Ella

The party has settled back into its rhythm after the earlier incident. For a brief second, I allow myself to breathe. The hum of conversations blends with the soft clinking of glasses as I step away from a small group of guests, my eyes scanning the room.

A woman in a sharp, tailored suit approaches me, holding a voice recorder in one hand and a notepad in the other. Her eyes lock on mine with practiced precision, a predator honing in on its next ...