CHAPTER 211: THE SPOTLIGHT IS ALWAYS YOURS

June’s heels clicked softly against the marble as she walked toward the piano.

The moment her voice hit the first note, the air shifted. Like the room took a breath and forgot to exhale. Conversations froze. Laughter died. Even the clinking glasses stopped.

Every head turned. Even the ones pretending not to care... the business people, the girls giggling behind their glasses, the rich dads nodding over champagne.

Her voice floated through the hall.....the kind of voice that didn’t ask for attention but demanded it.

I felt a small tug on my wrist.

I turned, and there he was. Dominic.

He didn’t say a word. Just pressed a finger to his lips and gestured for me to follow. My chest tightened. I nodded and let him pull me along.

We slipped through the crowd quietly, while everyone was still under June’s spell. His hand brushed mine as we climbed the stairs.

Upstairs was quieter. The music faded behind us, replaced by the sound of our footsteps.

He stopped at the end of the hallway, unlocked his door, and pulled me inside. Now it was just us.

Before I could even say anything, he pulled me his arms tight around my waist, resting his chin against my shoulder.

The hug was desperate. Like he’d been waiting all night just to breathe me in.

"I need to recharge myself," he whispered against my ear.

I chuckled. "Recharge?"

"Yeah," he said softly. "Can we just stay like this forever?"

"Babe, we can’t." I chuckled. "I really wanted to hug you down there," I whispered. "But your dad...."

"....would’ve had a heart attack?" he finished the sentence, almost laughing.

"Pretty much."

I laughed quietly." Dom, I can’t breathe."

He let out a playful "pfft" and finally loosened his grip, stepping back just enough to look at me.

His eyes scanned me slowly....flicking from my hair to my lips to the way the tux clung to me.

"You’re looking so damn good tonight," he said finally. "Like I want to undress you sexy."

I rolled my eyes, but my heartbeat gave me away. "June said the same thing....not the undress me part. She told me not to steal the birthday boy’s spotlight."

He smiled, softly. "The spotlight’s yours, Rivera. Always has been. But in my heart..." He stepped closer, and held my hand to his chest. "You own it completely."

"Ugh," I groaned, covering my face. "That’s so cheesy."

He grinned wider. "You love it."

"Maybe," I said, lowering my hands. I could feel my cheeks warming. "You’re looking really hot yourself. The tux, the hair... the whole rich boy with a heart vibe. Ten out of ten."

He laughed quietly. "Coming from you, that’s basically an award."

I smiled, then reached for his hand. "Happy birthday, babe."

That softened him immediately

I handed him the small paper bag I’d been holding. "Here."

He looked at it, curious. "You brought me something?"

"Something small," I said, biting back a grin.

I smiled as he opened it carefully. Inside were the things that had kept me up for nights.... the sketchbook filled with twenty-one pencil sketches of him; the box of cookies I baked; and the letter...folded neatly, tied with a thin silver ribbon.

He went silent. Completely still. Then he flipped through the pages slowly, his fingers traced the outlines.

"These are..." he started, then stopped. "You did all of this?"

"Yeah," I tried to steady my voice.

"Twenty-one sketches for twenty-one years," I rested my head on his chest, blinking up at him. "And cookies, because I’m not rich enough to buy you a car."

He laughed softly, still staring at the sketches like they were too delicate to touch. "They’re perfect. You drew all of these... me?"

"Ofc," I said softly. "You. The version I see when you’re not trying so hard to be perfect."

Then he reached for a cookie, took a bite, and closed his eyes like he was tasting heaven.

"Oh my God," he said around a mouthful. "This is so good."

"Yeah, my mom’s secret recipe," I said, smiling.

"Thank you, Ash. Seriously. This means more than you know."

He leaned closer, holding my arm. Staring into my eyes. Like both of us were waiting for something to happen but already knew what it was.

I broke it first. "I really missed you, you know. It’s been like... what, two weeks?"

"Two weeks and three days," he corrected me.

I smiled at that. "Figured you’d count."

He chuckled quietly.

"Alia keeps bugging me...she wants to see you," I added. "She said you still owe her ice cream."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Tell her I haven’t forgotten. I’ll make it up to her. Both of you."

I tilted my head. "Both of us?"

"Yeah," he said, stepping closer again. "But maybe... I’ll start with you."

His lips met mine... it was soft.

The kind of kiss that said I missed you, I’m still yours, I wish we could stay like this longer.

When we finally pulled apart, I kept my forehead on his chest, catching my breath, smiling like an idiot.

Then something shifted.

His smile faded.

"Ash," he said quietly. "There’s something I need to tell you."

The tone in his voice made my chest tighten.

"What is it?" I asked, stepping closer. "You look like you’re about to confess something."

He tried to smile. "It’s... really important."

"Okay." I reached for his hand. "Then talk to me."

He hesitated, eyes darting toward the door, then back at me. "My dad... he’s....he’s....."

A sharp knock cut him off.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

We both froze.

"Shhh," Dominic whispered, quickly placing a finger on my lips.

"Who’s that?" he called.

"It’s Ian, dummy!" came the muffled voice from outside. "You need to come downstairs now. Your dad’s looking for you, and he’s literally on his way up."

"Shit," Dominic muttered, pulling his hand away. "I have to go."

"Dom, what were you gonna say?" I asked quickly.

He was already heading to the door, running a hand through his hair. "I’ll tell you later, okay? I promise."

"Dom!"

But the door had already shut behind him.

And then it was just me.

And Ian, still standing in the doorway, looking breathless.

"You should probably head down too," he said. "I think his dad’s about to start with that awkward corporate speech of his."

I nodded, staring at the empty space where Dominic had just been. "Yeah... maybe I should."

Ian straightened his tie. "I’ll go find June. Have fun."

Then he winked and disappeared down the hall.

The room felt quieter.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Now he’s gone again..." I whispered to no one.