The grand ballroom was a spectacle of luxury and opulence, its vast ceiling adorned with glittering chandeliers that cast a soft, golden glow over the space. The room was filled with elegant figures in black-tie attire, women in stunning gowns that shimmered under the lights, and men in perfectly tailored suits, their faces serene and composed, but with a quiet intensity behind their eyes. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes, mingling with the aroma of gourmet hors d'oeuvres carried by waiters who glided through the room with silver trays.

  Ashleen and Siana entered the party wide-eyed, momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur of it all. The marble floors gleamed beneath their feet, reflecting the twinkling lights overhead. Soft music played from a live orchestra in the corner, their symphony filling the air with an air of sophistication. A massive fountain at the center of the room bubbled gently, its waters sparkling as guests circled around it, champagne flutes in hand, engaged in quiet, hushed conversations that felt secretive, even from a distance.

  Siana, still slightly on edge from the strange invitation, found herself slowly relaxing as the atmosphere drew her in. It was hard not to be seduced by the beauty of the party—the soft glow of candlelight on the tables, the delicate floral arrangements, and the impeccable decor that screamed wealth and power. Everywhere she looked, there were faces of privilege, people who lived lives far beyond what she could imagine.

  Ashleen, on the other hand, was already in full party mode, her face lit with excitement as she nudged Siana, pointing out some celebrity or business mogul she recognized from the tabloids. “This is insane,” Ashleen whispered, barely able to contain her excitement. “We’re at the party of the century! Can you believe it? We’re surrounded by billionaires!”

  Siana chuckled, the infectious energy pulling her out of her unease. For the first time in days, the memory of the kiss, the dark aura, and the unsettling feeling began to slip away. She grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and took a sip, feeling the bubbly liquid settle her nerves. “Yeah,” she said softly, smiling now. “It’s surreal.”

  As the evening progressed, Siana found herself lost in the enchantment of the night. They mingled with other guests, sharing small talk and laughter, while the orchestra played on, adding a dreamlike quality to the whole affair. The party was like something out of a fantasy—grand, elegant, and otherworldly. Even the staff moved with a graceful precision that made everything feel effortless, as if this kind of grandeur was a natural part of their world.

  At some point, Siana and Ashleen found themselves near the grand staircase, watching as more guests arrived in lavish attire. The drinks were flowing, and Siana began to feel light, almost euphoric. She caught herself laughing more freely, twirling slightly in her gown as the mood of the party lifted her spirits. Ashleen was right—this was the kind of night they’d only dreamed about, and for now, she allowed herself to be swept away by it all.

  But beneath the surface of her joy, something still lingered—a shadow that refused to leave entirely. It was a small, nagging feeling, barely noticeable amidst the glittering lights and laughter, but it was there. She brushed it aside again, telling herself that tonight was about fun, about living in the moment.

  As the night wore on, Siana's guard lowered further. She danced with Ashleen, laughed with strangers, and savored the atmosphere of power and elegance that surrounded her. The creeping feeling from before had faded into the background, replaced by the intoxicating allure of the party. The champagne, the music, the thrill of being in such an exclusive world—it was all too perfect.

The soft chatter and elegant music in the ballroom suddenly hushed as the anchor, a tall man in an immaculately tailored tuxedo, took the stage. His voice echoed through the room with a charismatic confidence that immediately commanded attention.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please!” he said, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “We have a special surprise for you tonight. A competition unlike any other, where one lucky guest will not only become the face of the night, but will also walk away with a staggering ten million dollars as the prize.”

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, eyes widening at the announcement. Siana felt a jolt of excitement rush through her as the magnitude of the reward sank in. Ten million dollars? It was an unfathomable sum, and even the wealthy elite in the room couldn’t mask their intrigue. Ashleen practically squealed beside her, gripping Siana’s arm with enthusiasm.

“Can you believe this? Ten million dollars! We have to enter!” Ashleen said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Siana, though surprised, found herself smiling at the thought. The thrill of the competition was infectious, and the entire ballroom seemed to buzz with a new energy. The possibility of winning such a life-changing amount was enough to capture anyone’s attention, even amidst all the luxury they were already surrounded by.

The anchor continued, his voice booming with excitement. “To participate, all you have to do is write your name on the card that our staff will be passing around and drop it into the golden box at the front of the room. We will draw one lucky winner who will become the Face of the Night—a title that comes with fame, glory, and of course, a very handsome reward.”

Around the room, staff members in sleek uniforms began moving among the guests, handing out elegant cards and pens. Ashleen grabbed one immediately, scribbling her name with a flourish. “I’m definitely doing this,” she said, her grin wide. “You should, too! It’s ten million dollars, Siana. Even if it’s a long shot, why not?”

Siana hesitated, the pen hovering over the card in her hand. The idea of entering seemed harmless, but something in her gut made her pause. This party, the invitation, and now this extravagant competition—it all felt almost too good to be true. But the excitement in the room, coupled with Ashleen’s infectious energy, made it hard to resist.

Finally, with a small shrug, she scribbled her name on the card. What’s the worst that could happen? she thought, pushing her lingering unease aside.

They approached the golden box, an ornate, shimmering chest that stood at the front of the ballroom, glittering under the chandelier light. As they dropped their cards inside, Siana glanced around the room, noticing the other guests doing the same, their faces alight with anticipation. Some looked eager, others more calculated, but everyone was clearly interested in the prize.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” the anchor continued, his voice echoing through the now silent room again. “The winner will be revealed later in the night. Until then, enjoy the festivities, and good luck to all!”

The music resumed, and the atmosphere lightened once more as people returned to their conversations and drinks, though the air now hummed with anticipation. Siana felt her pulse quicken, the thought of winning such a fortune sending her mind spinning. Even Ashleen seemed more animated than ever, already talking about what they could do with that kind of money.

  For a brief moment, Siana let herself get lost in the excitement, almost forgetting the strange undercurrent she’d felt earlier. But somewhere, deep in the back of her mind, that familiar, creeping unease stirred again. She brushed it off, laughing with Ashleen as they returned to the party.

As they returned to their table, Ashleen was practically glowing with excitement. She couldn’t stop bouncing on her heels, her smile so wide it was like she’d already won the ten million dollars.

  “Oh my God, Siana! This is it! We’re going to be rich!” Ashleen gushed, grabbing a champagne flute from the table and taking a dramatic sip, as if she was already celebrating. “I mean, just imagine what we could do with ten million dollars! We could buy a yacht, or a penthouse, or like… an entire island!”

Siana, sipping her own champagne with considerably less enthusiasm, rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair. “Ashleen, you realize there are, like, a hundred people here? Most of them are basically born into ten million dollars. We’re just here because of a free pass, remember?”

  Ashleen waved her hand dismissively, her eyes sparkling. “Details, details! That doesn’t matter. The universe works in mysterious ways! Who says one of us can’t win?”

Siana raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know, maybe the fact that half the people here probably have their own private jets? Look at that guy over there,” she gestured toward a man wearing an impossibly expensive-looking suit, chatting casually with a woman dripping in diamonds. “I’m pretty sure he makes ten million dollars every time he sneezes.”

Ashleen burst out laughing, her eyes following where Siana was pointing. “Yeah, but our sneeze would be more… charming. We’ve got that relatable, underdog vibe, you know?”

Siana chuckled. “Oh, totally. Nothing screams ‘winner of ten million dollars’ like a couple of girls who got here because they filled out an online form and got lucky.”

Ashleen grinned, undeterred. “Exactly! We’re relatable, Siana! Everyone loves an underdog story. The universe loves a twist ending!”

“Uh-huh,” Siana said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Like the twist where we don’t win and end up spending the last of our savings on extra drinks because we’ll need something to drown our sorrows.”

Ashleen giggled, but then pointed a finger at Siana, eyes twinkling. “Oh, come on! You’re just being a pessimist. Have a little faith! What if we’re the wildcards? They’ll pull out the name and BAM—Ashleen, the girl who used to buy ramen noodles in bulk, suddenly a multi-millionaire!”

Siana couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculous mental image. “I mean, sure, and then I’ll start a business called ‘Siana’s Instant Riches’ where I’ll charge people ten million dollars just to hear how I won ten million dollars.”

Ashleen leaned in closer, waggling her eyebrows. “See? Now you’re thinking like a rich person.”

  Siana snorted into her champagne. “Right. I’m just saying, don’t get your hopes up too high, okay? We’re surrounded by people who probably have mansions with helicopter landing pads. Our chances are like, one in a million.”

  Ashleen sighed dramatically, but her grin never faded. “Okay, fine, Ms. Reality Check, but when we win, don’t be surprised if I have a throne carried by shirtless men to accept my prize.”

  Siana choked on her champagne, laughing. “Oh, I’ll be there—front row, taking photos to sell to tabloids for extra cash. You know, just in case the ten million doesn’t cover our future yacht.”

  Ashleen winked. “See? That’s the spirit. Now, let’s enjoy the night. You never know, stranger things have happened!”

  With a grin, Siana clinked her glass against Ashleen’s, laughing at the sheer absurdity of it all.

  The ballroom was once again enveloped in an expectant hush as the anchor returned to the stage, his charismatic voice slicing through the excitement. “And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” he said, a wide smile playing on his lips. “Before we reveal the lucky winner of our exclusive competition, I’d like to invite the host of tonight’s spectacular event to the stage—the man behind this entire evening. Please welcome, the illustrious and powerful… Mr. Devillian Giordano.”

  Polite applause rippled through the room, but there was something in the air that shifted the moment the name was spoken—a tension that hadn’t been there before.

  Siana, sipping her champagne, froze. That name… Devillian Giordano. She didn’t recognize it, but the instant she heard it, something inside her twisted. Her gaze drifted toward the stage, and then she saw him.

  A tall, imposing figure emerged from the crowd, walking with an effortless authority that made the room seem to shrink around him. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his sharp features and intense gaze commanded every eye in the room. His dark hair was slicked back, and though his expression was calm and composed, there was a coldness in his eyes that sent a shiver racing down Siana’s spine. He exuded power, the kind of power that made everyone in the room instinctively step back, even as they applauded.

  Siana swallowed, her heart skipping a beat. Why does he seem so… familiar? She couldn’t place him, but something about the way he moved, the dark, brooding energy he carried—it stirred a deep unease inside her. She glanced at Ashleen, who was still clapping excitedly, clearly unaffected. But Siana couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.

  As he reached the stage, Devillian Giordano took the microphone, his deep, smooth voice washing over the room. “Thank you for joining us this evening,” he said, his tone cool, almost indifferent. “I trust you’ve all been enjoying yourselves.”

  The audience murmured in agreement, though the air was still thick with tension. Siana’s chest tightened as she stared at him. There was something about the way he spoke, the way his eyes scanned the room, as if he saw everything, everyone—like nothing escaped his notice.

  Her hand trembled slightly as she set down her glass. That feeling… the same feeling she’d had that night, after the kiss. That sense of something dark, something dangerous looming over her. She shook her head, trying to push the thought away. It was probably just the atmosphere of the party getting to her. After all, this man was a public figure, a businessman, nothing more. But still, her heart raced as if her body knew something her mind couldn’t quite grasp.

  Siana shifted in her seat, trying to shake off the strange chill that had settled over her. She didn’t know this man, and yet… there was something about him. Something that made her heart pound in her chest, though she couldn’t explain why.

  Ashleen, oblivious to Siana’s discomfort, leaned in and whispered excitedly, “He’s gorgeous, isn’t he? I mean, wow. No wonder he’s running this whole thing. I heard he’s some kind of business mogul, but look at him. Total power vibes.”

  Siana barely heard her. Her eyes were locked on Devillian as he finished his speech and handed the microphone back to the anchor. She wasn’t sure what had just happened, but the uneasy feeling hadn’t left her. In fact, it had only grown stronger.

  As Devillian stepped down from the stage, his gaze briefly met hers. For a split second, the world seemed to narrow, the noise of the ballroom fading into the background. Her breath caught in her throat, and her stomach flipped. She didn’t know why, but she felt it—an invisible pull, a connection she didn’t understand. It was as if he saw right through her, as if he knew something she didn’t.

  And then he was gone, blending back into the crowd like a shadow. Siana exhaled, her pulse racing.

  Ashleen, still beaming, gave her a nudge. “Hey, you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Siana forced a smile, though her heart was still pounding in her chest. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… I don’t know. That guy gives me the creeps.”

  Ashleen laughed. “What? Mr. Gorgeous Businessman? You’re crazy. He’s probably loaded and charming. We should totally go talk to him later.”

  Siana shook her head, trying to laugh it off. “Yeah, sure. Maybe after we win the ten million dollars, right?”

  But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She didn’t know who Devillian Giordano really was. Not yet. But soon, she would. And her life would never be the same again.