Page 2 of Romancing the Reaper

Almost against my will, my eyes flick back over to the reflection of Maeve’s dress. I can’t even begin to calculate how many hours the two of us had spent together working to get to this point in our lives. So many nights sewing into the wee hours of the morning while I modeled creation after creation. Maeve was constantly sketching and measuring. She’s easily the hardest working person that I’ve ever met in my life. And now, here we are. I’m one of the top models in the industry and she’s about to take off into the stratosphere of fashion. Maeve’s unwavering belief in me was a lifeline to her, pulling her back from the brink time and again. Dominio is about to be the next big thing. I can feel it in my bones.

This dress isn’t just a garment; it’s a symbol of our friendship, our shared dreams, and our journey.

“Earth to Ada?” Lila’s hand waved in front of my face, snapping me back to the present. “Where did you go?”

I force a smile and shake my head, dismissing her concerns for me. “I’m just nervous, that’s all. The Met Gala is a big deal.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Lila snorts a laugh. Then she gives me a knowing look. “You've faced bigger challenges than this, Ada, and you’ve always come out on top.”

I nod, always grateful for Lila’s words of support.

I glance at Alberto, who also gives me another encouraging nod as he pushes off of the wall he had been leaning against. With friends like these, I can’t help but to feel a surge of strength and determination.

Finally, Lila steps back from me and admires her work. “There you go. A true masterpiece, if I do say so myself.”

I turn to the mirror for the last time, and I’m speechless. I almost don’t look like myself at all. The makeup is flawless, enhancing my natural beauty without overpowering it. I feel a sense of pride, not just in my appearance, but in the journey that has brought me here.

Alberto steps forward, offering his arm. “Shall we, Miss Dominio?”

I ease out of my seat and smile at him brightly as I take his proffered arm. “How could I ever say no to a face like that?”

CHAPTER TWO

Kieran

If anybody asked my opinion, I would happily tell whoever was asking that the famed Met Gala might just be the most asinine function that I’ve ever witnessed with my own two eyes.

Here I stand, in my designated post, by the main stairway – and I might as well be invisible. So many layers of fabric and faces of high-profile people that I couldn’t keep track even if I wanted to. Each one more oblivious and entitled than the last. The grand entrance is a sick spectacle of opulence and artistry, the famous stairs adorned with a lush red carpet and surrounded by a throng of photographers and journalists clamoring for a glimpse of the elite attendees. The air is polluted by the buzz of excitement, punctuated by the stinging flash of cameras and the murmur of hushed conversations.

A-listers, influencers, designers, all of the rich elite moving past the sea of people that they will always feel are beneath them. They don’t see the photographers, all they see are the flashing lights. They don’t see the security guards or staff, they only see the champagne and the glitter. The entire event is supposed to be for charity, but everybody who is outside of this room knows that it’s just a pissing contest. There’s no other way to put it.

But, in this instance, it works to my advantage.

My sharp eyes scan over the glamorous crowd, taking in the dazzling array of couture and high fashion that parades past me. It’s sickening but, tonight, I need to blend in.

I am here for one purpose, and one purpose only.

I played the long game to get here. Five years of planning and biding my time. Doing everything that was needed in order to get me to this very moment. There is no way that my plan will fail. I’ve been dedicated to this with a single-minded focus.

Now that the moment is here, I expected a sort of giddy excitement but instead, I feel almost anxious. There is very little that could go wrong, but my analytical mind can’t help but to turn over all of the variables over and over again. After tonight, it’s clear sailing. Everything has led up to this - I just have to find her.

Getting a legitimate position on the event’s security detail had almost been child’s play. Truly, their vetting process is comical. I wonder how they would all feel if they knew how easilytheir security documents were wholly forged. Nothing about my presence raised even a single red flag. Which was perfect, because I needed to ensure that nothing would raise suspicion in Cristiano Dominio’s meticulous planning. My ego almost can’t take the fact that I finally have one up on him. I’m finally going to make a move that he doesn’t see coming.

I stand with comfortable but perfect posture, my hands clasped in front of me wearing the same plain black suit that every other security guard has been assigned. Granted, most of my co-workers wouldn’t have been able to afford Dior suits like mine, but hey the perks are the things that make stuff like this worth it. My face is a mask of professional detachment. Only those who know me well would recognize the cold calculation behind my green eyes. Every few guests announced into the room has me checking my phone. I’m so close to the prize. I just have to keep an eye out for any changes noted by my contacts. I certainly have enough contingency plans in place for anything that might happen.

Ada Dominio should be here any moment.

While she can’t choose her family, she’s the key to my revenge. Her brother is responsible for dismantling my father’s clan and ending his life. My jaw tightens at the very thought of Cristiano. He deserves everything that’s coming to him. My resolve hardens. He will pay for what he’s done, starting with his baby sister Ada.

A text message vibrates on my phone in my pocket. I take only a moment to read the message. It’s from Liam, my cousin. Aftermy father’s death, they are the relatives I had to turn to. I have never felt like more of a failure than the day that I showed up on my uncle’s doorstep.

Are you sure that this girl is really worth all of this trouble?

The message belies how bored my cousin must be. I know that for all his teasing and complaining, he will do whatever I ask of him. It’s a street that goes both ways. My fingers hover over the keyboard for just a moment, debating whether I should dignify his comment with a response at all.

But the choice is made for me, because, just as I start to type, she appears.

Ada Dominio.

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