Chapter 24 Play The Part

Alicia Davenport The night was a whirlwind of small talk, polite laughter, and perfectly curated conversations. I moved through the grand ballroom, sometimes arm-in-arm with my parents, sometimes accompanied by Nicholas, and other times alone, observing the way people watched us—watched me. The rumors had already started spreading. The heiress of Davenport Architects and the powerful Nicholas Andrieux were suddenly an item. Some guests whispered in curiosity, others in admiration, and a few in skepticism. I could hear the hushed conversations as I passed by—people wondering if our relationship was merely an alliance or if there was something more. I had been prepared for this, of course. It was only natural that people would speculate. What I wasn’t prepared for, however, was the direct question that came next. "So, Alicia, how did you and Nicholas meet?" I turned to see an elegantly dressed woman, her curiosity evident as she smiled warmly. For a brief second, panic flared in my