CHAPTER 172: GALA (1)

The next day, Gray was sitting behind his desk with a half-finished report open in front of him. His computer’s monitor was open, and the cursor was blinking patiently on the screen.

The office was quiet that morning. He had a lot of work to do, but his mind was elsewhere.

Gray’s fingers hovered over the keyboard. They were unmoving. The numbers in the spreadsheet blurred in his eyes, his focus drifting for the third time in less than five minutes.

He leaned back in his chair and let out a breath through his nose.

Tomorrow.

The gala was tomorrow.

He had known it was coming, but now that it was actually close, his nerves were creeping in.

He looked down at his hands, tapping one thumb against the other. His suit was already hanging in the closet at home. They were already pressed and ready.

He’d also already confirmed the venue, triple-checked the invitation, even set a reminder on his phone for when to leave.

And yet...

’What if I mess this up?’

That thought had been circling his brain since the moment he woke up. He’d felt fine yesterday, full of warmth and pride after Lily’s performance, but today was different. The stakes were different.

This wasn’t just another dinner or meeting.

This was the Everett Gala. It was a once-a-year event where the wealthiest and most influential names in the city gathered under one roof. There will be business owners, politicians, old money, rising stars.

It was a place for deals to begin, for alliances to form, for people like Gray to either disappear in the crowd or make themselves seen.

He swallowed, staring blankly at the screen.

He wasn’t sure if he was ready, but he was determined to make this a good move.

His phone buzzed once on the desk.

Gray glanced at it and saw that it was text from Marcus.

[Marcus:] Hey. Just a reminder that the Q3 supplier proposal needs your final approval by this afternoon. Joel already signed his part.

Gray tapped a reply.

[Gray:] Got it. I will send it before lunch.

He set the phone down again, but even as he turned back to the report, his thoughts pulled him right back to tomorrow.

He could already picture the ballroom with the tall ceilings, golden light, rows of round tables dressed in white linen, glasses sparkling under chandeliers and people in suits and gowns.

He imagined himself walking in... and suddenly forgetting what to say. Or being asked a question and freezing. Or worse, being ignored.

Gray rubbed a hand down his face.

"Fuck. What is this feeling..."

He hadn’t grown up in that kind of world.

He didn’t grow up on fancy dinners, polished smiles, or politics hidden under polite laughs. Everything about that wasn’t him.

Instead, he grew up on shoes that had holes when he was a kid. His idea of dressing up used to be just a clean shirt and not looking tired.

And yet, here he was.

He sat up straighter and leaned forward, clicking the cursor back into the report.

He knew it wasn’t just about showing off. It was about showing up.

This was a chance. One that wasn’t handed to most people like him. One that many would kill for.

’I need to show myself to the world.’

He wasn’t just going for himself. He was going for the business he fought to rebuild. For the people who believed in him. For Lily, whose eyes sparkled onstage because she knew someone out there believed she belonged there.

Maybe Gray didn’t feel ready.

But maybe... no one ever really did. Not the first time.

And maybe that was exactly why he had to go.

He pulled in a breath and steadied his hands. He finally began typing the report again. Line by line, word by word. Even if he was still nervous, he tried to calm himself down.

He will go to that gala tomorrow.

Not because he wanted to impress anyone.

But because he was here now.

And no matter what happened, he wouldn’t let himself shrink.

Not anymore.

Gray kept his eyes on the screen, letting the numbers settle into his eyes again. The spreadsheet still looked plain. They were only filled with margins, forecasts, and cost breakdowns.

He was trying so hard to do all his work so he could rest for tomorrow.

’Just get this done and I will free tomorrow.’

He kept repeating those words all over his head.

He adjusted in his seat and began typing again after a few seconds,

It didn’t take long for him to find his focus. Once his hands got moving, the nervous energy in his chest began to disappear. He became less panicked.

It wasn’t the first time he’d had to push through nerves for something important.

He thought, "What if this was new?

He had experienced worse.

One tab after another, Gray finalized his work. He cross-checked supplier figures, and flagged inconsistencies for review. His focus sharpened each passing minute.

By the time he reached the last segment, he checked the clock.

11:48 AM.

It was just perfect.

He attached the revised document, typed out a short confirmation, and hit send.

[To: Marcus, Joel]

Subject: Q3 Proposal – Approved

"Final version attached."

He stretched back in his chair with a breath. One task down. Most of the day is still ahead.

Gray worked for the whole day.

By tomorrow, he did the same.

Gray stepped out of the elevator with a paper cup of coffee in one hand and his messenger bag slung over his shoulder. The office hallway was quiet.

It was Friday, just past eleven in the morning.

His last task was already wrapped up and forwarded.

Emails—cleared.

Joel and Marcus—briefed for the day.

Meeting reschedules—handled.

Gray gave one last look toward his office before heading to the exit. The door was closed, his desk light already turned off.

He was officially off for the rest of the day.

He had filed the half-day leave earlier in the week, but it still felt strange to leave this early. Normally, Friday afternoons were his time to catch up. Tie up loose ends. Breathe after the storm of the week. But not today.

Today wasn’t just any Friday.

It was Gala Day.

As he walked out of the building, sunlight hit his face. It was not the harsh midday kind, but that warm, golden kind that made everything feel just a little more alive. He adjusted the strap of his bag and glanced at the time.

12:03 PM.

Three hours to go before he needed to be at Selina’s condo.

That part still puzzled him.

She had texted him the night before, casual but firm.

[Selina:] Come to my place at 3PM sharp tomorrow. Don’t be late.

He’d asked why.

She didn’t answer.

Only followed up with:

[Selina:] Trust me. Just come early.

Gray sighed, remembering that exchange. He had no idea what she was planning.

But he trusted her.

Sort of.

Probably.

"Should I be worried?" he muttered to himself as he crossed the street.

Back home, the condo was quiet when he stepped in as Lily was at school. Gray set his things on the counter and went straight to the bedroom.

His suit was still there, hanging on the door of the wardrobe. The jacket, sleek and dark, shimmered faintly under the afternoon light, like it was waiting for its cue.

He stared at it for a second.

Then opened the closet and pulled out the dress shirt and undershirt, laying them out on the bed. He didn’t want to be in a rush later. The tie was still a problem but maybe Selina could help with that too.

He took a quick shower, shaved, and stood in front of the mirror, toweling his hair dry. A fresh face stared back at him.

Gray changed into a casual button-up and dark jeans. It was nothing too fancy yet. He also packed the suit carefully into a garment carrier. His shoes were already polished and waiting by the front door.

By 2:24 PM, he double-checked his things, grabbed the small gift bag he’d prepared and headed out.

The walk to Selina’s place didn’t take long.

By the time he reached her door, it was already 2:58 PM.

He knocked once, then again.

Seconds later, it swung open.

Selina stood there in a loose cream robe, her hair was tied back, and there was also a makeup brush in one hand.

She blinked at him, then smiled.

"You’re right on time." She uttered.

Gray blinked. "You’re... not dressed?"

"I said three. That means that’s the preparation time." She stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in. "Let’s get you gala-ready."

He paused in the doorway.

"You’re not going to, like... put makeup on me, right?"

Selina smirked without answering.

And somehow, that was worse.

He stepped in. The door clicked shut behind him.

Gray still had no idea what was coming. But whatever it was, it had officially started.