Chapter Eleven: You Are Mine
The night of the gala arrived like a looming storm. The air in Seattle was thick with a cold, relentless drizzle that mirrored the icy dread pooling in my stomach. I had spent an hour in front of the mirror, painting on a mask of confidence with red lipstick and a black silk dress that felt more like armor than evening wear. Charlie had promised to meet me there, but a last-minute emergency at his workshop meant I had to walk into the lion’s den alone.
The ballroom of the Olympic Hotel was a sea of glittering chandeliers and expensive perfume. I tried to blend into the shadows, sipping a glass of champagne I didn’t want, but Alexander found me before I could even make it to the faculty table. He didn't approach me from the front; he moved like a shadow, his
