Page 109

She’s grace. Elegance. Angelic.
And she made this herself.
My reprimand dies on my lips. My irritation evaporates.
I have to fight to keep my jaw from dropping.
It takes a full moment for me to realize that Robbie is standing beside her, dressed in a miniature tuxedo that mirrors mine.
His dark hair is combed neatly, and he’s beaming up at me, completely unaware of the tension radiating off me as I stare at Annie like I’ve never seen her before.
Annie shifts under my gaze, her fingers grazing the side of her dress in a nervous tick. The slight blush dusting her cheeks only makes her look more breathtaking.
“H-How is it?” she asks, nearly whisperingin her uncertainty.
I clear my throat, forcing myself to speak. “You look…” I trail off, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. I swallow and try again. “You look incredible.”
Her blush deepens, and she dips her gaze, tucking a loose wave behind her ear. “Thank you.”
She’s sweet when she blushes. I don’t think I’ve ever found something as distracting as watching the pink creep across her skin.
I glance down at Robbie, who is still grinning at me expectantly. “And you,” I say, crouching slightly. “You clean up nice, buddy.”
He giggles. “Annie said I look just like you!”
I smirk. “She’s right. You’re just missing the scowl.”
Robbie laughs harder, and Annie bites back a smile.
I straighten, my eyes locking onto Annie’s again. “You made this?”
She nods, the nervousness flickering in her expression. “Yeah. I told you I had experience, but… I… It’s good enough, right?”
Good enough?
It’s better than anything I could’ve bought her.
I should’ve known. Evelyn told me she was talented. But I hadn’t expected this. I hadn’t expected her to look like she belonged in the pages of a high-end fashion magazine.
I should tell her all of that. I should tell her that she blew my expectations out of the water. But before I can, Ellis appears at my side, ever composed.
“The first of your guests have arrived, Mr. Wagner.”
I exhale, blinking as I snap back to the reality of the event. Right. The gala. The reason she’s dressed like this in the first place.
I nod at Ellis before glancing at Annie one more time. “We’ll talk later.”
Something flickers in her expression, but she only nods. “Of course.”
I turn toward the entrance, adjusting the cuffs of my tux, trying to shift my focus back to business. But as I step forward to greet my guests, there’s only one thought circling in my mind.
Annie Fox is full of surprises.
***
Conversation weaves through the ballroom, punctuated by the occasional clinking of glasses and laughter. The event is in full swing, investors and business partners mingling with ease, thanks to the carefully curated atmosphere—and the free-flowing champagne, no doubt.
Everything is exactly as it should be—elegant, refined, seamless.