The Red Dress
The university gala happened one week later.
And somehow—
Lia had agreed to go again.
"You need professional help," Sienna announced while standing in the middle of Lia's apartment holding up dresses dramatically.
Lia sat cross-legged on the bed surrounded by rejected outfit options.
"I know."
"No, seriously." Sienna pointed accusingly at her. "You're willingly attending another event where a dangerously obsessed billionaire stares at you like you're the last person alive."
"When you say it like that, it sounds concerning."
"Because it is concerning."
Lia sighed softly and looked toward the red dress hanging from the closet door.
It wasn't expensive.
Nothing she owned was.
But it fit well enough.
Soft satin fabric.
Thin straps.
Deep red that looked darker beneath dim lighting.
Sienna noticed her looking.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"That's the dress?"
Lia frowned. "What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing." Sienna collapsed dramatically onto the bed. "You're just about to emotionally ruin a man tonight."
Lia rolled her eyes.
"Adrian Monteverde is not emotionally ruinable."
Sienna looked at her carefully.
"...That's exactly why this is dangerous."
—
The gala occupied the rooftop ballroom of Blackthorne's executive tower this year.
The entire city glittered beneath glass walls and golden chandeliers while live piano music drifted softly through crowded conversations.
Everything looked expensive.
Crystal glasses.
Designer gowns.
People who had never worried about rent a single day in their lives.
Lia stepped out of the elevator beside Sienna and immediately regretted existing again.
"I hate rich people," she muttered.
"You say that," Sienna whispered dramatically, "while looking like heartbreak in a red dress."
Lia ignored her completely.
Still—
she felt the staring almost immediately.
People looked at her more openly now.
Not because she was rich.
Not because she was important.
Because Adrian Monteverde kept paying attention to her publicly.
And everyone had noticed.
Lia moved carefully through the ballroom trying not to feel overwhelmed.
Until suddenly—
the atmosphere changed.
Subtle.
But immediate.
Conversations quieted slightly.
Several people looked toward the entrance.
Lia already knew.
She turned slowly.
Adrian stood near the ballroom doors.
Black suit.
No tie again tonight.
His dark hair slightly damp from rain outside.
And the second his eyes landed on her—
he stopped walking.
Completely.
Lia's heartbeat stumbled hard enough to hurt.
The entire room seemed to disappear around them.
Because Adrian was looking at her differently tonight.
Not casually.
Not observantly.
Hungry.
The realization sent warmth flooding uncomfortably through her chest.
Beside her, Sienna whispered:
"Oh my god."
Lia swallowed carefully.
Adrian's gaze moved slowly over her appearance.
The red dress.
Her loose hair.
Bare shoulders.
Every second of silence stretched tighter.
Then finally—
he started walking toward her.
People moved aside instinctively.
Lia hated how nervous that made her.
Adrian stopped directly in front of her.
Too close already.
Always too close.
Neither of them spoke immediately.
His eyes remained on her face now.
Darker than usual somehow.
"You wore red."
Her pulse jumped.
"You sound offended."
"No," Adrian said quietly.
His gaze drifted over her once more.
"Distracted."
The honesty of it nearly made her breath catch.
Sienna made a tiny choking sound beside them before immediately disappearing into the crowd like a traitor.
Lia stared after her.
"Coward."
"She's smart," Adrian murmured.
When Lia looked back at him, his attention was still entirely fixed on her.
Intense enough to make the room feel warmer.
"You're staring again."
"Yes."
"Adrian."
"You shouldn't wear dresses like this around people who already think about you too much."
The words settled heavily between them.
Lia's stomach tightened instantly.
"That sounds dangerously close to a threat."
His expression remained calm.
"It's concern."
"That's somehow worse."
A faint flicker of amusement touched his mouth briefly.
Then his attention shifted past her shoulder.
The atmosphere around him changed immediately.
Cold.
Sharp.
Lia turned slightly.
Daniel Cho stood nearby speaking to two graduate students.
The moment he noticed Lia, he smiled.
And unfortunately—
started walking toward them.
Adrian's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"You really hate him," Lia muttered softly.
"He irritates me."
"Why?"
"He looks at you carelessly."
Before Lia could process that answer, Daniel reached them.
"Lia." He smiled warmly. "You look incredible tonight."
"Thank you."
Daniel glanced toward Adrian politely.
"Mr. Monteverde."
Adrian nodded once.
Nothing more.
The tension between them immediately became suffocating.
Daniel either didn't notice—
or ignored it bravely.
"Some of us are heading to the terrace later," he continued while looking at Lia. "You should join."
Lia opened her mouth—
but Adrian spoke first.
"She won't."
Daniel blinked slowly.
Lia inhaled sharply.
"There you go again."
Adrian looked at her calmly.
"Again?"
"Answering for me."
Daniel shifted awkwardly beside them.
"I can ask her myself."
"You already did."
Something dangerous flickered behind Adrian's eyes again.
Controlled.
Cold.
Lia noticed Daniel subtly taking a step back.
Which honestly felt smart.
"Okay," Lia interrupted quickly before the atmosphere got even worse. "Nobody's fighting at a literature gala."
"I'm not fighting," Adrian replied calmly.
"That somehow doesn't reassure me."
Daniel laughed nervously.
Adrian didn't.
The silence afterward felt heavy enough to crush things.
Then suddenly—
a woman approached Daniel from behind and looped her arm through his casually.
Tall.
Beautiful.
Drunk enough to smile too loudly.
"Danny, come dance with us."
Daniel hesitated briefly before glancing toward Lia again.
"Maybe later?"
Lia nodded quickly.
"Have fun."
The second Daniel walked away—
the tension beside her sharpened instantly.
Adrian's gaze followed him across the ballroom.
Cold enough to freeze glass.
"You're glaring."
"He's irritating."
"You've said that."
"And I meant it."
Lia crossed her arms lightly.
"You know what your problem is?"
Adrian looked down at her.
"No."
"You're possessive."
Something dark moved quietly behind his eyes.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
A pause.
Then Adrian stepped closer.
Close enough now that she could feel warmth radiating from him beneath the cold ballroom air.
"You wore red," he murmured again softly.
Lia's pulse stumbled.
"You already mentioned that."
"It was a mistake."
Her breath caught slightly.
"Why?"
Adrian's eyes held hers steadily.
"Because now everyone in this room keeps looking at you."
The words wrapped around her spine slowly.
Not flirtation.
Not romance.
Possession.
Raw and dangerous beneath his calm voice.
Lia's heartbeat turned uneven.
And somehow—
Adrian noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
His gaze darkened slightly.
Then his fingers brushed lightly against her bare shoulder.
Soft.
Brief.
But enough to send warmth through her entire body.
"You react every time I touch you," he said quietly.
Lia stared at him.
"You cannot keep saying things like that in public."
"Why?"
"Because it sounds intimate."
For the first time all evening—
Adrian looked genuinely pleased by that answer.
And somehow—
that terrified her more than his jealousy did.