2. Lexi
2
Lexi
O h, wow! Lena wasn’t lying. Dominic lives up to the hype—tall, dark, and undeniably attractive. Annoyingly so, to be honest. But the bad boy persona? I’m not seeing it. He looks impeccable in his white jacket, confidence practically shimmering around him. He’s way more relaxed than that stiff who acted like I was public enemy number one. The handsome, sexy, intimidating, do-not-disturb guy.
“What’s your friend’s name again?” I ask Dominic. Seeing as his earpiece is on, I know the guy can hear us.
“He didn’t tell you?”
“No. Or maybe I didn’t hear him. He was more concerned with throwing me out than introducing himself. Is it a problem if I know his name?”
“I don’t know. Let’s ask Gabriel,” Dominic suggests with a smile.
“I think he already answered you. I can see it in your eyes,” I say, smiling back.
“You can read minds now?”
“No, I just notice things others don’t.”
“He just said: Gabriel Ross, pleased to meet you,” Dominic chuckles.
“Did he say pleased ?”
“Not really.”
“I thought so.”
“Let me guess, you could see it in my eyes.”
Yeah, he’s mocking me. Clearly, he found the answers in his earpiece hilarious.
“Whatever. Let’s look for Lucas,” I change gears. “Why isn’t he here? Can you ask your friend? Just so we wrap this up. You guys must have work to do.”
We’re in the Grand Ballroom, close to the stage, and it’s packed. Dominic somehow got us through the crowd to where Lucas is supposed to be waiting for me. I’m finally about to meet my date for the night. I’ve never seen so much glamor, so many glittery uniforms, sparkling dresses, and jewelry in one place. A ball at the Casino is something I’ve only read about. It surprised me when Lucas casually mentioned that I could be his plus one. It fits my plan perfectly, but it could also be fun. Plus, with so many people here, I wouldn’t have to worry about Lucas trying anything. I wouldn’t allow him anything more than a kiss, anyway.
Things got more exciting when Lena found out about this invite. She quickly pulled some dresses from her closet and wouldn’t leave me alone until I tried them on. Squeezed into this black dress, I feel like a secret agent on a mission—a mission to hide the fact it’s three sizes smaller than anything in my closet. Off-the-shoulder magic? Check. Boobs looking their best? Check. This thing is tight, but the thought of dropping hundreds on a new dress right now… well, that’s a luxury I just don’t have.
It’s not like anyone here knows me, anyway. And Lucas surely won’t mind. “He’s getting such a hot date tonight, that jerk,” Lena concluded as I finished doing my hair and makeup.
Yeah, I don’t know about that. I feel more like a prisoner in these clothes, but a ball at the Casino and the chance to follow through on my plan with Lucas are worth the pain .
Another guy with an earpiece shows up next to Dominic, and they mumble something to each other for a few seconds. Then Dominic comes over, pulls me in for a quick hug, and leans in to whisper in my ear.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t making fun of you earlier. It’s just that Gabriel forgot his cool act when he saw you at the entrance and then only mumbled something polite into his earpiece. It’s fun seeing him all flustered.”
“I doubt he forgot it. I think you’re just teasing him. He can still hear us, right?”
“Yeah, he can hear both of us now.” Dominic looks relaxed and amused by this whole thing—the exact opposite of Gabriel.
This dress must have a superpower. Two of the hottest guys in the Casino hugged me in less than fifteen minutes. How did that happen?
Okay, Lexi, so we’re calling Gabriel hot now… My brain’s stuck on replay, tracing every detail of his face: sharp jawline, carved cheekbones… and those eyes, deep chocolate pools. An intoxicating mix of warmth and mystery. The way his beard shadows his face just adds to the entire rugged thing, making my pulse quicken. And then there’s that citrusy spice that sends shivers down my spine. An imposing man who wears his scowl like a badge of honor, his clothes threatening to burst at the seams over broad shoulders and biceps. It all screams raw power.
“There’s my girl. Hey, Lexi. I lost you earlier.” Lucas storms in between us. Dominic takes a step back, and I swear I hear him growl. I take it they can’t stand one another.
“Dominic, my friend, are we keeping you from something?” Lucas never thanks people and never apologizes.
Dominic waves me off and walks away. And with him, I feel Gabriel leaving, too. That little earpiece was connecting us. Weirdly, I get a sense of loss. This stranger, who made me feel out of place at first, wrapped his powerful arms around me and safely led me through the crowd with a care that sent a warmth blooming in my stomach. It felt like a secret, a tenderness reserved just for us.
I turn to Lucas. He smiles at me and gently supports my arm. He looks tired, and his smile doesn’t hide that he’s not paying attention to me. Lucas being Lucas. His perfectly tailored suit and tousled blond hair make a good match. The air of sophistication is just a cover, though. Despite his best efforts to seem put together, he looks messy and like he hasn’t slept well in a while.
The music stops, and Dominic takes the stage to announce a special guest performance by an orchestra I’ve never heard of before. Everyone else seems to know them and starts clapping. As the musicians take their seats and raise their instruments, the first notes of a slow waltz fill the air. Lucas guides me a few steps closer to the center of the dance floor, seemingly inviting me to dance. A waltz in the Casino’s Grand Ballroom feels like the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me. I turn to him and gently lift an arm, grasping my tiny clutch.
But instead of dancing, Lucas scans the room and says, “Go wait for me at the bar. I’ll be there in fifteen. This music is way too cheesy. We’ll get back here when it’s over so we can take part in the auction. Run along, gorgeous. The bar’s just there on the right.”
He flashes a smile and disappears, leaving me stranded in the center of the room. Couples begin to waltz, their movements fluid and graceful. Suddenly, I feel awkward and out of place, like a lone buoy bobbing in a sea of synchronized swimmers. I weigh my options. If I go right, as Lucas said, it’ll be a long walk, and I’ll bump into everyone. Walking back toward the stage seems even more exposed and noisy. I’d look awkward in front of the orchestra by myself .
I hesitantly take two steps to the right, muttering an apology as I bump into a couple who come to a surprised stop. A high-ranking officer in a gala uniform throws me a polite smile and turns around, leading his partner past me. I feel my cheeks turn red, a heat wave spreading like an aura around my head.
“I hate this place,” I grumble to myself.
“Don’t hate it,” I hear a voice behind me. Gabriel turns me to him, his grip firm on my waist as he pulls me close. The world blurs around us as we move, my feet skimming the floor like I’m defying gravity. I’m glued to him, and his scent envelops me. He holds my hand tight while his other presses my back, his fingers guiding my body toward the only place that feels right… in his arms, shielded from the world. Every scowl, every tense line in his body screams dominance, but it’s a dominance that ignites a fire within me. He owns the room, the music, and, at this moment, maybe even me.
“Why are you dancing with me, Gabriel Ross?” I whisper.
“Let’s make peace,” he says.
“I didn’t know we were at war .” The hell we’re not. I can’t forget how annoying he was earlier, almost ruining my plans for Lucas. Even now, he’s messing things up for me. If Lucas comes back and sees me with him, it’s going to look bad. But I’ll be damned if I want to leave his arms.
“It’s just a figure of speech. You enjoy teasing me. It’s okay, I can take it. I know you’re upset with me,” he whispers in my ear, but I can hardly hear him. Instead, I hear myself continuing to talk to him in my head. Only now, it’s my body talking to his, getting closer and pulling away slightly, just to feel the pressure of his fingers bringing me back to him.
The music dies down, and applause fills the room. The musicians in the front row take a bow and start getting ready for the next song. A few couples keep dancing, swaying to the fading melody, while others head to the edges of the dance floor.
It’s just us now. I’m still glued to him when Gabriel whispers, “We should move.”
“Are you seriously dragging me out of the room again? What is wrong with you?”
“Are you always this argumentative?”
“I don’t know. Are you always so bossy and relentless?”
“I am, actually. And I suppose your answer is you are, too.”
“I defend myself. There’s a difference.”
“You don’t have to defend yourself in front of me. Relax.”
“That wasn’t the case earlier. What’s changed?”
“I didn’t know you.”
“And now you do? Such arrogance, Gabriel Ross.”
“See, you keep arguing with me.”
“See, you continue to be bossy.”
“By the way, where’s Lucas? Your date ,” he says, his voice holding a clear edge as he stresses the last word. I didn’t hear him say anything good about Lucas. And his buddy, Dominic, shot him a dagger stare earlier. I guess it’s a turf issue or unfinished business. It’s not surprising since Lucas is a master at making enemies. He’s got carelessness down to an art form, and his arrogance makes it all the worse. Peter didn’t get much luck with his kids—a social idiot and a ruthless viper.
The Maier family and others like them think their money gives them the right to do whatever they want to people. One of them nearly killed my father and me. We barely escaped, battered and broken. But they won’t get away with it. I won’t rest until I see them behind bars.
Gabriel is part of their world, and he seems close to Peter. He was ready to throw me out earlier when he heard I was here for Lucas, so he must be protecting him somehow. Get a grip, Lexi. This man is not your friend!
“Yeah, he’s my date, but I think he needed to say hi to a few people. He must be around here somewhere. I’ll find him, or he’ll find me. Let’s walk over to that side, and I won’t keep you any longer. I’m sure you have important things to do.” Lucas shouldn’t see me with him. I’ve been working for weeks now to get him to trust me. Gabriel Nosy Ross could easily ruin everything for me.
A familiar tingle shoots down my spine as his hand finds its way back to my upper back. His fingers brush against my skin, sending a delicious warmth through me. He leans in close, his breath breezing against my ear as he whispers, “There’s something I want to show you,” before leading me toward a hidden side door.
The thumping music cuts out like a flicked switch as he swipes a keycard. We step into a silent hallway, the noise replaced by a tense stillness that makes me hyperaware of every breath.
“Hey, where are we going? Lucas is waiting for me at the bar. There’s no bar here.”
“You said you’d love to see the Casino. I thought I’d give you a private tour. So that you’d forgive me for whatever you think I did wrong tonight.”
“Is this your idea of an apology? Because it sounds weirdly similar to you saying you did nothing wrong, and this is all in my head.”
“Now, that was uncalled for. Are you always this feisty?”
“I thought we already established that. Are you always bossing people around?”
“Touché. Well, that comes with the job. So, do you want your private tour or not? The offer expires in four, three, two…”
“Fine, let’s just go. God, you’re annoying. ”
“I really am sorry. That’s the most formal apology I can offer for the mix-up at the entrance earlier. We were only doing our job.”
“Here you go again, trying to defend yourself. Did you think I had a gun hidden under my dress?”
He takes a step back, his eyes burning into me as he gives me a head-to-toe inspection. My cheeks flame red, the heat radiating outward. Shit. Did I even put on lipstick?
“No. There’s no way you’re holding a gun under that dress.” A triumphant smile flashes across his face as he beams with pride for making me blush.
“So that’s a yes for the tour? It’s my peace offering. And…” He pauses, his hand reaches out, two fingers gently tilting my chin upwards until our eyes meet. “…I’m sorry that you were in that unpleasant situation earlier. I mean it.”
This apology feels different. It feels sincere.
“We probably don’t have time for a real tour,” I say, forcing myself back to earth, tearing my gaze from Gabriel’s eyes that transported me to another world.
“Then let’s explore a couple more interesting rooms before the auction starts and your date claims you back.”
“Can you take me to see the stained-glass dome?”
“Yeah, it’s close. Follow me.”
We go up a staircase and then down a corridor to the other wing of the Casino, which is rarely open to the public.
The stained-glass dome is impressive, filling the room with vibrant colors and intricate patterns, like a kaleidoscope. The moonlight casts mesmerizing, jewel-toned shadows that dance everywhere on the floor .
This unexpected moment with an enigmatic stranger is undeniably romantic. His earlier intimidating scowl feels strangely protective now, and I find myself drawn to him.
“You know, I’ve always found this place iconic. I read somewhere that a French architect designed it in the early 1900s. Very Art Nouveau. They say it served as a fancy gathering place for the European elite back then,” I say, trying to break the tension between us.
“Wow, you seem to know a lot about this place. Are you passionate about history?”
“This place has always fascinated me. I guess it has a certain vibe. Sometimes I fantasize about being born in another era when time ran differently and people loved stronger. But yeah, I love history and dates and numbers. I’ve always had a knack for remembering details.”
“And people? Aren’t you drawn to them?”
“People don’t like me very much.”
I hear my clutch vibrating. “I’m sorry. It must be my friend Lena checking in to see if I’m having fun.”
“And are you?” he asks, half smiling.
I smile back awkwardly. He doesn’t know why I’m here. He’s a friend of the Maiers, so I can’t open up to him.
I take the phone out of my clutch and find a WhatsApp text: Where are you, darling?
“It’s Lucas. He’s looking for me. We should get back to the Grand Ballroom. Thanks for showing me around.”
“Maybe we can see the rest some other time,” Gabriel says. Is he asking me out on a date?
“I don’t know. Do you have a key to all the places I want to see?”
“If you tell me what you want, I could work some magic.”
The phone buzzes again. Another message from Lucas. “ Hey, where are you? I’m waiting for you at the bar with two drinks. I’m that handsome guy on the right, dumped by his date .” And a sad emoji.
“We have to go back, Gabriel.” I realize it’s my first time saying his name without trying to be nasty.
“We’ll make a right and be there in a second.” Next, I hear him talking to his team through his earpiece. “Dean, locate Lucas and direct me to him.”
“No need. He told me he was at the bar,” I cut him off.
Gabriel’s eyes roll, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. He takes my arm and leads me out of the dome room. As we walk back to the Grand Ballroom, I feel his fingers on my skin, pressing firmly whenever I stray away.
Every brush of our bodies sends a tingly sensation down my spine. His eyes lingered on me a little too long earlier, but it’s hard to read him now that he’s all business again. The charming prince who waltzed with me seems to have vanished, and the stoic bodyguard escorting me to Lucas took over. And that seems to throw him into a spiral of silent turmoil.
The thrumming music from the ballroom grows louder with each step, a stark contrast to the hushed hallway we leave behind. As we take the last few steps together, away from prying eyes, Gabriel breaks his silence. “I rarely step on another man’s territory.”
“Territory, huh?” Of course, he’d think that. He’s been practicing his alpha male vibe the entire night.
“I don’t like to come between two people who are together. Does that sound better?” he says, smiling.
“And yet that’s what you did.” He looks at me, surprised.
“No, I just wanted to clarify things. Plus, there’s also Peter.”
“Yes, Mr. Maier is a special person. Very special to me, to us. ”
“There’s an us you’re part of?”
“There is, actually. Did you think I’m all alone in the world?”
I miss my dad. We built a life for ourselves through pain and hardship, but we made it work. He encouraged me and even begged me to live my life now that things are better. So here I am at this ball that every small-town girl dreams of.
I leave Gabriel wondering about the us in my story as we make our way back to the noisy crowd. We walk past the Grand Ballroom into another room that hosts the bar and lounge area, a wave of hushed conversation washing over us. From the ballroom next to it, we can hear Dominic’s voice.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to begin the auction. Please have your bidding paddles ready, check out the list of items auctioned, and be generous. If these items don’t convince you, visit the Seastone Foundation for Children website and donate online to the hospital. We have a few million dollars to raise, and your contribution tonight will make a difference.”
Gabriel listens intently to his earpiece, his eyes fixated on the bar area.
“Is he coming from the left?” I hear him asking his team.
He continues to hold my arm but instinctively pulls me closer, our bodies almost pressed together. Lucas walks over to us from the bar. I don’t have time to pull myself away from Gabriel, and I’m not all that sure I want to.
I can tell Lucas is pissed off as he stops next to us. “Hello, you. Weren’t we supposed to meet at the bar? I’ve been looking for you for half an hour. Didn’t you see my texts?”
“I was just taking a tour of the Casino. I’ve always wanted to see it,” I say, turning to Gabriel behind me. I brush his hand from my arm, holding it for a second longer than I should. Our fingers touch and intertwine, sending a jolt through me.
As I move next to Lucas, I feel his hand clamp down on my waist in a possessive grip. Huh, the alpha male in him woke up. But then he talks. And just like that, the alpha male is gone.
“A private tour with Gabriel, I guess. Just so you know, he always gives private tours. The late-night ones are his specialty.”
Gabriel’s jaw clenches as he steps toward Lucas, staring him down. He leans in, his voice a low growl as his hand grips Lucas’s arm. Lucas winces, yanks his arm away, and steps back, dragging me along. I lose my balance for a second, and Gabriel’s hand shouts out to catch me, but Lucas cuts him off, putting his hand on my arm.
“Let’s just play the role we came here to play. Okay, darling? We’re sponsoring this thing, aren’t we? Let’s throw in some money for the hospital.”
Lucas squeezes my arm, forcing me to follow him. I step beside him, my head snapping back for a fleeting glance at Gabriel. We had a moment earlier. Was that just my imagination? I wish he could come with us. I feel better when he’s around, but it clearly bugs Lucas.
A jealous Lucas, willing to push me away… that won’t help my plan. Sorry, Gabriel, I wish things were different. But as I look back, I see him with Anita plastered against him, looking anything but sad. She must’ve sneaked in as I was walking away with Lucas. My breath hitches as I see her hand resting casually on Gabriel’s arm and her body leaning into him with practiced ease.
Yeah, I guess he’s one of them. And I’m back to being the na?ve, small-town girl. Lucas was right. This is just a role. Tonight, I’m his date at a fabulous ball, and I meet a mysterious, irresistible stranger. But tomorrow, this fairy tale will be gone. Time to wake up, Lexi. I have to keep close to Lucas, earn his trust, and find the proof I need. One of them did it. I just need to find out who.