For a moment after Victor's words, the noise of the ballroom felt distant.
Like Elena was standing inside a quiet bubble while the rest of the world continued moving around her.
An assassination contract.
On her.
She blinked slowly.
"Well… that's new."
Adrian ran a hand through his hair.
"This is bad."
Alessandro's attention never left Victor.
"Details."
Victor shook his head slightly.
"The message didn't include the client's name."
"That's convenient."
"It's standard," Victor replied calmly. "Professional contracts rarely reveal the buyer."
Elena crossed her arms.
"So someone paid to kill me."
She paused.
"I'm starting to feel very popular."
No one laughed.
Alessandro's expression remained cold.
"When was the contract placed?"
Victor answered immediately.
"Two hours ago."
Adrian frowned.
"Which means the assassin could already be here."
The realization hung heavily in the air.
Elena glanced around the ballroom.
Hundreds of guests.
Dozens of waiters.
Security guards.
Any one of them could be watching.
Waiting.
She suddenly felt very aware of the crowd.
"Well," she said quietly, "that's comforting."
Alessandro stepped closer to her.
Without hesitation, he placed a hand lightly at her back.
Protective.
Possessive.
"Adrian."
"Yes."
"Check the exits."
Adrian nodded immediately and stepped away into the crowd.
Victor remained standing with them.
Watching calmly.
"You're taking this surprisingly well," he said to Elena.
She sighed.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Panic would be reasonable."
She shrugged.
"I prefer sarcasm."
Victor chuckled softly.
"Good survival strategy."
Alessandro finally looked directly at him.
"Why warn us?"
Victor met his gaze.
"Because if Elena dies tonight, I become the obvious suspect."
"That didn't stop you before."
Victor smiled faintly.
"True."
He looked at Elena again.
"But this time I'm curious about her."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Flattered."
"Don't be."
Victor's tone was calm.
"Curiosity is dangerous."
Before she could respond, Adrian returned.
His expression was serious.
"Security is tightening the exits."
"And?"
"No immediate threats spotted."
Elena sighed with relief.
"Good."
Adrian didn't look convinced.
"But if the assassin is professional…"
He glanced around the ballroom.
"They won't act recklessly."
Victor nodded slightly.
"Correct."
Elena frowned.
"So they'll wait."
"Yes."
"Great."
She rubbed her temples.
"This night keeps getting better."
Alessandro looked at her.
"We're leaving."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"That might not be wise."
Alessandro's voice hardened.
"Explain."
"If the assassin expects you to leave…"
Victor gestured toward the ballroom entrance.
"…that's where the attack will happen."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"He's right."
Elena groaned quietly.
"So we can't stay… and we can't leave."
Victor shrugged.
"Welcome to strategy."
Alessandro looked irritated.
"Your gala caused this situation."
Victor's smile returned slightly.
"I didn't hire the assassin."
"Convenient."
Victor tilted his head slightly.
"You think I'd kill Elena this publicly?"
Alessandro didn't answer.
Victor looked almost amused.
"If I wanted her dead, she would already be dead."
Elena stared at him.
"Comforting."
Adrian suddenly spoke quietly.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
"What?"
Adrian's eyes moved toward the stage.
"Someone's watching us."
Elena followed his gaze.
Near the back of the ballroom, a man stood alone beside one of the tall columns.
He wore a waiter's uniform.
But something about him felt wrong.
He wasn't carrying a tray.
He wasn't serving drinks.
He was just standing there.
Watching.
Elena's heart skipped slightly.
"That's subtle."
Alessandro's voice dropped lower.
"Adrian."
"Yes."
"Three o'clock position."
Adrian nodded slightly.
"I see him."
Victor glanced briefly toward the man.
Then his expression sharpened slightly.
"That's not my staff."
The man suddenly turned.
And began walking away.
Fast.
Adrian reacted immediately.
"Moving!"
He rushed through the crowd toward the exit corridor.
The man disappeared behind a hallway door.
Elena held her breath.
A few seconds later—
A loud bang echoed from the hallway.
Guests gasped.
Music stopped again.
People began whispering nervously.
"What was that?"
"Did something explode?"
Alessandro grabbed Elena's hand.
"Stay here."
"Like hell."
But he had already started moving toward the hallway.
Victor followed calmly behind them.
When they reached the corridor, Adrian stood near the wall with a security guard.
A broken window shattered the glass beside them.
Cold night air rushed inside.
Adrian looked annoyed.
"He jumped."
Elena blinked.
"Out the window?"
"Fire escape."
She looked outside.
Far below, the city lights stretched endlessly.
"So the assassin ran."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Alessandro's expression remained cold.
"Did you see his face?"
"Not clearly."
Victor leaned casually against the wall.
"Professional."
Adrian nodded reluctantly.
"Yes."
Elena crossed her arms.
"So someone tried to kill me tonight."
She looked at Alessandro.
"And failed."
Victor smiled faintly.
"For now."
She glared at him.
"Very comforting, Victor."
He shrugged.
"I prefer honesty."
Alessandro turned back toward the ballroom entrance.
"We're leaving."
Adrian nodded.
"I'll arrange security."
Victor straightened his jacket.
"Wise decision."
Elena looked at him carefully.
"You're enjoying this."
Victor didn't deny it.
"Power struggles are rarely boring."
She sighed.
"You people are exhausting."
As they walked back toward the main exit, Elena couldn't shake the strange feeling in her chest.
Someone had tried to kill her.
And this was only the beginning.
Outside the hotel, their car waited under the dim streetlights.
Security guards surrounded the area.
Alessandro opened the door for Elena.
Before she got inside, Victor spoke again.
"Elena."
She turned.
"Yes?"
His expression was calm.
But serious.
"Now that someone has placed a contract…"
He paused.
"…you've officially become part of this world."
She stared at him.
"I figured that out tonight."
Victor gave a faint smile.
"Good luck surviving it."
The car door closed.
And as the vehicle drove away into the night…
Elena realized something.
The game between Victor and Alessandro had just become much more dangerous.
Because now…
Someone else had entered the board.