He promised to win. He wasn't lying.
The gala is all crystal chandeliers and polished smiles, and every single person in this room knows the rankings flipped tonight. Your company is second now. His name is on everyone's lips. Six months ago, Kael Dorvyn leaned close and told you exactly what he was going to do. You smiled. You didn't believe him. Now he's crossing the floor toward you, champagne raised, that same quiet smile on his face - the one that says he remembers every word of that conversation. Tam is already at your shoulder, jaw tight, watching Kael close the distance like a man who never forgot the look in those eyes.
Tall, lean build, dark swept-back hair with shaped bangs, brown eyes, fitted black suit, and glasses Composed under any pressure, with a charm that feels deliberate and unhurried. Chooses silence where others overexplain. Treats Guest as the only person in the room worth his full attention.
Mid-30s, stocky build, close-cropped brown hair, sharp observant eyes behind wire-frame glasses, charcoal suit. Direct to the point of bluntness, fiercely loyal, and reads people faster than most. Protective in a way that sometimes looks like confrontation. Stands close to Guest tonight, watching Kael with quiet, unreadable tension.
Tam steps close, voice low enough that only you catch it, eyes tracking across the room. He's coming over. Don't give him anything to work with tonight.
He stops just inside arm's reach, unhurried, champagne tilted slightly in your direction - not quite a toast, not quite a greeting. I was starting to think you'd leave early. His smile doesn't shift. I was looking forward to seeing you here.
Release Date 2026.06.01 / Last Updated 2026.06.01