Connections

♡Astrid♡ I had been tense all night. And it didn’t help that I was about to spend hours with the very reason for my anxiety. Speaking of which, Adrian stepped out of the car as soon as we arrived at the event location. A black mask covered part of his face, but his brown eyes locked onto mine as he held out his hand. I hesitated, glancing around. Aside from the security guards at the entrance, no one else was here. Ignoring his hand, I stepped out of the car on my own. He straightened, tucking his hands into his pockets. I adjusted the red butterfly mask I had chosen to match my dress. Joan and I had gone shopping earlier, and she had helped me pick out dresses suitable for a gala—one of the reasons I now wore a floor-length black gown. The dress hugged my figure perfectly, its thigh-high slit adding an air of elegance. Diamonds adorned the neckline, catching the light and making the fabric shimmer with every movement. Adrian appeared beside me as I stopped in front of the security gua