Chapter 24 The Gala
Mark’s POV
“Ughhh!” I tossed the seventh tie to the floor. I couldn't find the perfect one for my outfit.
I had to go with the dark blue one, it's always been my life saver.
At the hotel ballroom where the corporate party was hosted, the crystal chandeliers glittered.
The laughter of my employees echoed through the champagne towers.
My name echoed in conversations across the room, the way it always did at corporate events.
But tonight, none of it mattered because she was coming.
Becca.
I checked my wristwatch for the umpteenth time, checking the doorway for the hundredth time.
Finally, the moment arrived.
I caught sight of her before she even reached the stairs. She wore a red slitted dress, with something they called cowl neck.
The slit in her dress teased with every step, and her hair was swept to one side, soft curls brushing her bare shoulder.
Every man turned to look. And I couldn’t even blame them.
She was stunning and I was drooling for this lady.
For the first time in a long while, I didn’t care about the whispers or the eyes watching.
When she reached me, I smiled. “You look…” My words caught, my throat suddenly dry. “Incredible doesn’t even count it.”
She smiled,“I almost didn’t make it”
“Thanks heavens that didn't happen, I won't even survive another second without you,”
She blushed shyly, hitting the tip of my elbow.
People started crowding in, colleagues, investors, friends from the board.
Camera flashes were everywhere, the clicking of glasses and the air smelled like power and expensive perfume.
“Can I ?” I questioned before making way to her waist.
She nodded shyly.
We moved through the crowd, shaking hands, smiling.
I introduced her to every executive who used to think I’d die alone with my ego.
“This is Becca Wilton,” I said, my voice steady and proud. “My better half.”
She blinked at me, surprise flickering across her face.
But I meant it.
She wasn’t just someone in a red dress. She was the only person who had made me see myself for what I’d become.
The press cameras clicked like thunder.
Questions started flying”Are you two official?
“How long have you been together? I ignored all of them.
I just took her hand and led her toward the dance floor.
The lights dimmed, and the first notes of a slow song filled the hall.
“Dance with me,” I said, offering my hand.
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine, then placed her palm in my hand.
Her skin was warm, soft, and I swear my heartbeat synced to her touch.
We moved slowly, her head close enough for me to feel her breath against my collar.
“You didn’t have to call me your better half,” she murmured.
“I didn’t lie,” I said.
“Oh please,’’
“I’m saying it because I mean it.”
And for once, I did.
The noise of the room seemed to fade away as if it were just the two of us.
Her eyes glowed in the light and her lips kept twitching.
“You have something on your lips,”
“What's that?”
Before she could clean the illusioned item off,my lips locked with hers.
It wasn’t planned. I didn’t care who saw. I just pulled her closer and kissed her like I needed air from her lungs to survive.
The camera lights flashed,people gasped, but all I heard was the sound of my own pulse.
When we finally broke apart, her face was flushed, her lipstick slightly smeared, and I smiled like an idiot.
At that moment, I didn’t care about business, power, or damage control.
I cared about her.
The night went on, speeches were made, glasses clinked, laughter returned.
Everyone seemed to love the story of Mark Simmons finding love.
If only they knew.
Somewhere between conversations and handshakes, I spotted my friends, Ethan, Eric, and Jason, lounging by the bar.
They waved me over. I didn’t want to leave Becca, but she smiled. “Go. I’ll grab a drink.”
I nodded and went.
Eric clapped my shoulder the moment I joined them. “Look who finally settled down.”
Ethan smirked. “You brought her, huh? Guess that means you’re officially winning the bet.”
I forced a laugh. “What bet?”
“Oh come on, don’t act innocent,” Jason said. “We all saw it. The mighty Mark Simmons actually caught feelings.”
Their laughter grated against my ears. I tried to smile, but the words tasted bitter.
“She’s not some trophy,” I said quietly.
“Sure,” Eric said, raising his glass. “But damn, man. You really pulled it off. The secretary and the boss. Classic move.”
Something inside me twisted.
I looked over at Becca across the room, her red dress, her easy laugh as she talked to a few guests.
She didn’t belong in this crowd of sharks and liars. And I hated that, for a moment, she had been nothing but a game to them.
I stepped back from the bar. “Excuse me,” I muttered, turning away.
They laughed again, too loud, too careless.
But the sound stopped mattering the moment I saw Becca looking straight at me.
Her expression wasn’t the same as before. Her smile was gone. Her eyes shimmered, not with joy, but with disbelief, hurt, and something close to heartbreak.
And that was when I realized she’d heard.
(Becca’s POV)
If I could freeze time, I would have stopped it right before I walked into that restroom.
The night had felt perfect for once. Mark had been gentle, attentive, almost human. The kiss had left me dizzy in a way I hadn’t felt in months. Maybe, just maybe, I’d been wrong about him.
His friends called him over so I used that opportunity to fix my dress and smeared lipstick.
Two women were already there, making touches to their makeup.
“…poor girl doesn’t even know.”
The other laughed softly. “He finally won the bet. I guess even cold-hearted Mark Simmons can melt if it means bragging rights.”
My stomach dropped.
The lipstick slipped from my hand, hitting the sink with a dull clink.
They didn’t notice me. They just kept talking.
“Imagine thinking he actually liked her,” one said. “He just had to proved a point to his buddies.”
A slow, sick feeling crawled up my throat.
I stepped back, my heartbeat loud in my ears.
No. No, that couldn’t be true. That was odd, wasn’t it?
I pushed out of the restroom before I could hear more. My hands were shaking as I walked back through the crowd, trying to breathe, trying not to cry in front of strangers.
Then I saw him.
Mark stood by the bar with his friends, glasses raised, all of them laughing.
“You brought her, huh? Guess that means you’re officially winning the bet.”
“…told you he could make her fall first!” Eric’s voice carried over the music. “The man never loses!”
My feet stopped moving.
The noise of the party faded away, replaced by the dull ringing in my head.
I didn’t even realize I was crying until I felt a tear slide down my cheek.
Mark turned at that moment, like some twisted coincidence, and our eyes met.
His smile fell the second he saw my face.
Everything inside me went still.
For a second, we just stared at each other, the crowd spinning between us.
Then I turned away.