BENEATH THE VELVET EMPIRE

doubt. Liam's offer had lit a fire in my mind, a constant hum of what-ifs and maybes. But ever

m such an opportunity. Jenna had been adamant that I should take the deal, but even her enthusiasm

backing. It was him. His intensity, his presence, the way he looked

what unsettle

rtment, staring at a blank canvas. I needed space to think, to breathe.

and paint-splattered walls. But it was mine. It was the one place where I felt

f turpentine and fresh canvas filled the air as I set up my easel, squeezing bright bursts of color onto t

w, or what my future might look like if I said yes to his offer. All that mattered was the brush i

the outside worl

et. I ignored it at first, focusing on the curve of the brush as I

e out, expecting it to be Jenna checking in on me. Ins

Mer

conversation. I wasn't ready to face him, not yet. But ignoring him di

the line, smooth and confident as a

ing in front of me, my fingers still

st picture him sitting in his office, leaning back i

ion," Liam said, his tone measured. "Ha

of his question pressing down on me.

ig decision, but I don't make offers like this lightly, Isabella.

. It was almost suffocating, the way he spoke as

said, my voice soft.

replied. "But remember, the world mov

down my spine, a quiet reminder that while he was

d help if you could see the bigger picture. There's a charity gala tomorrow night-an event

guard by his sudden

nity for you to meet some of the people I work with, people who could become im

deeper into his world. But before I could protes

ou if I didn't think

ections, of high society, of people who could elevate my career to levels I had never imagined. And yet, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how out of place I felt. Could

dea of finally having my work seen by th

steady despite the knots for

ing the hint of a smile. "I'll have a

ing me standing in the middle of my studio, phone

n't own anything remotely appropriate for a high-society charity gala. My wardrobe was a mix of paint-splatte

ourse, had

n black dress I had pulled out with a look of disdain. "Th

of annoyance and insecurity. "I

. "Lucky for you, I do. I'm calling my st

mini salon. Jenna's stylist friend, Lila, swept in with an armful of desi

a said, giving me a once-over. "You've got gre

st into someone who could, at least on the surface, fit into Liam Mercer's world.

my features without making me look overdone. And the dress-Jenna had chosen a deep emerald gown that hugged my figure i

id, beaming with pride. "You

man who wore thousand-dollar dresses to exclusive events. I was just Isabella Wright, the girl who

that. Tonight, I had to be someone

d heads as it glided through the city streets. I sat in the back, try

light of the evening. As we pulled up to the entrance, I could see a line of luxury cars stretching down the dr

where people knew exactly how to navigate the social currents, where every word, every ge

ed my door, and I stepped out onto the red carpet. There were

es found mine immediately, and for a moment, the noise around me faded. There was something about the wa

his gaze unwavering. "Isabella," he said, his voi

steady my nerves. "Thank you," I managed to sa

dream. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, golden light over the room. Waiters

ed from magazine covers and business headlines. CEOs, philanthropists, and socialites-all o

These people didn't know me. They didn't care about my art.

rd. I couldn't help but marvel at how effortless it seemed for him, how comfortable he was in a room full of power players. He spoke their language, charmed them with a subtle

and, felt like a

s in exotic locales. Every now and then, someone would turn to me with a polite question, but it always felt like small talk, a courtes

breathe again. The grand event was overwhelming, but for a moment, I allowed myself to take it all in-the sparkling chandeliers, t

appeared at my side once more, h

he said, his voice cut

the glass he offered. "Just taking a

eyes searching mine. "I know. But

f-joking but also genuinely curio

serious. "You don't give your

feel like I was capable of more than I thought, but there was something unnerving about

de hair was perfectly styled, and her diamond necklace sparkled under the ballroom l

is arm in a gesture that was too familiar for my

nsion in his body that hadn't been there before. "V

o me, her smile tight. "A

belonged in this world-elegant, poised, and perfectly in control. I was the opposite, an ou

," Liam continued, his voic

't quite reach her ey

h, that she didn't think I belonged there. She spoke with Liam as if I wasn't even standing next to

e excused herself, leaving me and Li

o keep my tone casual, though the

ollowing her as she disappeared into the c

sit right with me. There was a history between them, that

subtle hostility of Victoria's presence. I couldn't shake the feelin

to gather my thoughts. "This is your world, isn't it?" I ask

pression unreadable. "It'

ink I can f

loser, his voice lowering. "I think you can

t was as if he saw something in me that I didn't fully understand, something tha

t my world, that I didn't truly belong here. Liam might bel

hand resting lightly on the small of m

t off guard. "Wh

ne smile that took me by

our of the gala fading behind us. Liam led me down a path lined with lanterns,

until all I could hear was the sound of our fo

y breaking the silence

ng under the moonlight. He turned to face me, his eyes refl

world, Isabella. It's not about fitting in. It's about creating something new. And you... y

he truly saw me. Not just as some artist with potential, but as someone who could s

s words settling deep in my c

ever leaving mine. "You can. An