Under a Dimmed Sun [UNCENSORED]

Extra/Alternate Universe 3: The CEO's Medieval Memories -Episode 3 [18+]

Alice had expected to hear from John about the gala, but not in the way it happened. When she first left Albert's company, it wasn't just the abrupt exit from her job that had caused a stir. Alice had made a promise to pay back the expenses tied to the black card—the one Albert had given her when she'd quit, covering the penalty fees for leaving her receptionist job. It was meant to be a matter of principle: the card wasn't hers to use, and she would repay it in installments.

But Albert—ever the stubborn, prideful man—had refused her offer.

"I told you, Alice," John had said, looking more than a little amused at the time. "You don't owe him anything. You really think Albert's going to accept money for that? He'd rather burn the card than let you pay."

It wasn't long after that John's teasing turned into a much more serious request. Albert himself had contacted Alice, inviting her to a company gala. But there was a catch—he didn't want her there as an employee.

"You want to pay back the black card?" Albert's voice had been smooth, casual, but with an edge of something she couldn't quite place. "Come to the gala, Alice. Not as my employee, but as my companion."

It was the last thing Alice expected. Yet here she was, standing in front of her mirror, pulling on the sleek dress that had been lying untouched in her closet for months. Her heart was racing with a mix of anticipation and nervousness, and she wasn't sure whether she was more anxious about the gala or about the memories of Albert that still lingered in her thoughts.

...

The night had finally arrived, and the grand ballroom shimmered beneath the opulent glow of the chandeliers, their light refracting off crystal glasses and polished marble floors. The air was thick with luxury, the hum of laughter, and the rustle of silk dresses. Guests glided through the space in a flawless dance of elegance, each one moving with effortless grace, their faces masked in smiles that shimmered just as brightly as the diamonds adorning their necks.

Alice stood at the threshold of the lobby, a sense of dread creeping in as she adjusted her dress nervously. She was not used to this world—this life. Her fingers toyed with the hem of her gown, the fabric smooth and foreign to her hands. The flutter in her stomach was overwhelming, the weight of it heavier than any of the gowns she'd worn in the past. She tried to silence the voices in her mind, reminding her of her place in this world—an outsider, standing at the edge, watching from a distance.

The moment she stepped inside, her icy blue eyes scanned the room. The luxury, the beauty—it all felt like a dream she didn't belong in. As the music swirled around her, her heart pounded harder, each beat louder than the last. She tried to ignore it, but she felt the sting of being an imposter in this world of polished perfection.

And then, in the sea of guests, she saw him.

Albert.

The moment their eyes met, the noise of the ballroom disappeared. The world seemed to shrink, and for a brief second, everything slowed. His meadow green eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that pierced through the fabric of her nerves. It was as though time itself had stopped, just for them.

He was standing by the tall columns of the ballroom, framed by the golden light. His presence, always commanding, now seemed to draw everything to him. When their gazes met, Alice felt the weight of his stare as it swept over her from head to toe. He was no longer her boss, no longer the man who had run the company she once worked for. Tonight, there was no hierarchy between them. Tonight, he was simply Albert. And she was Alice.

"You look... stunning," his voice came out low, rich with something deeper than the usual compliment. There was awe in his words, a reverence that made her pulse race. His gaze lingered, slow and deliberate, making her skin tingle, sending a warm shiver down her spine. She could feel the way his eyes traced every curve of her figure, every detail of her appearance, as though he were seeing her for the first time, and yet as though he knew her completely.