After hours of monumental auctions, billionaire bids, and calculated glances from all corners of the world, the atmosphere in the Gala hall gradually softened.
The lights dimmed, turning the hall into an ethereal, almost dreamlike setting, with golden, lilac, and silver tones floating in the air like enchanted particles.
A string quartet positioned itself in the mezzanine, followed by a magical orchestra in the background, and the person responsible for the event ascended once more to the central stage.
With an impeccably rehearsed smile, he announced in a soft and elegant voice. "Most excellent guests, gracious ladies and gentlemen... To close this historic night with the elegance worthy of the empires we represent, I invite you to the Last Dance of the Night."
A light murmur of excitement ran through the hall, as if everyone had been waiting just for this—the social climax of the Gala: the dance that sealed alliances, flirtations, and sometimes destinies.
Matthew wasted no time and appeared beside Luna, who had just taken a sip of sparkling wine.
"Would you honor me with the last dance, Miss?" he asked with an almost mischievous smile, offering his hand like a classic gentleman.
Luna, who had been expecting it and waiting for this, although pretending disinterest until then, raised an eyebrow, sighed, and answered. "Hm... only if you don't step on my heel again."
He laughed. "It was once. And it was your heel that invaded my territory."
"We'll see who invades whom now," she murmured, taking his hand.
On the other side, Kael was already positioning himself naturally near Victória, who was looking at the ceiling pretending she wasn't waiting.
"Allow me a dance, my polar lady?" he said, extending his hand.
Victória crossed her arms and bit her lip, trying to hold back a smile, and failing beautifully. "Only if you promise not to freeze me with that imperial look of yours."
"I only promise to melt inside," he replied, lightly bringing his hand to his lips.
The other two friends, Lumine and Nikoly, exchanged resigned glances.
"And once again, the singles in the corner by the wall," grumbled Lumine.
"The dance of the lonely," Nikoly added, sighing and crossing her arms.
That was when two absurdly handsome men appeared.
One was dark-skinned, golden eyes, defined jawline, a diplomat known for his dangerous smooth talk.
The other was an engineer with silver hair and the air of a crazy genius with charm.
"Excuse me," said the diplomat, bowing to Nikoly. "You seem like someone who dances as if she had a secret plan."
"Maybe I do," Nikoly replied, accepting.
The engineer looked at Lumine. "If you don't invite me now, my AI will conclude I'm not worthy to be in this hall."
"Your AI needs to recalibrate priorities," Lumine murmured, smiling as she placed her hand in his.
And then, the music began.
The couples glided across the central floor illuminated by floating crystals. The floor seemed to reflect the stars, as if they were dancing over the sky.
Luna and Matthew naturally stood out.
The two seemed to balance in a silent game of provocations and contained smiles.
"So... will you tell me what you thought of the Gala?" Matthew asked while guiding her with mastery.
"Long, loud, and full of people looking at me as if I were a rare auction item."
"Well, maybe because you are."
"You just want to raise the stock price of my ego."
"And you keep disguising how much you're enjoying it."
"You'd like to know..."
Victória and Kael also twirled gracefully.
He guided her lightly but always maintaining eye contact.
There was something in his eyes.
"Are you having fun?" he asked softly.
"More than I should. Don't tell anyone."
"Blood secret."
Meanwhile, Liam, Victória's fiancé, was on the other side of the hall with a CEO from Oceania, trying to clean his own social image.
But when he glanced at the dance floor and saw Victória in Kael's arms, laughing, something she never did with him, his blood boiled.
With a discreet gesture, he took out his phone, focused the camera on the two, and recorded for a few seconds the fluid and elegant dance between them.
"We'll see if the princess's daddy will like this…" he murmured between his teeth, sending the video directly to the Lancaster family patriarch.
Then, with a venomous smile, he deleted the message history and turned with false sympathy to the group of businessmen.
But in his look, frustration and venom were planted.
The music reached its peak.
In the center, Luna and Matthew stopped for a moment.
He slowly brought his face closer, almost as if to kiss her. "You don't seem so irritated with my IQ now..."
She laughed, turning her face at the last second, escaping like a night breeze. "Don't get carried away, Mr. Heir."
And with that, the dance ended.
Everyone applauded.
And the smiles exchanged in that hall would not be forgotten anytime soon.
Although the final dance had officially closed the event for the common guests.
There were still false smiles being exchanged, whispered agreements in the shadows, and political alliances sealed with toasts of golden champagne.
But for the four women who had captured the attention of half the nobles present, the night was far from unforgettable, and perhaps for that reason, they decided it was time to leave before it became annoying.
Lumine was the first to step off the dance floor, adjusting her crimson dress with an impassive expression.
"Shall we?" she said, looking at Nikoly, Victória, and Luna.
"Now. Before another CEO tries to buy me with a yacht," Nikoly replied, holding back laughter.
Luna, in turn, was already walking ahead, her hair impeccable, posture straight like a modern empress, and patience at the limit.
Matthew found himself surrounded by two senators from the European Union and a banker.
The four tried to cross the hall, but, of course, not without being intercepted.
First, a duke, old and elegant like a ruined castle, intercepted Lumine. "Miss Edelweiss, allow me to present my granddaughter, heir of the von Halder house. Perhaps we can discuss a family agreement at the morning brunch."
"I'm allergic to brunches with hidden intentions, Your Excellency," Lumine replied with a smile as courteous as it was cutting.
The man laughed, not realizing he had been politely rejected.
Soon after, Nikoly was surrounded by three young and excessively perfumed men, perhaps nobles, perhaps just influencers of smaller empires.
"You seem to like silence. I'm quiet too. Shall we talk?"
"That's an interesting paradox," she said, turning her back without further words.
Victória received a contact card with a number engraved in rubies, delivered by a count hunter of heiresses. "If you have time, I would love to introduce you to my family's estate in Eldoria."
"Only if it's to drop you there and fly back," she replied, handing the card back with a smirk of disdain.
And finally, Luna. Ah, the favorite of the night.
Three men tried to approach.
One with flowers (we don't know where he got them), another with an old pearl necklace, and a third with... a miniature prenuptial contract.
Luna stopped, looked at the three, and said, "You're confusing me with a startup desperate for investment. Good night."
They backed away like drenched kittens.
Finally, already in the illuminated atrium leading to the hotel exit, Matthew approached the group.
He had a tired gleam in his eyes but still maintained a calm and impeccable posture. "I have a meeting with some ministers right after. I need to stay a bit longer."
Kael, who came right behind, nodded. "I have a meeting with global representatives. Night meetings are kind of... our culture," he said, casting a subtle glance at Victória.
Luna crossed her arms, looking at Matthew with slight disapproval. "Don't drink too much. And text me when you get home."
Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Are you worried about me?"
"I'm worried about what you say when you're drunk. What if you confess you like me."
He laughed, but before answering, Luna hugged him quickly. It was a brief touch, but full of silent codes.
Victória, beside Kael, hesitated for a second.
She looked at her friends who were already saying goodbye and turning their eyes to her with silent expectation.
Then she took a deep breath and said, "Kael... would you mind if I accompany you to that meeting? Just as an observer."
Kael smiled, that calm and controlled smile that hid more than it showed. "I don't see why not. But beware: they are long, cold, and full of political ice."
"I'm used to cold things," Victória replied, winking.
The friends watched the scene with knowing looks.
"Someone's going to become the princess of the Pole," Nikoly murmured.
"She's already melting ice since he appeared," Lumine added, while Luna just laughed.
The girls said goodbye with subtle waves, each following their path through the sparkling streets of New York.