Chapter 10: Gala

The grand ballroom of Kingsley Corporation's annual business gala was bustling with energy. Charlotte arrived reluctantly, feeling out of place among the sea of designer gowns and tailored suits. She had kept her look simple with a black gown, hoping to avoid attention. Little did she know, the night was bound to take unexpected turns.

As she sipped her drink and scanned the room for an easy escape, a tall, charming man approached her with an eager grin.

"There you are!" he said as if they had known each other for years, grasping her arm gently.

"Uh, sorry, do I know you?" Charlotte asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.

The man smiled wider, ignoring her question. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Come on, our table’s waiting.”

Before Charlotte could protest, he whisked her to a prominent table near the front of the ballroom. As she sat down, still perplexed, the man introduced himself to someone nearby, and that’s when she caught his name—**Liam Westwood**. One of **those** Westwoods. The powerful family who was entangled in a bitter feud with the Kingsleys.

**Great, just my luck,** Charlotte thought, glancing around nervously. Her eyes landed on **Asher** across the room. He was standing near a group of influential business people, tall and poised, surveying the crowd. As their gazes met, a faint smirk appeared on Asher's face. He had clearly noticed her predicament—and was finding it amusing.

Just as Charlotte thought things couldn’t get more awkward, Kianna Westwood made her grand entrance. Dressed in an ostentatious gown, glittering from head to toe, Kianna swept into the room with an air of entitlement. She scanned the crowd, her eyes narrowing as she spotted Asher.

Kianna had long admired Asher despite the animosity between their families. Tonight, she saw an opportunity to capture his attention, and she wasn’t going to let it pass her by. With a determined smile, she made her way toward him, ready to charm.

“Asher,” Kianna purred as she reached his side, touching his arm lightly. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. How wonderful.”

Asher gave a polite but distant smile, clearly uninterested. “Kianna,” he said in a clipped tone, acknowledging her without much enthusiasm.

Undeterred, Kianna stepped closer, batting her lashes. “You’ve been avoiding me at these events. I was starting to think you didn’t like me.”

Asher raised an eyebrow, not even pretending to be amused. “Just been busy.”

Kianna leaned in, her voice dropping to what she probably thought was a seductive tone. “Maybe we can change that tonight. You and me, a quiet conversation over drinks? I’ve missed our little talks.”

Asher’s attention was already drifting, his eyes scanning the room until they landed once again on Charlotte, now awkwardly seated at the Westwood table with Liam. He watched as she fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable.

Kianna, noticing his lack of response, grew more desperate. “Asher, you haven’t even complimented my dress,” she said, pouting a little.

Asher’s gaze flickered briefly to Kianna’s glittering gown. “It’s... shiny.”

Before she could press further, Asher excused himself abruptly, striding over to Charlotte’s table without a second glance. Kianna was left standing alone, her forced smile faltering as she realized she had been brushed off entirely.

Meanwhile, at the table, Charlotte was frantically trying to figure out a polite way to extricate herself from Liam’s company when Asher approached.

“I didn’t expect to find you here, of all places,” Asher said with a smirk, drawing Charlotte’s attention away from Liam.

Charlotte shot him a helpless look. “Believe me, this wasn’t planned. I’ve been hijacked.”

Asher chuckled and pulled out a chair beside her, causing Liam to glance over with mild interest. “Liam,” Asher greeted the other man with a slight nod, though the tension between the two was unmistakable.

Liam offered a polite smile but couldn’t hide the rivalry in his tone. “Kingsley. I see you’ve already made your acquaintance with my date for the evening.”

“Date?” Asher repeated, turning his gaze to Charlotte with a teasing smile. “I had no idea.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened, realizing how Liam had perceived their situation. “I’m not—this isn’t—”

Asher, enjoying her flustered state, leaned back in his chair. “Well, Charlotte, I’m sure you’re having a fascinating conversation with Liam here, but I think it’s time I rescued you.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly not appreciating the joke. “She doesn’t seem like she needs rescuing.”

Before the situation could escalate, Charlotte stood abruptly. “Actually, I think I could use some air,” she said, taking Asher’s offered arm to escape the awkwardness.

As they walked away, Charlotte glanced over her shoulder at Liam’s table. That’s when she noticed two other figures standing nearby—the Westwood twins, towering and watching the room with sharp, assessing gazes. Their presence made her stomach churn. The air between the Westwoods and Kingsleys was always charged, but having them all in one room tonight felt like walking a tightrope.

When they reached a quieter part of the ballroom, Asher gave her a mischievous grin. “You’ve got a talent for getting into interesting situations.”

Charlotte groaned. “It’s not my fault! He mistook me for someone else.”

Asher chuckled, his voice lowering slightly. “Well, I didn’t mind stepping in. Watching you sit between the Westwoods was amusing, but I’m afraid that table would’ve exploded soon.”

“Thanks,” she said dryly. “I’ve already made enough enemies tonight.”

His gaze softened as he looked at her. “Don’t worry about them. Let Kianna fume, let Liam think what he wants. You’re here with me now.”

The way he said it, with that subtle, possessive edge, sent a strange thrill through her. For a moment, all the tension, the rivalries, and the complications of the night faded into the background as they stood there, close enough to feel the warmth between them.

But as Charlotte caught sight of Kianna glaring from across the room, she knew this was far from over.