Sophia had waited long enough. The party hummed around her, soft music, clinking glasses, and polite laughter, but her patience had run out. She set her drink down on a side table with a sharp click and stood up, smoothing her dress. Her eyes swept the room again. No sign of Marcus.
She moved through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces but not stopping to chat. She checked the hallway, the kitchen, even the back patio where a few guests smoked and talked business. Nothing. Her steps grew quicker, heels clicking against the floor. By the time she circled back to the main room, her face had hardened. Fury built in her chest, hot and tight.
She found a quiet spot near the tall windows and crossed her arms. “Where the hell is he?” she muttered. Minutes ticked by. Guests glanced her way, but
