Three days passed in silence. Elaina was a ghost in the penthouse. She ate the green sludge. She did the yoga. She avoided Adrian, and he avoided her.
Her phone buzzed with texts from her old work friends. She had been removed from the group chat, but Hannah, the intern, messaged her privately.
Hannah: OMG is it true? Everyone says you trapped him. Are you basically a trophy wife now?
Elaina typed back: Something like that.
She stood by the window, looking down at the street. A silver Aston Martin pulled up to the curb. A man got out. Even from forty floors up, she recognized him.
Chase Church. Adrian's biggest rival.
He was arguing with the doorman. He looked up, scanning the building, as if he knew she was there.
Chase had always been kind to her. Flirty, yes, but kind. A dangerous thought crossed her mind. Could he help me?
The apartment phone rang. It was Beatrice, Adrian's new assistant.
"Mrs. Conway," Beatrice said, her voice crisp. "Mr. Conway requires your attendance at the Met Gala tonight. It is a mandatory appearance requested by Mrs. Constance Conway."
"I don't have anything to wear," Elaina said.
"The styling team is in the elevator. They will be there in two minutes."
The team descended like locusts. They plucked her eyebrows, sprayed her with tan, and squeezed her into a flowing Grecian gown that cleverly concealed her small bump while highlighting her chest. They draped her in diamonds that felt heavy and cold against her skin.
When Adrian came to collect her, he stopped in the doorway. His eyes swept over her, lingering on the curve of her neck. For a second, the mask slipped, and she saw raw hunger.
Then he blinked, and the ice returned.
"Don't drink," he said. "Don't speak to the press. Just smile and hold my arm."
"I know the drill," she said coldly.
In the limo, the silence was thick. Adrian tapped his fingers on his knee.
"Chase Church will be there," he said suddenly.
Elaina's heart skipped. "So?"
"Stay away from him," Adrian growled, turning to look at her. "He's a shark. He smells blood in the water. And right now, you are bleeding vulnerability."
"Maybe I like sharks," she challenged. "At least they don't pretend to be human."
Adrian's jaw tightened. He leaned in, invading her personal space. His hand gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"You are wearing my ring," he whispered, his thumb tracing her lower lip. The sensation sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with fear. "You are mine, Elaina. Remember that."
The car stopped. The door opened. Flashbulbs exploded like fireworks.
Adrian released her chin, put on a dazzling smile, and pulled her out into the chaos.
