Meanwhile, at the university auditorium, the fundraiser was already buzzing. Backstage, Kira stood in front of a small mirror, smoothing down the front of her burgundy dress for the tenth time.
Her hands felt clammy as she pulled out her phone again, tapped Derek's name, pressed it to her ear, and waited.
The mobile you are calling is not available at the moment. Please try again later.
She pulled the phone away, her chest tightening. Derek had promised. He had sat in that kitchen, his hand over hers as he told her he would not leave her to face this room alone.
He knew what tonight meant. It was not just a fundraiser for her university club; it was her debut as a Queen who could actually lead.
A heaviness settled in the pit of her stomach, a weight that she could not explain. It was more than just nerves. It was a sense of wrongness, as if the very air around her had turned sour.
