Chapter 11 A Gaze That Burns

• The second I step into the building, I spot Meera. Her eyes are wide, and for a moment, she looks like she’s about to faint. “Okay,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief. “I expected something loud and ugly. And while this wasn’t exactly that, it’s... somehow worse.” She pauses, but then her lips curve into a smirk. “Just don’t ruin your dress, alright? You look sexy when you’re pissed.”
• I let out a breathy laugh despite myself. Leave it to Meera to find the silver lining, however small. “Noted,” I mutter, brushing past her as I make my way into the main hall.
• The lights inside are dim, the soft chatter of guests filling the space as I weave through the tables. As I slip into my seat at the table, the low murmur of conversations and clinking glasses fills the room. I barely have a chance to take in my surroundings before my eyes land on a familiar face sitting across from me — the lead actor from my debut movie. Chris Matthews. It’s been seven years since we worked together on that romantic comedy, but the sight of him brings back a flood of memories.