LEGACY AND LIES

THE PARTY

The night smelled like money and success. The Grand Horizon Hotel in Beverly Hills stood tall, shining with all its golden glass and perfectly manicured flair.

Inside, the ballroom buzzed with laughter, expensive perfume, and people who mattered or thought they did.

Big names everywhere. Celebs, directors, producers, media sharks. Everyone had a drink in hand and secrets on their lips.

The reason? A billion-dollar movie had just broken records, and this was the party to prove it.

Alex Carter had barely stepped in before regretting it. He wore a sharp designer suit, dark, sleek, no tie.

Button undone. Effortlessly stylish. At six feet, with piercing blue eyes, sharp jawline, and that air of not needing to try, he drew stares even in a crowd full of Hollywood's brightest.

But to him? These parties were all the same. Same fake laughter. Same desperate handshakes. Same people trying to use him or be used.

He planned to breeze through smile, nod, get snapped by paparazzi, and leave unnoticed. Then she happened. Not a starlet. Not someone trying to climb the Hollywood ladder.

She wore an emerald silk dress and stood near the bar like she owned the place or at least didn't care if she did.

Her eyes scanned the room like she was sizing up a chessboard, not a guest list. He stopped mid-conversation. “Who’s that?” he asked, mostly to himself.

Mr. Davenport, the CEO of a major marketing firm and Luciana’s boss, didn’t even blink. “Luciana. She’s one of ours, marketing exec.

Known for reviving dying brands. Not here for the cameras.” He spoke between sips of his wine, voice heavy with age but sharp.

She hadn’t even glanced at Alex. No flicker of recognition. No shy smile. No accidental bump into him. Nothing. That got his attention.

She stood talking to some investor, posture cool and confident. Her eyes never wavered, not even when they met his. The dress shimmered in the golden light.

She didn’t try to stand out, yet blending in seemed impossible. She was striking. And clearly didn’t care about him. Alex smirked. Finally.

Luciana didn’t want to be there. Her firm had signed a deal with a top Hollywood agency, and she was just doing her job, rubbing elbows, making connections. This wasn’t her scene, and definitely not her type of man. Especially not Alex Carter.

He was smooth. Too smooth. Handsome in that annoyingly perfect way. The kind of guy who was too used to people falling for him. She had no patience for that.

Her best friend, on the other hand, was watching him like a movie. “Okay, okay,” Selena whispered with a teasing grin, nudging her shoulder.

“Don’t pretend you didn’t notice him.” Luciana didn’t even look at her.

“I’m not noticing anyone.” Selena chuckled. “Uh-huh. Sure. I’m just saying, the room shifts a little when he walks in, and you pretending not to care? Iconic.”

Luciana took a slow sip of her drink. “I’m here for work, not whatever that is.” “Work,” Selena repeated, rolling her eyes.

“You mean to tell me a little harmless flirting would kill your career?” Luciana raised a brow. “I don’t flirt with people who expect it from everyone.” Selena shrugged, lips curled into a playful smirk.

“He’s a walking empire, babe. Maybe it’s time someone made him work for attention.” Luciana laughed under her breath. “Exactly why I won’t give it to him.” Selena just grinned, loving every second. “You’re a force, Luc.

But come on... you used to like him.” Luciana froze slightly. “That was a long time ago.” Selena tilted her head. “Sixteen, Masked King premiere.

Don’t act like we didn’t sneak out for it.” Luciana’s breath caught for a second.

The memory hit quick, her and her friends giggling their way into a late-night screening, screaming when Alex appeared onscreen, hearts pounding.

She’d crushed hard back then. But that version of her? The wide-eyed fan? Felt like a stranger now. “I was young,” she muttered, brushing it off. “I’ve outgrown all that.” Selena grinned knowingly. “Sure you have.” Luciana gave her a flat look. “It’s not about him.

It’s about what he represents, another guy who thinks charisma is a currency.” “Don’t act like it’s not,” Selena teased.

Luciana rolled her eyes but cracked a small smile. “You’re hopeless.” “I’m realistic,” Selena said proudly.

They let the moment settle into silence for a beat before Selena glanced away. “Well,” she said, adjusting her clutch, “if you’re done judging Mr. Dreamboat, I’ll be outside for a bit. Meeting some folks.

Don’t run off without me.” Luciana raised an eyebrow. “This the part where you disappear into trouble?” “Only the fun kind.”

Selena winked and vanished into the crowd. Luciana stayed behind, swirling what was left of her drink, the bubbles rising slowly as her thoughts stirred faster.

The ballroom was starting to quiet down, laughter fading into soft music.

Just before Luciana could check her phone, the clink of glass rang sharply across the room. Clink. Clink-clink.

A man stood near the center with a wide grin and a wine glass held high, not a host in the usual sense, but one of those guys everyone seemed to know. “Ladies and gents!” he called, voice smooth and confident.

“If your drink is still full, you’re doing this party wrong.” Laughter broke out in pockets around the room.

He gave a dramatic bow. “Now, before we get too drunk to remember why we’re here... let me just remind you.” He looked around theatrically, raised a brow.

“We are celebrating a film that made so much money, the producer tried to adopt me!” More laughter. “I said, ‘Sir, I come with stress. I don’t just eat food, I finish it!’”

Even Alex smirked at that. The man grinned wider, soaking in the room’s attention.

“But jokes aside, A Kiss Before the Fall wasn’t just a movie. It was a moment. And that moment had a face.”

He pointed with mock flair. “Alex Carter, people!” Thunderous applause. Glasses lifted. Phones came out, this time to snap photos.

Alex nodded modestly, his smile tight. But his eyes? They weren’t on the speaker. They were on her. Luciana. Still standing across the room, frozen, caught between curiosity and caution. She sipped her drink, not moving an inch.

Then the music swelled again, jazz and chatter resuming like nothing happened. She checked her phone.

Almost time to leave. She was just about to make her way to the exit when, Splash! Something cold hit her legs. She gasped, spinning around.

THE SPLASH

Cold. Sharp. Immediate. The sensation hit her before she even registered the source, liquid soaking into the silk of her dress, dragging her from her thoughts in one rude splash.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry. Like, madly sorry. This is... bad, isn’t it?” said a deep voice, breathless and slightly panicked.

Luciana blinked, slowly lifting her gaze. Of course it was him. Alex Carter. Standing way too close, a half-empty glass in hand, face frozen in disbelief. "Yeah," she said dryly, giving him a once-over.

“You could say that.” He let out a breath and scratched the back of his neck. “Wow. Okay. This is bad. Like, impressively bad.” Luciana raised an eyebrow.

“And yet... still true. My dress is drowning.” Alex glanced at her soaked dress again, a flicker of actual concern breaking through the smirk.

“Wait here,” he said, and disappeared into the crowd before she could object. Luciana folded her arms, half-suspicious