Chapter 6 The Gala

• ARYA'S POV
• “Miss Thorne.”
• I turned.
• Elena stood at the door again.
• “It’s time.”
• My pulse jumped.
• “Already?” I asked.
• She nodded.
• “The stylist is waiting.”
• Of course there was a stylist.
• I followed her back to the room.
• “What am I wearing?” I asked.
• Elena walked straight to a section and pulled out a dress.
• Black. It was beautiful.
• It shimmered subtly under the light.
• “This,” she said.
• I took it from her carefully.
• “This looks… so expensive.”
• “It is.” She smiled.
• That didn’t help.
• An hour later, I barely recognized myself.
• My hair was styled in a way I never had.
• The makeup...flawless.
• The dress fit like it was made for me.
• Maybe it was.
• I touched the ring on my finger wishing it was all real.
• I looked at my reflection with a soft smile.
• A knock came from the door.
• I didn’t need to guess.
• “Come in,” I said.
• Logan stepped inside.
• And for the first time since I met him.
• He stopped.
• Actually stopped.
• His eyes moved over me slowly.
• I couldn't guess what those eyes meant but they didn't look at me the way they did before.
• My chest tighten.
• "You don't... you don't ike the dress?" I stuttered.
• He didn't respond, he just looked away.
• "You're ready." He said after a short silence.
• I took a breath.
• "I found out something that's gonna blow your mind."
• "Tell me about it in the car." He said as he stepped closer.
• He held out his arm.
• I hesitated for half a second before I placed my hand on it.
• “Remember,” he said quietly as we started walking, “everyone will be watching.”
• I smiled faintly.
• “I know." I replied.
• *****
• Getting to the car, I was stunned.
• I don't know the brand of this car but it sure looked so luxurious and expensive.
• The inside was even better, I could live in Hereford the rest of my life.
• "Now tell me, what did you find?" Lohan asked interrupting me.
• "Uhm, yeah." I adjusted myself.
• "You know how you suspect your brother is stealing from Vance, well yeah he is and he is stealing from the other subsidiaries too."
• "Go on."
• "From the account, it seemed like a certain amount of money is entering Vance Logistics on a reg, but from what I know there's no way that amount of money is being used on that company alone, it's just too much and unnecessary. Someone is helping him smuggle at Vance Logistics."
• Logan just stood there looking at me unimpressed.
• "Tell me something I don't know."
• I glared at him.
• "I'm not done yet,"
• "Continue."
• "Well, I'm here to announce to you that you have a lot of shell companies."
• "How many is a lot?"
• "Like forty two and I believe there could be more."
• He scoffed, "Ethan." He muttered to himself.
• "So?" He asked.
• I knew he wanted more and luckily I have more.
• "I've already discovered the patterns he uses to launder money out of Vance industries and other subsidiaries and I can help you block them if you want."
• "No, if you do that he will be alerted. I just need clear evidence pointing out the laundered money is going directly to his personal account."
• "Well that will be difficult since he has a lot of your staff answering to him." I said until it struck me.
• "Uhm, wait. I can help you find out those staffs so you can fire them. Getting proof of their misconduct is actually easy."
• "Now that's something." He blatantly said.
• No good job, nothing. I guess it's very hard to impress him.
• "We are almost there," he announced.
• I remembered Marco and I had to at least get some money to lay him off my back for a while.
• "About Marco, I was given..."
• "Don't worry, I've already taken care of that. Just focus on the gala tonight." He interrupted.
• "Thanks." I said softly.
• "You don't need to thank me, I'm just paying you for your services."
• Rude much, I heaved a sigh.
• In no time we arrived at the venue.
• The car slowed to a smooth stop, and my breath caught the moment I looked outside.
• Lights, people.
• So many lights and flashy people.
• The entire building glowed like something out of a dream; golden chandeliers visible even from outside, cameras flashing at the entrance, people dressed like they belonged on magazine covers.
• “This is interesting.” I trailed off.
• “Remove that expression from your face,” Logan said flatly.
• "It will only draw unnecessary attention."
• Of course it will, I'm pretty sure I looked like some stray cat that was brought into a house of diamonds.
• A man in a black suit opened my door, and the cool night air hit my skin. Instantly, the noise followed, voices, laughter, the faint clicking of heels on marble.
• And then... What I hate most.
• Cameras.
• Flashes went off the second Logan stepped out beside me.
• “Logan! Over here!”
• “Mr. Vance!”
• "Over here!!"
• "Who is she?”
• "Who's is she Mr. Vance?"
• My heart jumped to my throat.
• The repeated questions were just coming from everywhere.
• Logan's hand found mine.
• Firm. Steady.
• “Stay close,” he murmured.
• "I'm... I'm..."
• He wrapped his arm round my waist and pulled me closer.
• "You don't need to be nervous, I'm here." He whispered.
• The way he said those words made me feel...calm? Not sure but it made me feel something, my heart was racing, but it was also calm.
• I don't know how to explain what I felt, but it was good.
• It felt good.
• We stepped forward together, and suddenly every eye felt like it was on me. I kept my chin up, forcing confidence into every step even though my insides were doing mini somersaults.
• “Smile,” Logan said under his breath.
• I did. I gave them the brightest smile I have.
• “Is she your fiancée?” a reporter called out.
• I grabbed my purse a little stronger.
• There it was.
• The dreaded question.
• Logan didn’t hesitate.
• “Yes.”
• The word hit me harder than I expected.
• Even though I knew it was part of the arrangement… hearing him say it out loud, so easily, so convincingly.
• It did something to me.
• My ex boyfriend was never this proud and fast to claim me.
• He was always putting me down or reminding me of how I'm not his class.
• The heavy flashes from the camera reminded me of where I was.
• More murmurs.
• “She’s beautiful!”
• “Look at that ring!” one of them said.
• I smiled, trying not to sure how nervous I was beginning to get on the inside.
• We finally made it past the entrance, the heavy doors closing behind us and muting the chaos outside.
• Inside was worse. Or better... I couldn’t decide.
• Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting soft light over a sea of powerful people.
• Waiters moved around with trays of champagne, and a live string quartet played softly in the background.
• For the first time I attended an occasion and I wasn't feeling underdressed.
• I fitted right in and I know it.
• I looked towards my left and I saw someone.
• Someone I wasn't expecting to see and I know exactly what he's here for. Fraud.
• Or should I say, 'fishing for a client' in his own words.
• Inside is definitely worse.
• “Relax,” Logan said, noticing the way I stiffened.
• “I am relaxed,” I lied still looking back at him.
• Logan gave me a look.
• “Your grip says otherwise.”
• I quickly loosened my hold on him.
• I never realised I was grabbing his hand so tight.
• “Sorry.” I apologised immediately.
• “Don’t be,” he said, surprisingly softer this time. “Just don’t look like you want to run.”
• Too late for that.