hapter Thirty Five
Chapter Thirty Five
Daniel hesitated for a fraction of a second before taking her hand. His touch was familiar, but the circumstances couldn’t have been more different. “Tasha,” he replied, his voice low, his eyes searching hers for something she wasn’t ready to give.
Venessa, standing beside Daniel with a smug expression, wasted no time inserting herself into the conversation. “Oh, Tasha, how lovely to see you again,” she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.” I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight.”
Tasha returned the smile, though hers was far more genuine. “Likewise, Venessa. It’s been… a while.” The tension between the four of them was palpable. Venessa squeezed Daniel’s arm tighter, as if staking her claim, while Daniel remained silent, his gaze flickering between Tasha and Venessa.
“Well,” Mr. Belvoir continued, oblivious to the undercurrents, “I’m sure the two of you will have plenty to discuss over the course of the evening. I’ll leave you to it. There are some other guests I need to greet.”
With that, Mr. Belvoir excused himself, leaving the three of them standing in the midst of the glittering crowd.
“So,” Venessa said, tilting her head with mock curiosity, “how have you been, Tasha? Still working in fashion, I presume? It must be so exciting… especially with your new… responsibilities.”
Tasha met Venessa’s gaze coolly. “Yes, it’s been quite fulfilling,” she said calmly. “I’ve been managing just fine.”
The two women stared each other down, the air between them thick with Malice. Meanwhile, Daniel remained silent, clearly torn between the past and the present.
The gala, the contest, everything that had led to this moment it was all intertwined with her history with Daniel. And now, with Venessa so close, and Daniel so deeply involved in her professional life once again, things were bound to get even more complicated.
“Well,” Tasha said finally, breaking the silence, “I should get back to my table. Enjoy the evening.” She offered a polite nod and turned to leave, feeling Daniel’s gaze linger on her as she walked away.
Tasha passed through the crowd, her gown flowing effortlessly as she moved back to her table. She could feel Daniel’s eyes on her the entire time. Even with all her focus, she couldn’t ignore the unsettling sensation of Daniel watching her every move.
She looked stunning in her gown. It hugged her body in all the right places, accentuating her curves, her toned arms exposed by the sleeveless design. The dress had a high slit, revealing just a hint of her legs as she moved gracefully through the sea of investors and fashion elites. Tasha’s presence commanded attention, and she knew it.
As Tasha reached her table, Robbin was already seated, chatting with a group of colleagues. He turned when he saw her approach, standing up and offering her a warm smile as he pulled out her chair.
“You look incredible tonight, Tasha,” Robbin complimented as she sat down.
“Thank you,” she replied, her voice soft but appreciative. Being near Robbin felt safe.
Robbin’s hand brushed hers, casually yet protectively, and Tasha saw Daniel from the corner of her eye,
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Chapter Thirty Five
standing near the bar. His jaw clenched as he watched their interaction. Tasha could feel the questions forming in Daniel’s mind was Robbin her husband? Her partner? There was a brief flash of something in Daniel’s eyes, something that looked like jealousy, but Tasha quickly pushed the thought aside. Why does
it matter now?
The gala continued in full swing, the clinking of champagne glasses and light chatter filling the space. Investors mingled with designers, while photographers captured the glamor of the evening. Tasha tried her best to focus on the conversations at her table, discussing fashion trends and the upcoming contest, but she was acutely aware of Daniel’s presence in the room. Every so often, her eyes flickered in his direction, only to find him already watching her.
Robbin leaned over, whispering something funny in her ear. She laughed softly, tilting her head closer to him, and she could feel Daniel’s gaze intensify across the room. Robbin, oblivious to the invisible tension, continued to engage her in conversation.
Venessa, too, was always close to Daniel, draped over him as if he were her prized possession. She floated around the room, her presence loud and unavoidable, speaking to investors and laughing at their jokes with that artificial sweetness Tasha knew too well. Venessa played her role as the charming partner, but anyone who knew her could sense the underlying venom beneath her polished exterior.
Daniel, on the other hand, remained distant, only engaging when necessary. His eyes wandered back to Tasha every few moments, despite Venessa’s desperate attempts to keep his attention on her. His mind seemed elsewhere trapped in thoughts and guilts, trying to piece together the truth that had slowly begun to unfold.
As the night progressed, an important investor approached their table, pulling Tasha into a conversation about her designs for the contest. She smiled and nodded, explaining her vision with the practiced ease like someone who had lived and breathed fashion her entire life.
Then, a few moments later, Mr. Belvoir took the stage, announcing a special toast to the evening’s contributors. The lights dimmed slightly, and as glasses were raised, Tasha found herself locking eyes with Daniel once more. This time, the moment was longer, more intense. The room seemed to fade away as they stared at each other from across the distance.
Tasha’s heart raced, but she forced herself to break the connection, turning her attention back to Robbin.
As the toast ended, Venessa’s voice rang out from across the room. “Daniel, darling, shall we greet some more investors?” she asked sweetly, clearly trying to steer him away from whatever had caught his
attention.
Daniel hesitated, his eyes lingering on Tasha for just a moment longer before he nodded and followed Venessa into the crowd.
Robbin leaned over again, “Everything alright? You seem a bit distracted.“,
Tasha blinked, refocusing her attention. “I’m fine,” she said, offering him a smile. “Just a lot on my mind.”
But the truth was far more complicated. The past, the present, and the future were all colliding in this one night, and Tasha could feel the weight of it building. She glanced down at her glass, swirling the champagne absentmindedly, wondering how she was supposed to navigate the tangled web her life had become.
And just as she thought she could finally breathe, she saw Mr. Belvoir approach her table again, this time with Daniel.
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Charter Thy I
“Tasha,” Mr. Belvoir began warmly, “I thought I’d bring Daniel over again for a proper introduction” M
Belvoir said, smiling warmly. “He’s been a huge supporter of this project, and I think the two of you will be working quite closely in the coming months‘
