Chapter Six: The Red Dress and the Hidden War

Eva – First Person

They say revenge is best served cold.

But tonight, I'm serving it in red.

The fabric clings to every inch of my body like a whisper of silk and danger. The slit runs dangerously high. The neckline plunges just enough to remind the world that power can come in curves.

When I step out of the car at the Wolfe Foundation Gala, every head turns.

Including his.

Damien Wolfe.

Towering in a jet-black tux. The man whose name built this building. Whose empire paved the floor I'm walking on.

His eyes rake over me with heat that dares to burn through restraint. And just for a moment, I let myself feel it.

Let him see what he almost destroyed.

Let him want what Katherine tried to erase.

He steps forward. Offers his arm.

"Didn't I tell you?" he murmurs, his voice low enough for just us. "You're dangerous in red."

I take his arm.

But I don't say thank you.

I'm not here to be admired. I'm here to unravel everything.

Inside the Gala – The Ballroom

The chandelier sparkles like it's suspended over a battlefield.

Every table is a power play.

Every smile, a weapon.

Damien introduces me to people who pretend not to recognize me. Wealthy faces with sharper tongues. I keep mine behind a polished smile and memorized lines.

But beneath my calm, I'm scanning for her.

And then I spot her.

Katherine Wolfe.

In emerald silk, surrounded by board members, laughing like the queen of it all.

And standing beside her—Miranda Lane.

She's poised, perfect, still playing the long game. Still holding onto a fantasy that Damien belongs to her.

Katherine sees me first. Her smile doesn't falter, but her eyes narrow like a hawk clocking a threat.

She whispers something to Miranda.

Miranda turns.

And her jaw clenches.

Good.

Let them see me.

Let them feel the shift in the air.

Because the rules are about to change.

An Hour Later – On the Balcony

I step away from the crowd, needing air. Or maybe just space to breathe without someone assessing my bloodline.

But I'm not alone for long.

Miranda appears beside me, glass of champagne in hand, face a mask of perfect disdain.

"You clean up well," she says, sipping. "Almost like you belong here."

"Funny," I reply. "That's what Damien said."

Her nostrils flare. "Don't get too comfortable. These men… they always circle back to what's safe. What's familiar."

"Is that what you are?" I glance at her. "Familiar?"

"I'm legacy," she says coolly. "You're… temporary."

I smile. "We'll see."

I turn to go—but her next words stop me cold.

"He doesn't know, does he? That you're Margot Sinclair's daughter."

I whip around.

"What did you just say?"

Her smirk deepens. "You think Katherine didn't tell me? Please. She's had your name flagged since the day you stepped foot in Wolfe Enterprises."

My heart stutters.

She knows.

Katherine knows.

And they've been playing me this whole time.

"I wonder what Damien will do," Miranda continues, circling me like a snake. "When he realizes you seduced him with an agenda. That your internship? Your interest? All just revenge. Or worse… blackmail."

I inhale slowly.

Then exhale with steel.

"Then I guess it's lucky I don't need blackmail," I whisper, stepping closer. "Because I have something stronger."

Her eyes narrow. "And what's that?"

I lean in.

"Proof."

Midnight

The moment the music fades and the emcee announces the special presentation, I know it's time.

Damien steps up to the podium.

He starts talking about legacy. About giving back. About building futures.

But I'm not listening.

I pull the sealed legal envelope from my clutch.

The second will.

Signed. Dated. With my mother's name—and mine.

My pulse pounds.

I see Katherine and Miranda across the ballroom whispering.

But I have her checkmate in my hands.

But as I was about to do it, my phone buzzes in my clutch.

Luca Voss.

Now? I frown and answer.

"Make it quick," I whisper. "I'm about to burn down the Wolfe empire."

His voice is sharp. "Don't do it."

I blink. "What?"

"You're about to hand Damien the codicil, aren't you?"

"Of course I am. The world needs to know—"

"You break our deal, Eva," he cuts in. "And you lose everything."

I stiffen. "You're blackmailing me? Now?"

"I'm reminding you," he snaps. "You agreed to feed me Wolfe intel. I'm this close to cracking their offshore shell corp, but if you go public—boom. They'll lock everything down. Audit every file. Shut every backdoor."

My heart pounds.

"Damien will go into damage control mode. You'll be out. And our revenge? Dead in the water."

"But Luca, he—he left something for my mom. He cared. I think—"

"Care doesn't matter, Eva," Luca says. "We made a deal. Your revenge wasn't about his feelings—it was about justice. About what Katherine stole. You go soft now, you'll regret it."

I grip the dress.

The codicil is still in my clutch.

The future—my identity—one reveal away.

But so is the entire plan.

And I realize… Luca's right.

"Fine," I whisper, voice tight. "Not yet."

"Good girl," Luca says, relieved. "Stick to the plan. Steal the board documents from the East Wing next. I'll handle the rest."

He hangs up.

I stand and walk out, trembling.

Torn between the woman I was when I walked in—and the spy I've become.

Back Inside – Thirty Minutes Later

Damien finds me near the bar. He doesn't ask why I disappeared in the middle of his speech. Just hands me a fresh drink, fingers grazing mine.

"You're quiet," he says.

"Just… thinking," I reply.

He studies me, eyes narrowing slightly.

"I've been thinking too," he murmurs. "About you. About why you feel so… familiar."

My chest tightens.

He's getting too close.

To me. To the truth.

"I should go," I whisper.

He gently touches my wrist. "Stay. Just a little longer."

His voice is soft. Almost afraid.

It makes something crack in me.

I nod once.

And for the rest of the night, I play the perfect guest. The perfect arm candy. The perfect liar.

Because if I can't tell him the truth…

I'll let him fall deeper into the lie.