Jordan turned toward the voice. He had honestly thought she would never arrive. Marcus had been updating him by the minute, and he had deliberately avoided Vera's tantrums in the meantime. What he hadn't done, however, was call Kiara to hurry—because he trusted her. And now, here she was.
What he hadn't expected was how stunning she looked. His gaze swept over her from head to toe. She was glowing—effortlessly elegant. For a fleeting second, he wished she were his date to the Oscars instead of Vera. But that ship had sailed.
Kiara smiled apologetically. "I'm really sorry. The dress is here."
"And the necklace?" Vera snapped.
"Also here."
Layla exhaled in visible relief, as did the stylists, who quickly collected the dress and rushed Vera into the inner dressing room.
Lara turned to Kiara, her eyes sharp. "You really ought to learn some work ethics. You were very late."
Kiara met her glare calmly. "I know, and I truly apologize. I'll make sure it never happens again."
Lara scoffed and looked to Jordan for support—but he wasn't even listening. His gaze was fixed on Kiara, utterly smitten.
Lara's jaw clenched. The sight of his distraction made her blood boil.
Kiara pretended not to notice. She avoided Jordan's eyes, pretending to study the décor instead. The entire room was drenched in pink—the walls, the vanity chairs, even the lighting. Kiara wondered if Vera ever got tired of it. Probably not, she thought wryly. For a celebrity, the room fit perfectly.
She caught Lara's stare and offered a polite smile. Lara responded with a mocking smirk. Jordan remained oblivious, still lost in his thoughts—wondering what Kiara's lips would taste like under that shade of lipstick.
He was glad he'd trusted her—and even more so when Vera finally reappeared.
The dress was breathtaking. Emerald green silk shimmered under the light, real emerald stones forming intricate patterns across the fabric. Jordan couldn't help but marvel at the craftsmanship. A heart-shaped cutout exposed Vera's back, one shoulder bare, the other held by a single strap. The gown hugged her figure perfectly, and her four-inch heels completed the look.
Her dark hair now had subtle green-dyed strands to complement the gown's tone. The overall effect was mesmerizing.
"Wow," Jordan murmured under his breath.
Vera smiled brightly. "How do I look?"
"Like the queen that you are," Kiara said smoothly.
The compliment lit Vera's face. She turned to the mirror, nearly tearing up. "Gosh, I look gorgeous."
Kiara nodded in agreement. Then her gaze caught the jewelry box. "The necklace."
Jordan blinked, snapping out of his trance—he'd been imagining Kiara in the same dress and was certain she'd outshine Vera easily.
"Yes," he said, recovering quickly. "Have Nina come in to verify it."
Marcus nodded and returned with Nina moments later. She was known for her professionalism, but even she couldn't hide her awe when she saw Kiara and Vera.
"You look lovely, ma'am," Nina said to Vera before turning to Kiara. "And you look absolutely splendid, Ms. Griffin."
Vera smiled proudly while Kiara gave an appreciative nod.
Nina got to work, examining the necklace carefully. After a few tense moments, she looked up and smiled. "It's an original, sir."
Jordan's shoulders eased. Relief and gratitude washed over him—Kiara had saved the day.
Vera threw her arms around Kiara. "Thank you so much, Agent K! This is all thanks to you. If not for you, I swear Jordan would've been hearing from my lawyers tomorrow."
Kiara's smile was humble, graceful. "It's my pleasure, ma'am. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm honoured to have been part of it."
Vera genuinely liked her. She turned to Jordan. "Well? Aren't you getting ready?"
"Right," he said, heading for the door. "I'll meet you outside."
Before leaving, he cast a quick glance at Kiara—a silent, appreciative connection that didn't go unnoticed. He also gave Layla a small nod of thanks, which made her blush.
Meanwhile, Lara was fuming. Such blatant display, right in front of me. She followed Jordan out, throwing Kiara a disgusted look.
Kiara merely bobbed her head politely. That made Lara even angrier.
---
Kiara and Layla escorted Vera to the elevator.
"How did you get my exact size?" Vera asked curiously.
"Mr. Powell sent me your measurements," Kiara replied. "But I made a few adjustments based on your pictures."
"Based on a picture? That's impressive," Vera said, genuinely admiring her. "I really respect your work, Kiara. I hope we can be friends."
"Of course," Kiara said, handing her a business card.
Vera glanced at it and froze. "Royal Kings and Queens?" She looked up sharply. "You're the CEO?"
Kiara nodded calmly. Layla nearly fainted—her jaw dropped and stayed there.
"Can we keep this between us three?" Kiara asked lightly.
Layla nodded instantly, and Vera followed suit. She had more to say, but the elevator doors opened into the underground parking lot.
---
Jordan was waiting beside a sleek black limo. Kiara's breath hitched.
He was in a tailored black tux with a green tie—clearly chosen to match Vera's dress. His clothes fit like they'd been sculpted for him. His jet-black hair was neatly gelled, with a few rebellious strands falling over his left eye, giving him that dangerous edge that made women's hearts skip.
He smiled, and it was dazzling. She found herself smiling back before she could stop it.
He met them halfway, offering his arm to Vera. Kiara assured herself that she wasn't jealous—not of the way his eyes lingered on Vera, not of the ease with which he charmed her. He's just a flirt, she reminded herself. Kyle confirmed it.
Jordan opened the limo door for Vera, who waved at Kiara and Layla before stepping in.
Before Jordan followed, he turned and flashed Kiara a wink. She bowed respectfully—something Daniel, her driver, usually did.
It caught him off guard, but he quickly replaced his surprise with that same disarming smile before sliding into the car. The convoy of black vehicles ahead moved first, and their limo followed.
Layla sighed dreamily. "Celebrities are so lucky."
Kiara arched a brow. "You think?"
"Yeah. Totally. You should know—you're a celebrity in your own right. CEO of that company? That's huge."
Kiara shrugged. "Maybe. But very few people know I'm the CEO."
Layla nodded knowingly. "Don't worry, I won't tell Mr. Powell. Your secret's safe with me."
"I appreciate that, Layla."
"It's nothing," Layla said quickly. "I actually used to dream of working there. My sister and I even argue about which company's better. She always picks yours," she said with a grin. "But my loyalty stays with Mr. Powell. It's bad enough he lost some workers to you—it'd be worse if I left too."
Kiara tilted her head. "Rival company, huh? So he knows about Royal K&Q?"
Layla laughed. "Of course! Who doesn't? I'm sure he's still annoyed that some of his clients jumped ship to you. Though I don't see why—he's rich already."
Kiara smiled faintly, her mind elsewhere. They exchanged numbers before she got into her car. She suddenly remembered she hadn't asked if Layla's sister still worked at Royal K&Q. I'll ask later, she thought.
Her phone rang.
"Hello."
"Agent Kay, this is Summer."
Kiara's tone sharpened. "Hey, Summer. Situation report?"
"An attack was just made on Mrs. Wyatt's life."