Chapter 63 63
STEVE POV
I hardly took my eyes off Freya during the entire ride. "Breathtaking" was an underrated word for how she looked tonight. The emerald silk hugged her in all the right places, and the way the streetlights hit her skin made her look like something out of a dream.
"We are almost there," I said, my voice low.
I noticed her fingers twitching against her clutch bag. She was nervous. I could see the slight tension in her neck and the way she kept looking out the window, then back at me.
"Steve," she started, her voice a bit shaky. "Are you not going to tell me what this party is all about?"
I didn't answer right away. I just reached over and took her hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. Her skin was cool, but mine was hot enough for both of us. I didn't want to explain the details yet. I wanted her to see it happen.
Just then, the phone in my pocket buzzed. I pulled it out.
Victor.
I picked up, but I didn't say a word. I didn't have to.
"Everything is going as planned, Boss," Victor’s voice came through the line, sharp and professional. "He’s inside. The bait is taken. We’re ready when you are."
I glanced at Freya. She was staring at me, trying to catch any hint of what was going on. My grip on her hand tightened.
"Let the live video begin," I said into the phone.
Freya’s eyes widened. She looked at me as if I’d just spoken a foreign language. "Live video? Steve, what are you talking about?"
I didn't answer. The car pulled up to the entrance of the venue, and the world outside turned into a sea of flashing lights.
The driver stopped, and I stepped out first. The cool night air hit me, but I didn't feel it. I walked around to the other side and opened the door for Freya. The moment she stepped out, the cameras started clicking like a hundred heartbeats. The light was blinding, but she stood tall, looking every bit like the woman I knew she was becoming.
I leaned in close to her ear, my breath brushing against her skin so only she could hear me.
"This is your revenge, Freya," I whispered.
"Revenge?" she repeated, her voice barely a breath.
I didn't explain. I just nodded, took her hand firmly in mine, and led her toward the entrance.
The moment we stepped inside the hall, the atmosphere shifted. It was like a wave of silence followed by a sudden storm of camera flashes. Every media lens in the room pivoted away from the stage and pointed directly at Freya.
The murmurs started instantly. It was a low hum of voices that filled the room as people craned their necks to see her.
"Is that the new emerald silk?"
"That’s the unreleased piece from the French collection..."
"She looks incredible."
I felt a smirk tug at my lips. I had to give it to Diana; she really knew how to pick them. When I told her to get something that would make people stop breathing, I didn't realize she’d pick a dress that literally demanded the whole room's attention. I didn't care about the fashion—I just knew it looked right. I didn't even blink when I authorized the $500,000 for it.
As we walked through the crowd, the whispers grew louder. People were staring at Freya like she was royalty, and I could feel her tensing up beside me, her hand gripping my arm a little tighter.
She leaned in closer to me, her lips barely moving as she whispered, "Steve, don’t tell me they are talking about my dress being worth $300,000. I think I just heard someone say that."
I kept my eyes fixed forward, my expression calm, though I was enjoying her reaction.
"Five hundred thousand, actually," I said silently.
Freya’s step faltered for a split second. Her eyes went wide, and her jaw almost dropped. I could see her throat move as she swallowed a scream, her fingers digging into my suit jacket. She looked at me with a mix of shock and "are you crazy?" as we kept walking.
She wanted to stop and yell at me, I could see it in her eyes, but she controlled herself beautifully. She just kept walking by my side, looking stunned, while the rest of the room looked at her like she was the only woman on earth.
We reached the center of the room, and I saw Victor standing near the large screens. He gave me a short nod.
The large screens at the front of the hall turned on. The music stopped and the room went silent. A clear video appeared.
"Lila," Freya whispered beside me.
Her hand was still on my arm, but she stopped moving. She stared at the screen.
It was Lila. She was sitting up in a hospital bed. She looked pale, but she was awake and talking. The video was playing for everyone in the room and on a live link online.
"Lila..." Freya said again. She sounded like she couldn't believe it.
She turned her head slowly to look at me. Her eyes were wide and full of questions. She forgot all about the expensive dress.
"What is this, Steve?" she asked. Her voice was shaking. "Why is she on the screen? What are you doing?"
“You will understand Freya”
The video on the screens kept playing. It showed Lila’s story—her career, her best moments, and then the details of how she survived the accident. But as the crowd watched the screen, the room suddenly gasped.
Lila was actually there.
She walked out into the hall, looking elegant despite what she had been through. She began greeting people, smiling and thanking them for coming. The room was buzzing.
Just as Lila turned her head toward my direction, Victor moved. He was fast and professional. Before Lila could lock eyes with Freya, Victor stepped in, took Freya by the arm, and gently but firmly pulled her away into the crowd.
It wasn't time for Lila to see her yet. Not like this.
Lila stopped, her eyes narrowing as she watched Victor walk away with a woman in a green dress. She couldn't see Freya’s face, but she knew Victor worked for me.
"Is that not Victor?" Lila asked, her voice curious. She almost started to follow them, her curiosity getting the better of her.
I stepped into her path, blocking her view and forcing her to look at me instead. I needed to keep her focus right here.
"You look good," I said, my voice calm and steady.
Lila paused and looked up at me, a small smile appearing on her face. "Steve. You actually came."
"I wouldn't miss it," I replied.