Chapter 3: The Chance Encounter

Seraphina's POV

I swirled the champagne in my glass, watching the bubbles rise to the surface.

The soft hum of conversations and the delicate tinkling of glasses filled the grand ballroom of the Astoria Hotel, its crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the elegantly dressed crowd.

The charity gala was in full swing, and while I should’ve been focusing on networking, my mind was elsewhere.

My encounter with Max Thorne at the Blue Orchid had been unexpected, to say the least. The intensity in his eyes, the smooth confidence in his voice—it had all unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.

But what had really gotten under my skin was his sudden departure. Who had demanded his attention so urgently, and why?

Lila, my best friend and date for the evening, nudged me gently with her elbow, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Earth to Sera. Are you even listening to me?"

I blinked and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Lila. What were you saying?"

She sighed, shaking her head. "I was saying that I can't believe how many heavyweights are here tonight. This gala is turning into quite the star-studded event. And—oh my God, isn’t that Max Thorne?"

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. I followed her gaze across the room to see him, effortlessly commanding the space with his presence.

He was talking to a group of people, but his eyes seemed to be scanning the crowd, searching for something—or someone.

When his gaze finally landed on me, he held it, a slow, deliberate smile spreading across his face.

I looked away, suddenly finding the floor incredibly interesting. "Yeah, that’s him," I muttered.

Lila's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, do you know him?"

I hesitated. "We... met once. At the Blue Orchid. It was… interesting."

She grinned, her curiosity clearly piqued. "Interesting how? Spill."

I shook my head. "It’s nothing. He just introduced himself. But he seemed… I don’t know, like he was up to something."

Lila's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Well, he’s definitely up to something now. He’s coming this way."

My stomach tightened as I dared to glance up again. Sure enough, Max was weaving through the crowd, making a beeline straight for us.

"Sera Devereaux," he said smoothly when he reached us, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. "We meet again. What a pleasant surprise."

I forced a polite smile. "Mr. Thorne. Fancy seeing you here."

He chuckled. "Please, call me Max. And yes, these charity events do have a way of bringing everyone together, don’t they?"

Lila nudged me subtly. "I’m going to go grab a drink," she said, winking at me. "I’ll leave you two to catch up."

Before I could protest, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone with Max.

"So," he said, his tone casual yet probing, "how’s Seraphina Luxe doing? I’ve heard some impressive things."

"Doing well, thank you," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "We’ve had a great year so far."

He nodded, taking a sip of his champagne. "I’ve been following your company closely. Your approach to ethical fashion is… refreshing. It’s not often you see a company grow so quickly in such a competitive industry."

I raised an eyebrow. "You’ve been following us?"

He smiled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I like to keep an eye on emerging talent. Never know who might shake things up next."

I felt a mix of flattery and suspicion. "Well, I appreciate the interest. But I doubt we’re of much concern to someone like you."

He leaned in slightly, his gaze piercing. "You’d be surprised, Sera. I find it’s always the ones you least expect who end up being the biggest threats—or the greatest allies."

I couldn’t help but bristle at his insinuation. "And which do you see me as? A threat or an ally?"

His smile widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "That depends. What do you want to be?"

Before I could respond, a server passed by with a tray of hors d’oeuvres, and Max plucked a canapé from the tray, taking a small bite. He seemed to savor it, watching me intently as he did.

I crossed my arms, trying to maintain my composure. "You’re awfully cryptic, you know that?"

He laughed softly. "Just trying to keep things interesting. After all, isn’t that what life’s all about?"

I opened my mouth to retort, but before I could, a familiar voice called my name from behind. I turned to see Adriana Martinez, my creative director, approaching us with a look of concern.

"Sera, can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked, glancing nervously at Max.

"Of course," I said, relieved for the interruption. I gave Max a quick nod. "If you’ll excuse me, Max."

He inclined his head graciously. "Of course. We’ll continue our conversation later."

I followed Adriana to a quieter corner of the room, away from the crowd. "What is it, Adriana? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

She bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder before leaning in closer. "It’s about Max Thorne. I just overheard him talking to someone about you."

My heart skipped a beat. "About me? What did he say?"

Adriana hesitated, her brow furrowing. "He said something about knowing more about your past than you realize. And… something about a connection to your father."

I felt the blood drain from my face. "My father? Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I’m positive, Sera. I don’t know what he meant, but I thought you should know."

My mind raced, a flurry of thoughts and memories colliding in a chaotic whirl. My father had passed away years ago, and I’d always believed I knew everything about him.

But if Max was telling the truth, then there were things I didn’t know—things he somehow did.

I glanced back toward Max, who was now talking to another group of guests, his expression cool and composed as if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell on me. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, anger and confusion swirling inside me.

Why would Max know anything about my father? And why would he bring it up now, at a charity gala, of all places?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Thank you, Adriana. I’ll handle it."

She nodded, her eyes filled with concern. "Just be careful, Sera. I don’t trust him."

"Neither do I," I muttered, my gaze fixed on Max. But I needed answers, and it seemed Max was the only one who could give them to me.

I squared my shoulders and made my way back across the room, determined to confront him. As I approached, he turned to face me, as if sensing my presence.

"Back so soon?" he asked, his tone light and teasing.

I didn’t bother with pleasantries. "What do you know about my father, Max?"

His smile faded slightly, and I saw a flicker of something dark pass through his eyes. "Quite a bit, actually. More than you might think."

I took a step closer, my voice low and edged with frustration. "What are you playing at? Why bring this up now?"

He sighed, setting his glass down on a nearby table. "Because I thought it was time you knew the truth. About your father. About everything."

My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and anticipation surging through me. "What truth?"

Max leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "The truth about his business dealings. About the people he was involved with. And about the secrets he kept from you."

I felt like the ground was shifting beneath me, everything I thought I knew suddenly called into question. "You’re lying," I said, though my voice wavered with uncertainty.

He shook his head slowly. "I have no reason to lie, Sera. But if you want proof, I can give it to you. Meet me tomorrow, and I’ll show you everything."

I hesitated, my mind racing. Every instinct told me not to trust him, but I couldn’t ignore the nagging doubt gnawing at me—the possibility that he was telling the truth.

"Fine," I said finally. "Where?"

He smiled, a glint of triumph in his eyes. "I’ll send you the details. Just be there."

With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd before I could say another word. I stood there, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and anger.

What had I just gotten myself into? And more importantly, what had my father done to involve me in this mess?

As I watched Max’s retreating figure, a shiver ran down my spine. Whatever secrets he held, I had a feeling they were going to change everything. And I wasn’t sure I was ready for what was about to be revealed.

Just as I was about to turn away, my phone buzzed in my hand. I glanced down to see a new text message from an unknown number. My heart pounded as I opened it.

Unknown Number: "Meet me tomorrow at noon. 221B Belmont Street. Come alone."

I looked up, scanning the room for Max, but he was already gone. A million questions swirled in my head. What did Max know about my father? What would I find at this address?

As I stood there, frozen with uncertainty, another message came through.

Unknown Number: "You’re in over your head, Seraphina. Be careful who you trust."

The chill that crept up my spine earlier returned with full force. Someone else was watching me, someone who seemed to know more about this twisted game than I did.

I clutched my phone tighter, realizing that whatever was happening was bigger than I had imagined. There were more players in this game than I realized, and I had no idea who I could trust.

Who was warning me? And what did they know about my father and Max?

The thought echoed in my mind as I stared at the screen, the gala's festive lights suddenly feeling cold and distant.

I was caught in a web of secrets and lies, and tomorrow, I would have to decide whether to confront them head-on or back away.