The ballroom buzzed with laughter, but all Karen could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat.
Luca spun her gently, his hand resting lightly on her waist. She tried to focus on the music, on his words, but she could feel it again that piercing stare burning a hole through her back.
Alex was watching still.
Then it happened.
Luca stepped just a little closer, his hand brushing her bare shoulder as he leaned in to whisper, "You're the most beautiful woman here tonight."
Karen smiled politely, unsure how to respond. Before she could even think of something neutral, a cold hand closed around her wrist.
Her eyes widened.
Alex.
"May I steal my employee for a second?" he said to Luca, his voice low and deceptively calm.
Luca blinked. "Uh, sure.."
Before he finished, Alex was already pulling Karen away, dragging her off the dance floor. Her heels clicked against the polished floor, head turning with shocked whispers and subtle gasps.
"Alex...what the hell are you doing?" she hissed.
He didn't stop. Not until they reached a quiet corner of the balcony, lit only by the moonlight and the dull throb of music from inside.
He let go and turned sharply. "You let him touch you like that?"
Karen blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Luca. His hands were all over you, Karen.
You're not blind. You knew what you were doing."
Her eyes flared. "And you think you can just drag me off the dance floor like you own me?"
Alex's jaw clenched. His voice dropped. "You don't get it, do you?"
She laughed bitterly. "No, Alex. I don't. You're my boss"
"I don't care."
That silenced her.
"I don't care if I'm your boss. I don't care if we're at a damn gala with the whole world watching," he growled.
"I didn't like what I saw and I won't pretend I did."
Karen stepped back, her heart hammering.
"You have no right to..."
Alex suddenly reached out, cupping her cheek. His touch was warm, trembling slightly, his eyes searching hers like he was trying to memorize them.
"You're the only thing that makes me feel anything anymore, Karen."
The door creaked behind them.
They turned and saw three female employees frozen near the curtain. Their eyes were wide, mouths slightly open in shock before they turned and rushed back inside, whispering.
Karen felt her stomach drop.
"Shit," she muttered.
"They saw."
Alex didn't even flinch. "Let them."
By the time Karen walked back into the ballroom alone, the atmosphere had changed.
She could feel it.
The smiles were tighter, the whispers louder.
A few women who had laughed with her earlier now eyed her with open suspicion.
One of them, Marissa (HR) gave a short, sarcastic smile and raised a glass in mock salute. Another turned her back entirely.
Karen's throat tightened.
This wasn't just gossip anymore.
It was war.