Arthur entered the ballroom with calculated confidence, immediately scanning the crowd for potential business opportunities or threats. These corporate events were battlegrounds disguised as celebrations, and he'd learned long ago to treat them as such. His gaze drifted to where Elara had already retreated to the far corner by the refreshment table.
Smart move. I should have expected nothing less.
He admired how she'd positioned herself—visible enough not to appear hiding, yet removed from the center of attention. The emerald dress caught the light as she moved, drawing appreciative glances that she either didn't notice or chose to ignore.
Her strategy was clear: maintain a low profile until necessary. After years of being pushed into the shadows by the Dubois family, she'd learned to use invisibility to her advantage. Arthur found himself respecting this approach, even as part of him wanted to show her off to everyone who'd ever dismissed her.
