The Shadows Between the Lines

Chapter 5

Samantha Evans POV

My brother and I got to the ball extra early. It was all part of the plan to be some of the first to arrive, then later leave early. I stood at the bar sipping on my club soda and glanced around the gala room that was filling pretty quickly now. I had already gotten a good feel for the setting of the gala. I was able to locate all the entrances and exits.

Calvin was here because he refused to let me go in alone. Which I appreciated. He stood at one of the standing tables talking to a girl that had wandered over not long ago. I sighed looking around for my target, Julian Moros, newly appointed leader of the Moros Mafia and CEO of Hexcorp. I was supposed to get his attention and see if he'd give up any information. I was mainly bait to be used to rile him up or something they didn't share all the information of their plan with me.

I dressed according to the gala standards. I had on a red colored strapless dress that hugged my top then laid effortlessly with a slit on my right side. I also had a knife tucked into the back of my dress hidden but somewhat easily accessible if needed. Music was now starting which was nice compared to the previous quiet room. Soon everyone became more lively with some taking to the dance floor, and chatting rising to compete with the music.

I glanced around the room again waiting to see Julian. But still nowhere to be seen, but it was apparently normal for the hosting family to make some sort of grand entrance. I looked at the entrance as Castello's entered. Damiano was dressed in a fitted black suit, hair perfectly styled. Vincenzo walked in right beside his brother. I looked away from them, I was supposed to be here "alone".

I glanced down at my phone seeing it was officially thirty minutes into the ball. Slipping my phone back into my pocket, Calvin appeared beside me. "Julian just arrived." He nodded towards the door. I turned and watched as a handsome man with short curly brown hair and blue eyes walked in.

I smiled at my brother. "Just like when we were kids." He smiled a little too before walking away. I turned my back to Julian as he made his way over to the bar.

"Whiskey." Julian asked the bartender. I took a step backwards knowing that the stool behind me would act as enough of a reason to "stumble" backwards. When my heeled foot hit the stool wrong I leaned into the "stumble" completely. Thankfully Julian acted just as I thought he would acting quickly to catch me before I tumbled to the ground.

"Are you okay kyría?" He asked. I let him hold me as he held me upright. I pretended to be lost in his eyes for a moment. (Ma'am)

"Y—yes, thank you!" I say stepping out of his hold I glanced at the ground before looking back at him. "I can't believe I tripped—I don't normally wear heels." I tell him, acting a little shy.

He smiled at me. "It's okay ómorfos. What's your name?" (beautiful)

I wanted to roll my eyes. It is literally insane how easily guys fell for the damsel in distress act. Give them a reason to play hero and they will seek that feeling continuously. "I'm Samantha."

"Hello, Samantha, I'm Julian Moros."

"Julian Moros? Oh, this is your function isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Oh—I'm so sorry," I looked past him for my brother who saw my que and started waving me over, "my brother is actually calling me over. Thank you so much again for saving me, Julian." I flashed him a smile before walking towards my brother.

Now we wait and see if it was enough bait for him to come to me. When I approached Calvin he was looking behind me scowling at Julian. What Julian saw was Calvin grab my arm and speak aggressively, with what we hoped looked like him telling me to stay away from Julian, but what he actually said was, "And I thought that you'd be rusty, but he watched you walk away and everything."