Chapter 16 The First Kiss

• As the night progressed, I sensed the burden of the event bearing down on me. The throng, the murmurs, the subtle flow of influence that permeated each discussion—it was simply excessive, utterly daunting. However, I was aware that I couldn’t go, not at this moment.
• Just as I was ready to speak to Alexander, the lights unexpectedly flickered.
• A loud bang reverberated in the space, causing the audience to burst into disorder.