Pre-gala

Elara's POV

After saying goodbye to the women, Erica helped me get into the car while Kate offered me three different dress options for my date with Dave. I decided on a dress that was simple yet elegant, and Kate suggested that I accessorise it with a modest Tiffany diamond necklace, a Bon Bon bag, and a Jimmy Choo heels set. I accepted, and when I was finished, I looked in the mirror and thanked the stylist because I looked so lovely and sophisticated right away. When Dave's secretary entered and said that Dave wanted me in his office, I picked up my bag and went to his office. At first, his seat was behind me, He turned to face me after I coughed to get his attention, and his expression was unmistakable, so I asked him how I looked. He approached me in amazement, saying, "I don't think I have ever seen you in straight hair, you look exceptionally beautiful." I asked him why he had called me, and he said, "Oh," taking my hand and directing me to a seat. "I thought I would alert you beforehand as you are about to enter my world," he said, his expression growing more serious. "I need you to know that this lavish lifestyle isn't all that there is to my world as it has its downside in the world of the rich."

This opulent lifestyle isn't everything in my world because there are drawbacks to it. In the world of the wealthy, you have to be always on the lookout for those who are simply smiling to hurt you. He went on, "I'm going to take you into a room full of them, and I need you to promise me that no matter what you see or hear, you will always trust me to protect you and keep you safe." My thoughts immediately turned to Lisa's remarks because she had also warned me. What other choices do I have? I asked in jest, adding that I fully trust him because of the things you've done.

Dave's POV

She stated that she trusted me, and I would like to keep it that way going forward. I required her trust for our contract to work out successfully. She smiled at me, reached for my tie to tighten it, and stated that now we had a date to attend, so make sure to show this much affection. Her eyes shifted from focussing on my ties to noticing she had gotten too close. She jokingly pushed me away and grabbed her bag, stating she'd be waiting in the car. I chuckled and followed her out.We drove to a new Italian-French upscale private restaurant managed by a good friend of mine.

The restaurant was doing well, despite the fact that it had just opened. When we got there, reporters had already been waiting outside and had begun taking pictures of the car. I asked her if she was ready, and she said that she was, so I got out and held her hand so she could exit the car easily. She smiled at me and I placed my hands on her waist as I escorted her inside, where the chef greeted us and showed us his special menu. The reporters continued to take pictures from the outside because the restaurant's glass exterior made it readily apparent .

We started eating while conversing as the chef presented us with his exclusively crafted dishes . The goal of the date was to convey the impression to the media that we were passionately in love, so she made sure to laugh and smile while we talked. To further emphasise our love, I kissed her hand and gave the media a preview of her twenty-four-carat Harry Winston ring, which was created by Lorraine Schwartz. Feeling gratified, she raised her hand to her mouth and flushed .