SHATTERED VOWS

I entered the ballroom shining with elegance as the soft sound of the violin music seemed to fade into the air and the waiters moved around the guests, offering a glass of champagne to guests. The overhead sparkles of the chandeliers cast a warm golden light on the wealthy crowd, all dressed in luxury.

"Hmmm," I exhaled heavily as I proceeded amidst the wealthy society.

The women dressed glittered and giggled quietly at their partner's comments; the men were dressed in sleek designer suits and shared understanding looks.

To an outsider looking in, it seemed like a world of perfection. But to me, Emily Carter, the glittering scene was just nothing but a mask for the power and deceit games beneath it, and here I am to expose it all.

I wore a deep green gown that perfectly shaped my body beautifully, with my raven-black hair styled in a sleek bun, making me look like I belonged to the circle I secretly hated. Even though the dress wasn't mine, and the same as the costly jewelry on me, no one could have guessed that it wasn't mine.

"Are you ready for this, Emily?" I whispered to myself, my heart racing, sensing the purpose of my mission being in the midst of the cruel society.

Every step of mine was deliberate with a sense of purpose as my gaze locked on one man: Alexander Wolfe, the reason I was here, to bring him down, and ruin him completely.

From the other side of the room, Alexander looked cold and seemed just as unapproachable and intimidating as I had imagined. His tall statue and imposing figure were noticeable and commanded respect.

His perfectly tailored black suit highlighted his sharp, well-defined features, with his slicked-back dark hair, and his cold blue eyes seemed to catch everything happening around him at once. His looks were like predator, calm, and in control, surrounded by people who seemed unaware of the power he held, leaving me more certain of the danger he represented.

Alexander Wolfe-the man who had shattered my world. My father had once trusted him, he believed in the promise of a lucrative partnership, and then a deal gone sour had bankrupted my family. My father lost his company, his reputation, and finally, his will to live. He disappeared into the shadows of our ruined home, leaving me to pick up the pieces. It was years of plotting and planning, and now it was time.

As I drew closer to him, My breath stuck in my throat, my heart racing as it echoed and rhymed with my footsteps.

My father's voice echoed in my memory, a pained whisper in the shadows of our once-thriving home. "Promise me, Emily. Promise me you'll make him pay."

"Focus,"

I ordered myself. This was not a time for emotion. Tonight, I wasn't Emily Carter, the broken girl out for revenge. Tonight, I was a heiress: confident and powerful. I hesitated for a brief second; my thoughts were overtaken by painful memories.

I could still remember vividly how my father sat down in that darkened living room, once a successful businessman now ruined like an empty shell.

His face was worn with defeat, his voice hoarse and cracked as he spoke in agony, "I trusted him, Emily; I thought he was a friend." The weight of the words continuously echoed in my mind.

Those words had left a deep wound, regrets, and heartache in my heart-the heartbreak in my father's eye that was impossible to forget. Those words of my father sparked a fire inside me.

It was the fire fueled by my father's ruin that had pushed me to this extent, determined to comfort the man behind my father's downfall. "For you, Dad." I swallowed hard, forcing the memory away as I straightened my back and made my heart steady. It wasn't until I was near enough to make out the sharp angles of Alexander's jaw before I spoke at last, my tone light, practiced, and flirtatious.

"Mr Wolfe?" I called out softly, Slowly, he turned to me, his steel-blue eyes alighting on me. Something flickered for one second in his gaze-maybe recognition? But it was gone just as quickly. He gave a polite smile, his gaze as cold and calculated as the man himself.

"Yes," he returned smoothly, his voice rich and magnetic. "And you are?"... I almost said, but the words caught in my throat. I couldn't let him know who I was, not yet. The last thing I needed was to tip him off before my plan was in motion. I forced a smile of my own, one I had practiced countless times in front of the mirror.

"Just an admirer," I said, my voice soft, laced with intrigue. His smile grew, an amusement entering his expression as he took one step closer. The air around us seemed to thicken with tension. "An admirer, hmm?" he murmured, his eyes sweeping over mine, assessing, as if he could see right through my carefully crafted disguise.

"So tell me, what exactly is it that you admire?" My breath caught, and my mind galloped ahead with the thoughts. Careful, not yet too close. I forced a soft, nervous laugh, with complete innocent facial expression. "Oh, your reputation precedes you, Mr. Wolfe," I replied, the lie slipping smoothly off my lips. "Your success in business, your philanthropy... It's all very impressive."

An eyebrow rose, clearly unconvinced by my reply, but playing along, he moved closer to me, overwhelming me with his presence. "Is that so? My heart was racing, but I refused to back down. I had to. I was here to bring him down, not to get sucked in by his spell.

But God, being this close to him, it was harder than anticipated. The heat of his body, the intensity in his gaze, was all-consuming. My father's voice echoed through my head again, a whispered plea. "Promise me you'll make him pay."

I blinked, breaking the eye contact for that moment as my body battled my emotions. "Yes," I said, my voice stronger this time, my resolve hardening once more."I'd love to get to know you better, Mr. Wolfe." He leaned a fraction toward me, head tilted to one side as if intrigued by the challenge I presented.

"Would you now?" His voice was low, dangerously smooth." Perhaps over a drink?" she suggested, trying to wrest the advantage back. But the reality was, with every second that passed in his vicinity, control was flitting through my fingers.

His gaze settled on me, and for some little moment, I thought I glimpsed something behind the frozen exterior-perhaps curiosity, even interest. But then his face hardened once more, and the predator was revealed. "I think that can be arranged."

As he led me away from the sea of faces, my mind was racing. This was the beginning of my plans. Mingle with him, get close to him, and then I would bring him down. But with every step away from the sparkling lights of the ballroom, the uneasy feeling that I had just stepped into the lion's den was racing in my mind. And the lion was watching my every movement.

Ma'am, your pen fell," a voice called out, cutting through the thick haze of my thoughts. I turned, startled. A young man was on his haunches handed me the pen. I hadn't even realized it had slipped from my fingers.

My fingers brushed his briefly as I took it, flashing him a quick smile. "Oh, thanks so much," I muttered, trying to refocus. "You're welcome," he responded, his tone courteous despite his lingering gaze on my lavishing dress, before vanishing back into the crowd.

I placed the pen in my clutch, diverting my focus back to the plans. Just a few feet from me, Alexander had back turned while talking to another guest. The time was approaching.

However, at that instant, my heel got caught.

My body suddenly leaned forward before I had a chance to respond. I felt a sudden rush of panic as I immediately reached out my hands, trying to regain balance. I collided with something, or rather, someone, I guess, as my palms hit solid fabric.

A firm chest............