The atmosphere in the ballroom shifted. Guests who had been mingling began moving toward the stage, conversations fading into anticipation. Waiters and catering staff adjusted smoothly, clearing glasses and preparing for the next part of the evening. Damian noticed immediately. Events like this always followed a pattern.
Dinner.
Speeches.
Announcements.
He had worked enough jobs to recognize the rhythm. Still, he kept his focus on the tray in his hands. Serve drinks, stay quiet, and avoid certain people. Especially one particular alpha. He hadn't seen Kendrick Walker again since their strange encounter earlier, but the memory lingered. The way Kendrick had looked at him. Not dismissive. Not indifferent. Interested.
That alone was enough to make Damian uneasy. Stop thinking about it. He offered a champagne glass to a passing guest. The woman accepted it without looking at him. Perfect. That was how things were supposed to work.
Invisible staff.
Important guests.
Separate worlds.
Then a voice rose above the music. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?" The speaker stood near the stage… an older man in an expensive suit.
Richard Walker.
Kendrick's father.
Even from a distance, authority radiated from him. Conversations quieted, guests turned, cameras lifted, and flashes began to spark through the air. Damian stepped behind one of the tall marble columns near the back of the hall. From there, he could observe the stage without drawing attention.
Richard Walker smiled. "Thank you all for joining us tonight." His voice carried effortlessly. "This evening marks an important milestone for both the Walker and Peters families." Damian listened while collecting empty glasses from a nearby table. He already knew what was coming. Everyone did.
Still, it was hard not to watch when powerful people reshaped the future in public. Richard gestured toward the side of the stage. "I would like to invite my son, Kendrick Walker, to join me." Applause spread through the room. Damian's eyes lifted before he could stop himself.
Kendrick stepped forward. Even surrounded by influential figures, he stood out without trying.
Tall.
Controlled.
Confident.
His expression remained composed as he joined his father. Then something strange caught Damian's attention. Kendrick's gaze moved slowly through the crowd.
Not casually.
Searching.
For a brief moment, a thought surfaced… Is he looking for someone? Damian's stomach tightened. But the alpha's attention shifted again, and the thought faded. Alehandra Peters stepped onto the stage next. The crowd responded immediately. She looked flawless beneath the lights, her red dress catching every camera flash.
Graceful.
Elegant.
Impeccable.
Together, they formed a perfect image. A powerful union. The kind that dominated headlines.
Richard Walker continued speaking. "For generations, our families have shared a vision for this city's future." Applause followed. "Tonight, we celebrate the beginning of a new chapter." He turned toward Kendrick and Alehandra. "A partnership that will strengthen that vision for years to come." More applause. Damian glanced up again. And froze. Kendrick's eyes met his. The connection was instant.
Unmistakable.
Even from a distance, Damian felt the shift. That same focused attention locking onto him. Seriously? He quickly lowered his gaze, pretending to adjust the glasses on his tray. Don't react, don't draw attention. Still, the sensation lingered. Why was Kendrick Walker paying attention to him? It made no sense. He was just staff. An omega trying to remain invisible in a room full of powerful people.
Yet somehow… He had been noticed. Twice. On stage, Alehandra stepped toward the microphone. Her voice was smooth and confident. "Tonight is about more than two families coming together." She glanced briefly at Kendrick. "It's about building something stronger for the future." Cameras flashed again. Damian forced himself to return to work. But unease settled deeper in his chest, because every time he risked another glance… Kendrick's attention returned to him.
Persistent.
Unsettling.
Intentional.
Then the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. Richard Walker raised his hand. "I am proud to announce the engagement of my son, Kendrick Walker…" A pause. "…to Alehandra Peters." The ballroom erupted.
Applause.
Cheers.
Camera flashes.
Guests congratulating one another as if they had arranged the alliance themselves. On stage, Kendrick and Alehandra turned toward each other. Alehandra smiled beautifully. Kendrick returned the gesture.
Perfect.
Polished.
Controlled.
But something about it felt wrong. At least to Damian. Maybe it was the way Kendrick's expression never quite warmed. Or maybe it was the memory of the intensity in his eyes earlier.
Curious.
Alert.
Alive.
Very different from the calm mask he wore now. Alehandra slipped her hand into Kendrick's. The cameras loved that. More flashes exploded through the room. The perfect engagement photograph. Damian felt a small twist in his chest.
Not jealousy.
Not envy.
Just discomfort.
Because the alpha who had watched him so closely was now standing beside his future mate. Exactly where he belonged. Damian forced the thought away. Not your business. Not your world.
He turned and headed toward the service hallway to drop off his tray. Behind him, the celebration continued.
More congratulations.
More laughter.
More champagne.
But on the stage, Kendrick's attention drifted again. The omega… Damian, he was gone. Kendrick frowned slightly. Strange. The scent was still faint in the air. Nearby. Alehandra noticed immediately. "You're distracted," she said quietly. Kendrick blinked.
"Am I?" "Yes." Her tone remained calm. "You've been scanning the room." Kendrick didn't respond. Alehandra tilted her head slightly. "Is there something I should know?" Kendrick's expression settled into its usual composure. "No."
The answer came too quickly. Alehandra smiled for the cameras again. But inside, her thoughts sharpened. She knew Kendrick well. Better than most. And she had never seen him behave like this at a formal event. Something had caught his attention. Something unexpected. Her gaze moved thoughtfully through the crowd. Interesting.
In the service hallway, Damian leaned briefly against the wall. The party noise sounded distant here. He exhaled slowly. "That guy is trouble." Working the rest of the evening suddenly felt harder than before. Because now he knew something for certain. Kendrick Walker had noticed him. And powerful people rarely forgot what interested them. Damian pushed himself away from the wall. The shift wasn't over.
He still had hours left. So he picked up another tray. Straightened his uniform. And walked back toward the ballroom. Unaware that the engagement announcement had already changed something. Not in the room. Not in the headlines. But in Kendrick Walker's mind. Because while the crowd celebrated his future… Kendrick had just made a quiet decision. He was going to find that omega again. And this time… He wouldn't let him disappear.