Page 101 of Knox's Boy

Knox caught me, his arms winding around my waist to steady me. He gave me a champagne glass, and we touched glasses. I drank mine in one gulp. It was so good.

"Pace yourself. It’s vintage Dom Pérignon, and it goes down like soda. I don’t want to carry you out over my shoulder."

"Unless I'm being bratty," I teased.

"If you are bratty at the ball," Knox said, "I will take you to the executive office on the top floor, bend you over my desk, and ensure you can't sit through the keynote speeches."

I paused, halfway through unbuttoning the jacket, a huge smile on my lips. My reflection in the dressing room mirror showed flushed cheeks and dilated pupils.

"Is that a threat or an offer?" I asked. God, I’d love that.

Knox leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “Consider it a promise with consequences either way. Now, get changed. I want to take you to lunch."

I stripped off the jacket, feeling the cool air of the shop hit my skin. "Yes, Daddy."

I watched him through the gap in the curtain as I changed. He was checking his phone, probably ordering a five-thousand-dollar dress for Luna without a second thought, just because I asked.

***

We stepped out of the elevator and into a room that smelled overwhelmingly of white roses. There were thousands of them, cascading from the ceiling, climbing the pillars, bursting from crystal vases on every surface. Enormous chandeliers cast a warm, golden light that refracted through the life-sized ice sculptures guarding the entrance to the ballroom.

I tugged at my cuff, feeling the familiar itch of insecurity crawling up my throat. Knox didn't say a word. He simply placed his hand on my back, his palm warm and broad through the fabric of my tuxedo.I have you,it said.You are mine.

"Just breathe," he murmured, guiding me forward. "It’s just a room. With better flowers than usual."

We moved through the crowd, and I did my best to remember the briefing.Stand tall. Eye contact. Smile.

"Robert!" a voice boomed.

We were swallowed by the inner circle before we even reached the bar. Lucas and his partner, Sophia with David, all of them looking glamorous.

Then, the elevator doors slid open again, and I nearly dropped my glass.

Luna stepped out. She looked like a queen from a dark fairytale. The gown Knox had arranged was a deep midnight blue, flaring out at the waist in waves of satin. Her blue hair was styled, and she wore diamond drop earrings.She spotted us and marched over. She was still wearing boots, though more elegant than usual.

"Okay," she said, stopping in front of me. "I’m terrified to move. This dress costs more than my entire college education. If I spill salsa on it, I have to fake my own death. And there’s no way in hell I’d wear heels. Those things hurt and I’m not into pain like you."

I laughed. "You look incredible, Blue. Seriously."

She punched my arm, hard. "Shut up. You look like a tiny James Bond."

"Ow," I rubbed my arm, grinning. "Security!"

Knox stepped forward, offering Luna his hand. "Luna. You look radiant. The color suits you perfectly."

Luna eyed him, then offered a genuine smile, shaking his hand. "Thanks, Knox. Really. This is... insane."

"Enjoy it," he said and winked. "The night is yours."

As the evening wore on, the ballroom filled with the city's elite. I watched Knox transform. It was fascinating, like watching a master craftsman at work. He moved through the crowd with an easy grace, shaking hands, clapping shoulders, leaning in to listen to concerns about funding or policy. He was the center of gravity in the room. People drifted toward him, seeking his approval, his attention.

And yet, every few minutes, no matter who he was talking to, a senator, a tech mogul, a philanthropist, his eyes would find me. He’d check on me across the room, offering a small, private smile that was for me alone. That smile saidI see you. You’re doing well.It made my heart race faster than the caffeine or the anxiety ever could. Sometimes, he winked at me and made my heart stop.

We sat for dinner at the head table. The linens were crisp, the silverware heavy and endless. I sat between Knox and Luna, with Sophia and David across from us, Lucas and James in a table next to ours. Knox didn’t have a lot of time to eat, he had to talk with too many people, leaving me mostly alone with Luna and Knox’s friends.

"So," Luna whispered to me as the first course, some kind of delicate scallop dish, was served. "I’ve been watching him."

"And?" I whispered back, slicing into a scallop.