268
Bella's POV
The D-day….
The knock on the door was soft, but insistent. I had been awake for a while, tossing and turning most of the night, anxiety and excitement playing tug-of-war in my chest. I wasn't sure which was winning.
I opened the door to see a team of professionals standing in front of me. Three women, two men, all dressed in sleek black. Each of them held something, boxes, garment bags, a rolling suitcase filled with tools I couldn't even name.
"Miss Bella?" one of them asked with a knowing smile. "We're here to prepare you for the dinner."
I nodded, stepping aside to let them in. My heart began to pound as the reality of the evening finally hit me. This wasn't just any dinner. This was the dinner. Alex's high-profile, strictly invite-only party, an annual gathering that held more power in one room than most world summits. The idea that I'd be by his side tonight… it still felt surreal.
