JANE POV

The lights were soft gold as I stepped into the ballroom. The scent of vanilla and jasmine floated in the air and mixed with the hum of soft jazz. My heels clicked on the marble floor as I walked beside Emily, and tried to quiet the voice in my head telling me I should not be here.


'You are frowning again," Emily whispered and looped her arm through mine.

'I am not frowning," I said and forced a half-smile. 'I am just observing."

She gave me a quick look. 'You look like you are ready to run back to your office."


Maybe I was because every part of this felt out of place. The music, the guests in glittering gowns and expensive tuxedos, the champagne glasses moving like little stars through the crowd and it was not my scene anymore. I prefered my silence, my spreadsheets, my small circle of loyalty. But I agreed to come. Emily talked me into it and said I needed to breathe.

She squeezed my arm. 'Give it a chance. You might enjoy tonight."


'I doubt it," I mumbled and Emily pulled me forward with a smile. Her hair was curled perfectly and her perfume was sweet and strong, just like always. She belonged in this kind of crowd. She made it look easy.

Me? I kept scanning the room like I was waiting for a war to break out.

'You need a drink," Emily said guiding me toward the open bar. 'Something light and just enough to loosen you up."

I hesitated. 'I don't drink on work nights."

'It is not a work night," she responded 'It is your escape night."

I rolled my eyes but let her order something for me. The bartender passed me a glass with a light pink liquid. It sparkled like it was smiling at me and I held it but didn't sip.

Emily watched me. 'Don't be so uptight, Jane. It is not poison."

I took a slow breath and then lifted the glass and the drink was sweet. It was fruity and cold.

Emily clapped softly. 'There she is. My friend is back."

She pulled me toward the crowd and I followed her and I tried, I truly, tried to loosen up, however something about the air shifted. Like some eyes were watching me.

___

EMILY POV

Jane had no idea and not yet. I kept my smile wide as I guide her through the room, past glowing chandeliers and shallow laughter. The drink in her hand wss almost half gone already. I made sure to tip the bartender extra to mix it how I asked and it was just enough to relax her. It was just simply enough to blur the edges of tonight.

'She looks beautiful," someone said as we passes and I nodded like I agreed, like I didn't know exactly how carefully I styled her tonight. I told her this dress, black silk, thin straps, a low back would make her feel powerful.

I didn't tell her it was picked from a list someone else approved. Hades wanted her to wear black. He said she always looked best in control even when she was not.

I hated lying to her, but this is bigger than just one lie. I glanced across the room and was not here yet but I knew better than to panic. Everything was planned. Every minute of this night was designed.

'Smile more," I whispered to Jane as someone greeted us. 'You look like you are here to kill someone."

'I feel like I am," she said and sipped her drink again.

Good! That was good.

I laughed and shook my head and dragged her to another group of people. She was easing up, slowly and carefully. I could see her shoulders relax a little more each time the glass tips to her lips.

She leaned in to whisper something to me, but I pretended not to hear. I nodded and laughed at something else instead.

I was playing my part andI just hope it ended quickly.

___

HADES POV

From the balcony, I could see her.

Jane Grande. Draped in black, holding a glass, looking like she didn't belong in any world but still owns it. She was here, she actually came.

I leaned on the rail and swirled the whiskey in my glass as I watched her. My heart pounded slower than usual, like my body already knew I was walking into danger.

She didn't know this was my party and not yet.

She didn't know the band playing in the background was chosen because I remembered her humming this exact melody once in an elevator.

She didn't know Emily has been working for me for weeks. She didn't know the drink she was sipping had just enough sedative to drop her guard but not enough to knock her out.

She didn't know I was about to walk into her life again and pretend it was all a twist of fate.

I adjusted my cufflinks, silver and custom.

Tonight, everything was

I let the glass touched my lips but didn't drink because I have never needed alcohol to do damage.

Down below, Jane tilted her head back and laughed at something Emily said. Her laugh was like a blade, it sliced me open and I didn't expect her to still have that effect on me.

I watched her sway a little. The drink was working.

It was time.

I straightened and headed for the stairs.

Showtime.

____

JANE

My legs felt like they were floating. My skin was buzzing, like champagne bubbled were dancing under it. Everything around me was soft, fuzzy edges, warm lights, voices dipping in and out like waves.

I giggled for no reason.

Maybe I was drunk.

No, maybe I was happy and that was what Emily said earlier, right? 'You're too stiff, Jane. You need to breathe."

Well, I was breathing now. I was floating as spinning slowly in place with a silly smile on my lips and this sweet drink melted into my throat like candy.

Then he walked up or maybe he was always here.

Tall, sharp jaw and eyes like steel dipped in fire. He looked like a movie star or a villain in a perfume ad. I couldn't tell and I didn't care.

I stared up at him and grinned wide. 'Yoy are very tall."

He chuckled. 'I've been told."

'Are you famous?" I asked and pointed at him with the rim of my empty glass. 'You look like someone rich or dangerous. Or both."

He smiled, smooth and patient. 'Only dangerous when I need to be."

'Ooooh," I said and giggled again. 'Mysterious. I like that."

He stepped closer. Not too close, just…just enough.

I blinked slowly at him. 'You smelled expensive."

'You have had quite a bit to drink," he said gently.

I waved my hand like I was swatting air. 'I never drink. Emily said I should. I think she drugged me."

He raised an eyebrow. 'What?"

'I mean, not drugged, like, she didn't poison me, I don't think. She just you know…" I leaned closer and whispered loudly, 'She said I need to relax."

He laughed, a soft, deep sound that made something in me fluttered.

I leaned my elbow on his shoulder like it was a wall. 'I like you."

'Do you?"

'Yes," I said. 'You have kind eyes. Also mean eyes. But kind underneath."

He tilted his head. 'You don't know who I am, do you?"

I looked him up and down. 'Should I?"

He didn't answer right away.

So I giggled again, leaned my head against his arm, and sighed.

'I'm Jane," I announced.

'I know," he responded.

'Ohhh, you are a fan," I said, pretending to twirl my hair. 'That made sense."

He smiled again.

'I bet all the girls here want to flirt with you," I said. 'But you came to me. I'm the best one."

'You really are."

'You know…" I squinted at him. 'You remind me of someone I hate."

He raised a brow. 'Is that so?"

I poke his chest lightly. 'But you are not him. He doesn't smile like you."

He let out a breath, almost like a laugh. Or maybe it was a relief.

'I like your suit," I added and then looked at my glass. 'Oops. Empty again."

'I will get you another one," he offered

I shook my head. 'No, you stay. I don't want you to disappear."

His hand brushed my back, it was warm and careful.

I didn't know his name.

I didn't know why I feel so safe, I feel so dizzy but I laugh again, right there in his chest, and say, 'Tonight is fun" You're fun."

And I held him close and began to dance all over his body and he didn't hesitate to dance with me as I felt his hands over my waist.