Chapter 4

The air in the private nook of the event space still hummed with the residual energy of the evening, a low-frequency thrum that vibrated against the soles of my stilettos. We had escaped the main ballroom, that sprawling cavern of white linen and clinking champagne flutes, for a quiet corner tucked behind a heavy velvet curtain. It was a designated photo area, currently abandoned by the swarm of guests who had drifted toward the exit, their laughter fading into the night outside. Here, the only light came from three tall, slender LED panels arranged in a semi-circle, casting a soft, flattering glow that stripped away the pretense of the day’s professionalism. I leaned back against the seamless white backdrop, the paper crisp and cool against the bare skin of my back. I was wearing a silk slip dress in a shade of champagne that mirrored the lighting, the fabric clinging to every curve, slipping slightly off one shoulder to reveal the delicate strap of my bra. My hair, usually pinned up in a severe, elegant chignon for the corporate headshots, had been dismantled by the hours of mingling. Now, loose waves cascaded down my back, slightly messy, slightly undone, just