian winters his ancestors endured. He wasn't fooled by the act. Not entirely, at least. He'd seen through enough people in his lifetime to know when something didn't add up.

But that wasn't what concerned me.

What concerned me was the way Sofia had stiffened when she saw him, the brief flicker of vulnerability in her otherwise impenetrable armor. She was a master of control, yet her father's presence had shaken her. That was a weakness, and weaknesses had a way of being exploited.

"Thinking about your new girlfriend?"

I turned to see Aurelian leaning casually against the doorframe, his expression unreadable as always.

"She's not my girlfriend," I said, grabbing my coffee mug from the desk.

"Right," he said, dragging out the word with a smirk. "She's your fake girlfriend. Big difference."

I shot him a glare. "What do you want?"

"Just here to remind you that tonight's little outing needs to be flawless," he said, stepping into the room. "The media's already buzzing about the two of you after last night. If you're going to sell this, you need to keep up the momentum."

I sighed, setting the mug down. "I know. Where are we going?"

"A charity auction," Aurelian said, tossing a folder onto my desk. "Hosted by one of Sofia's business partners. High-profile, lots of cameras, and plenty of people who'll be watching your every move."

"Great," I muttered, flipping through the folder.

"Try not to look too miserable," Aurelian added, his tone mocking. "You're supposed to be in love, remember?"

I ignored him, focusing instead on the logistics of the evening. It wasn't just about appearances. The Society—or whoever was behind the sabotage—would be watching too. This wasn't just a show for the media; it was a message to our enemies.

By the time I arrived at Sofia's apartment to pick her up, the sun was already setting, casting a golden glow over the city. Her building was as immaculate as the woman herself, every detail carefully curated to exude power and sophistication.

She was waiting for me in the lobby, dressed in a sleek black gown that hugged her figure perfectly. Her hair was styled in soft waves, and her makeup was understated but flawless.

"You're late," she said as she approached, her tone clipped.

"Fashionably so," I replied, holding the car door open for her.

She rolled her eyes but slid into the passenger seat without another word.

The drive to the auction was silent, the tension between us palpable. I could feel her watching me out of the corner of her eye, but she didn't say anything.

When we arrived, the flashes of cameras greeted us once again. I stepped out first, offering her my hand as she exited the car. She hesitated for a split second before taking it, her fingers cool against mine.

The moment we stepped onto the red carpet, the act began. I leaned in close, my hand resting lightly on her lower back as we posed for the cameras.

"You're getting good at this," she murmured through her smile.

"Comes naturally," I replied, my voice low.

Her lips twitched, but she didn't respond.

Inside, the auction was already underway. The room was filled with the kind of people who thrived on power plays and whispered alliances. It was the perfect setting for Sofia and me to play our roles.

We made our way through the crowd, stopping to chat with key figures. Sofia was in her element, her charm as sharp as her wit. I followed her lead, playing the supportive partner with just enough charisma to keep up.

It was almost... easy.

But as the night went on, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. Not by the media or the curious onlookers, but by someone else. Someone who didn't belong.

I caught Sofia's eye, and she seemed to sense it too. Her smile didn't falter, but I could see the tension in her posture.

"Let's step outside," I said, my voice low enough for only her to hear.

She nodded, and we excused ourselves from the conversation.

The cool night air was a welcome relief as we stepped onto the balcony. The city stretched out before us, its lights twinkling like stars.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice sharp.

"Someone's watching us," I said, scanning the crowd inside through the glass doors.

Her eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But whoever it is, they're not here for the auction."

She followed my gaze, her expression hardening.

"Then we make them regret it," she said, her voice steely.

I smirked, the adrenaline already kicking in. "Now you're speaking my language, Petal."

She glared at me, but there was a spark in her eyes that hadn't been there before.

Whoever was watching us had just made a mistake. And Sofia and I were about to make them pay for it.