Chapter 14 Uninvited Attention

Chapter 14: 14 Uninvited Attention

The charity auction was an exercise in polished boredom. Crystal glasses chimed in a steady rhythm, mixing with the low murmur of a hundred conversations about money and influence. I stood by Charles’s side, a silent, observant shadow, my role perfectly calibrated. I was present enough to be acknowledged, but invisible enough to be overlooked. It was a delicate balance, and I was good at it.

"Charles," a voice cut through the polite hum, smooth as silk and just as strong. "I didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you considered these things a tax write-off with mediocre entertainment."

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