Twelve

The evening was still in full swing when I spotted Alexander's posture shift slightly—a subtle tension in his shoulders that only someone standing so close to him could notice. I followed his gaze toward the entrance of the ballroom, where a tall, impeccably dressed man was making his way through the crowd with an air of easy confidence. He was striking, with light hair and a playful grin that seemed to put everyone around him at ease. 

"That's Levi Chen," Alexander said quietly, noticing my curiosity. "He's a close friend... and an insufferable one at that."

I glanced up at him, surprised by the dry humor in his tone. "He doesn't seem insufferable."

"You'll see," Alexander muttered, though there was a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

Before I could respond, Levi spotted us and his face lit up like a beacon. He weaved through the crowd effortlessly, flashing smiles and brief greetings to the guests as if this were a family reunion and not a high-stakes charity gala.

"Alex!" Levi called out, loud enough to draw a few glances. He approached us with his arms wide open, as if expecting a hug, but Alexander remained unmoved, watching him with the same cool demeanor he had worn all night.

"Levi," Alexander replied with a nod, his voice measured but the ghost of amusement still lingering.

Levi reached us in a few strides, and without hesitation, he clapped a hand on Alexander's shoulder. "Still the same, I see. Always the life of the party." He grinned, eyes twinkling mischievously before his gaze shifted to me. "And you must be Ivy. The mysterious fiancée who will tame the beast."

I blinked in surprise, not sure how to respond to that, but before I could say anything, Levi stepped closer, offering his hand. "I'm Levi, by the way. If you ever need tips on how to handle Mr. Grumpy here, I'm your guy."

I shook his hand, trying to suppress a smile. "Nice to meet you, Levi."

Levi gave me an exaggerated wink. "The pleasure is all mine. Though I have to admit, I'm a little heartbroken. I was sure Alexander would be a bachelor forever. We had a bet going—figured I'd at least have a few more years before you came along and ruined my odds."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. Levi's energy was infectious, and his ability to tease Alexander so openly was something I hadn't seen anyone else attempt. Alexander, for his part, remained stoic but didn't seem annoyed. In fact, he looked... relaxed.

"You'll get over it," Alexander said dryly. "I'll be sure to send my condolences."

Levi laughed heartily, clapping Alexander on the back again before turning his full attention to me. "So, Ivy, tell me—how are you holding up with this whole new world? Not too overwhelmed, I hope?"

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. The truth was, I was overwhelmed, but I didn't want to admit that to someone I'd just met, even if he seemed friendly. "It's been... an adjustment," I said, choosing my words carefully. "But I'm managing."

Levi tilted his head, giving me a thoughtful look before breaking into another grin. "That's a very diplomatic answer. You'll fit in perfectly around here."

"Don't encourage her," Alexander muttered.

"Oh, come on, Alex," Levi teased. "She's already doing a better job than you at making people feel comfortable. Maybe she should handle all your social events from now on."

I felt Alexander stiffen slightly beside me, and for a moment, I wondered if Levi's teasing had gone too far. But then Alexander surprised me by responding in kind. "If I did that, I'd never get a word in edgewise with you around."

Levi laughed again, throwing his head back this time. "Touché, my friend. Touché." He turned to me, his eyes still bright with amusement. "Ivy, you're a miracle worker. I haven't seen Alex crack a joke in months."

"I don't think that was a joke," I said, glancing up at Alexander, whose expression was as unreadable as ever.

Levi waved a hand dismissively. "You're just being modest. But seriously, Ivy, you should join us more often. It's been a while since anyone has been able to break through Alex's infamous poker face."

I couldn't help but smile at Levi's warmth. He was so different from the other people I'd met tonight—so open, so comfortable in his own skin. He didn't seem to care about the expectations or rules of high society, and that was refreshing. It was easy to see why Alexander valued his friendship, even if he wouldn't admit it outright.

As we continued talking, I noticed how effortlessly Levi balanced teasing Alexander with making me feel included. He asked me about my background, though his questions were light and playful, and I found myself relaxing more than I had all evening.

At one point, Levi leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Don't let Alex fool you," he said. "Underneath that serious exterior, he's a big softie. He just likes to pretend otherwise."

I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Alexander, who was now watching Levi with mild exasperation. "Is that true?" I asked, unable to resist.

"No," Alexander said, deadpan. "Not even remotely."

Levi winked at me. "He's lying. I've known him for years. Trust me."

Despite myself, I laughed again. The dynamic between the two of them was fascinating. Alexander clearly valued Levi's friendship, but the teasing between them was relentless. And yet, Levi's warmth and humor felt like the perfect balance to Alexander's more reserved nature.

As the night wore on, the three of us continued to chat, with Levi keeping the conversation lively and entertaining. I could feel the tension of the evening slowly ebbing away, thanks to his presence.

At some point, Rebecca joined us, and Levi greeted her with the same infectious charm he had shown me. She smiled warmly, though there was a motherly sternness in her eyes that made it clear she had known Levi for a long time—and wasn't entirely immune to his antics.

"I see you're still corrupting Alexander," Rebecca said with a small smile.

Levi grinned. "Someone has to. Otherwise, he'd be unbearable."

"I think Ivy is handling that quite well," Rebecca replied, giving me a conspiratorial glance.

I blushed slightly at the attention, but Levi only laughed. "Ah, so Ivy's already winning over the household. I should have known. Well, Alex, looks like you're outnumbered now."

"I'm used to it," Alexander said dryly, but the warmth in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.

As the night came to a close, I found myself feeling lighter than I had all evening. Levi's presence had been a breath of fresh air, and for the first time, I felt like I wasn't just playing a role—I was part of something more. Part of Alexander's world.

And despite everything, it wasn't as terrifying as I'd thought it would be.