Instead, you hear yourself ask, “What’s the most precious thing you have?”

Elise’s eyes flash.
“My mother’s watch,” she says, so quick it sounds rehearsed.
Then she corrects herself, softer. “My freedom.”

Your throat goes dry.

The man is closer now, threading through bodies like a knife through fabric.
Elise doesn’t have time to explain, and you don’t have time to think.
All you have is a choice you make on instinct.

You step closer to Elise and place a hand at her waist like you’ve done it a hundred times.
Her breath catches, subtle but real.
Then you tilt your head, smile slightly, and let your body language say what words don’t.

Mine.

The man arrives.

“Elise,” he says warmly, as if the warmth is a gift he can revoke.
His eyes flick to your hand and then to your face, lingering a second too long.
“And who is this?”

Elise slides her arm through yours with practiced ease, but you feel how tense she is beneath the performance.
“This is Julián,” she says. “My boyfriend.”

Boyfriend.
The word hangs in the air, ridiculous and electric.

The man’s smile doesn’t falter.
“Boyfriend,” he repeats, tasting it.
Then he offers his hand to you. “Álvaro Ibarra.”

You shake his hand and immediately understand why Elise needed help.
Álvaro’s grip is firm, polished, and just slightly too tight, like dominance disguised as etiquette.
His eyes are the kind that weigh people.

“Nice to meet you,” you say.

Álvaro’s gaze flicks to Elise.
“You didn’t mention him,” he says lightly, and the lightness feels like a threat.
Elise’s smile is perfect. Too perfect.

“There’s a lot I don’t mention,” she replies.

Álvaro laughs.
“That’s what I adore about you.”
Then he looks at you again. “So, Julián… what do you do?”

You feel Elise’s muscles tighten, because this question isn’t curiosity.
It’s a test, and Álvaro is expecting you to fail it.
He’s expecting you to sound small.

“I keep Elise alive,” you say with a calm smile.
You tilt your head slightly. “And I make sure our clients don’t set themselves on fire.”

A couple of nearby colleagues glance over, surprised.
Álvaro’s eyes narrow just a fraction.

“Elise’s assistant,” he says, and you can hear the dismissal dressed up as description.

Elise’s hand squeezes your arm.
Not hard.
But enough to say: keep going.

You glance at Elise, then back at Álvaro.
“I’m also the guy who caught the discrepancy in the German client’s KPI deck before your team walked into that meeting,” you say.
You keep your tone casual, like it’s not a flex. “So if the contract got signed, you’re welcome.”

Álvaro’s smile freezes for half a second.
Then it returns, brighter, sharper.

“Well,” he says, “we’re lucky to have you.”

Elise’s laugh is quiet and controlled, but you feel her shoulders drop a millimeter.
You don’t know what game this is, only that you just made your first move.

Álvaro turns to Elise as if you’re no longer in the room.
“I came to speak with you,” he says.
“Privately.”

Elise lifts her chin.
“Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Julián.”

Álvaro studies her.
Then he smiles again, slow.
“Of course,” he says. “Because he’s… your boyfriend.”

He leans closer, voice lowering.
“It’s courageous of you,” he murmurs, “to debut a relationship at your own company party.”
His eyes flick to you. “Especially with someone who depends on you for a salary.”

Heat flares in your gut, but you keep your expression neutral.
This is how people like Álvaro fight.
Not with fists. With implications.

Elise’s voice turns colder.
“Be careful,” she says.

Álvaro lifts his hands slightly.
“I’m only concerned,” he replies. “You know I care about your reputation.”

You’re suddenly very aware of how many eyes are on Elise, and how many of them would love to see her stumble.
You’re aware of how quickly gossip turns into leverage in a firm like this.
And you’re aware of how Elise is standing still like a statue while the ground under her tries to shift.

Álvaro’s gaze returns to Elise, and he delivers his line like a closing argument.
“My offer stands,” he says. “Tonight. We talk. Then you come home with me.”

Elise’s lips part, but no sound comes out for a beat.
It’s the smallest crack you’ve ever seen in her armor.
Then she recovers.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she says.

Álvaro’s smile fades.
Not fully.
Just enough to show teeth.

“You always say that,” he murmurs.
“And you always end up doing what you must.”

He touches Elise’s elbow lightly, as if he owns the right.
Your body reacts before your mind does.

You shift, placing yourself between them with a polite smile.
“Hey,” you say, friendly enough to pass as casual. “Elise promised me a dance.”

Elise blinks.
It’s a fraction of a second where she looks genuinely startled, like she didn’t realize you had improvisation in you.
Then she plays along.

“Did I?” she says, lifting an eyebrow.

“You did,” you reply, leaning in slightly. “And I’m holding you to it.”

Álvaro watches you both, eyes narrowed.
“Enjoy,” he says, voice flat.

You lead Elise away before he can add another blade to the sentence.
Her hand is cool against your palm, but you feel a tremor in her fingers.
You guide her through the crowd, toward a quieter corner near a long window that overlooks the Madrid night.

Only when you’re out of immediate earshot does Elise exhale.
It sounds like someone surfacing after being held underwater.

“What was that?” you ask.

Elise stares out at the city for a moment.
Then she turns to you, and her eyes are not icy now.
They’re furious.

“He’s on the board,” she says.
“And he thinks he owns me because my father owes him a favor.”

Your chest tightens.
“Your father?” you repeat.

Elise’s jaw clenches again.
“My father built half of what people in Bilbao call ‘high society,’” she says.
“But he built it with debts disguised as friendships.”
She swallows once. “Álvaro bought those debts.”

You feel your skin prickle.
“So he’s… what, blackmailing you into… dating him?”

Elise’s laugh is bitter.
“Dating?” she repeats.
“No. He wants marriage.”
She looks back across the room toward Álvaro, who is now laughing with a partner like nothing happened. “He wants me as a trophy that signs documents.”