Chapter 64 Sixty Four
She walked past him without waiting.
The heels of her shoes clicked against the stone steps as she made her way toward the waiting car. She could feel his eyes on her back the entire time, and somehow that annoyed her more than if he’d said another word.
One of the guards opened the rear door.
“Miss.”
Mira slid into the car without looking at anyone.
A second later the opposite door opened, and Salvatore climbed in beside her. The soft thud of the door closing shut seemed louder than it should have.
Silence settled between them.
The driver pulled away from the mansion, the headlights cutting through the damp evening streets.
Mira deliberately turned toward the window.
The city lights blurred past the glass. She wasn’t here because of him. She repeated it over and over in her head.
She was here because somewhere inside that ballroom would be politicians, judges, CEOs, journalists, charity organizers, and business partners.
People talked at events like this.
People get drunk then slip out one or two pieces of information.
Someone knew something about Salvatore Corvin.
She just had to find them. Across from her, Salvatore watched her reflection in the window.
“You’ve already started working.”
She didn’t turn. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’ve been counting exits since you got into the car.”
Her fingers tightened around her clutch. “I always pay attention to my surroundings.”
“I know.”
“And stop saying ‘I know.’”
“I’ll think about it.”
She finally looked at him. “You really enjoy getting on my nerves.”
“A little.”
“A little?”
He nodded seriously. “More than a little.”
She let out an irritated breath and looked away again. “You are so annoying.”
Salvatore let out a small laugh, then another silence settled between them.
Antonio had been right.
Normal conversation with Mira was apparently impossible.
After several minutes, Salvatore spoke again. “There are going to be reporters at the ball.”
That caught her attention. “So?”
“They’ll recognize you. Your colleagues would be there.”
“I know.” She murmured she hadn't really thought about it. She had totally forgotten that only Anna and Matthew knew she was undercover.
“They’ll ask questions,” Salvatore said, raising his brows.
“I answer questions for a living.”
“Even if you're with me?” he asked, his eyes on her. “ They would want to know about us.”
She frowned.
“There is no us,” Mira replied quickly.
“Well, you have to explain that to them dressed like that,” he said, his voice low. “ No matter how you deny it, we look like we're together.”
She looked at him as though he’d lost his mind.
“Get a hold of yourself; this doesn't mean anything .”
“They will see us together,” he said.
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It does when I’m involved,” Salvatore added
She folded her arms. “I won't. Are you doing this?” she asked. “ If you think I would pretend that we are thing, then you're totally crazy cause I won't.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Then what are you asking? Cause you're definitely asking something.”
“Nothing,” he said softly
She blinked. “Nothing?”
“I just wanted to warn you,” he said, turning his eyes away from her.
She studied his face, trying to find the catch.
There always was one.
She couldn't find anything… That somehow bothered her even more.
“You could at least pretend to smile tonight.”
She almost laughed. “Says the man who threatened to kill me. “
“Mira,” Salvatore said, his voice sounding frustrated
“You threatened everyone I love, and you expect me to smile with you?”
“I know what I did.”
“And you dare demand I act like a damn smiling puppet for you.”
“You're not a puppet.” He said, rubbing his temples. “ I was just suggesting it. You look beautiful when you smile.”
She stared at him. “I can’t tell if you’re insane or just unbelievably arrogant.”
He considered it for a moment. “Both are part of my charm.”
She shook her head. The driver’s voice interrupted them.
“We’re almost there, sir.”
Mira looked through the windshield. The charity venue came into view.
A magnificent hotel stood at the end of the street, its entrance glowing beneath dozens of crystal chandeliers. Luxury cars lined the circular driveway while photographers crowded behind velvet barriers.
Camera flashes lit up the night.
Politicians. Actors. Business executives.
Socialites dressed in designer gowns.
It looked less like a charity event and more like a royal gathering.
Her pulse quickened.
This was it. Somewhere in that crowd was a clue.
The car slowed to a stop. Before the driver could open the door, Salvatore reached across the seat.
Mira stiffened immediately. “What are you doing?”
Instead of answering, he brushed an invisible speck of lint from the fabric near her shoulder.
“There.”
She stared at him. “Don’t touch me.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You literally just did,” Mira said in a voice a bit too loud.
“I touched the dress,” Salvatore replied
“You touched me.” Mira shot back
“My mistake,” Salvatore said, with a smirk on his face.
She glared at him. “I mean it, Salvatore. Don't think I can stand you.”
“I mean everyone I said too,” he said to her softly. “You're mine, Mira, mine,” he said, his eyes still on her. They both stared at each other for a minute longer before Mira looked away
The driver opened the door.
The sound of cameras exploded outside.
Salvatore stepped out first. Instantly, flashes erupted from every direction.
“Mr. Corvin!” “Sir, this way!” “One photo!”
He ignored every voice.
Instead, he turned back toward the car and extended his hand.
Mira looked at it. Then at him.
Mira looked at his outstretched hand, then back at him. “I’m not taking your hand,” she murmured, making sure only he could hear.
“You wouldn’t want to embarrass me,” Salvatore replied, his hand never wavering.
She let out a quiet scoff. “I don’t care if you’re embarrassed.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you offering it?”His answer came without hesitation. “Because there are thirty cameras pointed at this car.”
She frowned. “So?”
“So if you trip getting out, every newspaper in the city will run the picture tomorrow.” His eyes held hers. “And unlike you, nobody is brave enough to print anything bad about me.”He tilted his head slightly. “Guess who they’ll write about instead?
Mira’s jaw tightened.
“Exactly,” he said. “They’ll make you the headline.”
She looked past him; he wasn’t exaggerating.
Photographers packed both sides of the entrance.
Every lens was pointed toward them. With obvious reluctance, she placed her fingertips in his hand.
His grip was surprisingly gentle. He helped her step out before immediately letting go.
The flashes became blinding.
Voices erupted around them.
“Hello, miss!” “Look this way!”
“Are you two together?”
“Are you dating now, Mr Corvin?” “When is the wedding? Is she your seventh wife?”
Mira nearly choked. “What the hell...”
Salvatore looked almost amused. “Told you.”
She shot him a murderous glare. “I hate reporters.”
He smiled. “I thought you were one.”
“I hate these reporters.”
His smile widened.
One photographer called out loudly.
“Mr. Corvin! Put your arm around her!”
Mira opened her mouth to refuse. Before she could speak, Salvatore answered. “No.”
The crowd went quiet for a second. The photographer blinked. “No?”
“You heard me.”
Salvatore’s voice remained calm.
“If she wanted me touching her, she’d have done it herself.”
Mira looked at him in surprise. Another photographer laughed awkwardly before trying again.
“Can we at least get one picture of you together?”
Salvatore glanced at Mira. She looked seconds away from walking back into the car.
He sighed. “Thirty seconds.”
Mira turned toward him. “I never agreed—”
“I know.”
He lowered his voice enough that only she could hear. “The faster we do this, the faster they leave us alone.”
She hated that he was right. They stood side by side.
Not touching. Not smiling.
The photographers didn’t seem to mind.
Flash after flash lit up the entrance. Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted,
“Miss Voss!”
She instinctively turned. A man holding a camera smiled at her.
“You should be careful.”
Her brows furrowed. “What?”
Before she could hear the rest, another wave of photographers surged forward, blocking her view.
When she looked again… The man was gone.
Her smile disappeared completely.
Without thinking, her eyes searched the crowd.
Hundreds of faces.
None of them were familiar. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone…was watching her