Chapter 327

Madison

For the next week, I threw myself into work. Every morning, I arrived early, left late, and was buried in work. Anything to avoid thinking about Alexander Knight and the hollow feeling in my chest.

The day of the gala arrived with cruel swiftness. I woke up with a knot of dread in my stomach, knowing I’d have to watch Alexander with Katherine all evening, playing the part of the professional employee while remembering how his hands felt on my body.

At noon, a courier delivered a large garment bag to my apartment.

I unzipped the bag slowly, revealing a midnight blue gown that took my breath away. The silk fabric shimmered in the light, its deep color reminiscent of the night sky. Strapless with a sweetheart neckline, it hugged the torso before flowing out in a subtle A-line.

Tucked into the garment bag was a smaller box containing a diamond necklace and matching earrings that had to be worth at least twenty thousand dollars.

So he’d