Page 7 of Ivory Obsession
Chapter Four: Jade
Iwas so out of place here.
I slipped through the grand entrance of the Upper East Side’s most opulent event space, the echo of my heels lost amidst a symphony of clinking glasses and cultured laughter. Friday evening had draped New York City in its finest, but the splendor of the charity gala could have been a universe away from the sterile confines of BioHQ lab where I toiled over petri dishes and gene sequences.
“Stick with me, Jade,” Ellie murmured, her grip on my arm both comforting and grounding. The weight of our mission settled on my shoulders like a lead cloak—we were here to sell our life’s work, to charm the deep pockets into funding our research.
She looked gorgeous; her curls tamed into an intricate updo, her petite form adorned in a glittering black dress that fit her like a second skin. She had a way of holding herself that commanded attention, and I couldn’t help but admire her charisma. I was sure I didn’t look half as good, though I’d done my best. I was wearing a navy-blue dress that accentuated my curves, the fabric hugging my body with a subtle allure. The plunging neckline was a divergence from my usual high-neck blouses and lab coats, but Ellie had insisted that we blend in with the elite crowd.
I had straightened my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders in a cascade of dark silk, the stark contrast to my ice-blue eyes. As I caught sight of myself in one of the many gilded mirrors adorning the hall, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of playing a part - of being a scientist dressed up as a socialite.
Our plan was simple, or at least Ellie made it sound that way. Mingle with the city’s influential and convince them of the importance of our biotech research. Only, these were not my people. I would have felt more at home discussing genome sequencing with my lab rat colonies than trying to impress these bejeweled socialites with palatable science chatter.
The room was a carousel of wealth and influence, each face another opportunity, every handshake a potential lifeline to keep our experiments running. I repeated the key points of our project in my head, refining the pitch to perfection as Ellie’s eyes flicked across the crowd, identifying the movers and shakers with the precision of a hawk eyeing prey.
“Remember, these people invest in confidence just as much as they do in ideas,” Ellie reminded me, her voice a whisper lost in the hum of conversations and orchestral strings playing somewhere in the distance. It was true; we had to be the embodiment of the innovation we promised—poised, persuasive, unyieldingly passionate.
“Why isn’t this Dr. White’s job?” I said. “Why do we have to be here? We’re just lackeys.”
“Because we’re women,” Ellie replied. “Women in STEM. Looks good to investors.”
I laughed quietly. “That’s gross, El.”
“Hey, I didn’t make the rules,” she replied. “You remember what we talked about?”
“Yes, pretend to be confident,” I said, though my stomach twisted into knots at the thought of delivering our spiel to the city’s elite, whose interest in biotechnology likely began and ended at the tax deductions it provided.
Ellie gave my hand a quick, reassuring squeeze before releasing it, leaving me to navigate this sea of potential benefactors on my own. I took a deep breath, clutching the stem of my wine glass like a lifeline, and prepared to dive into the depths.
Just as I steadied my nerves to take the plunge, Ellie’s path veered off course. Mrs. White, Dr. Stuart White’s wife approached her. She looked beautiful with her silver hair coiffed into an intricate updo and diamonds at her throat, catching Ellie by the arm with a gloved hand. “Dr. Harper,” she trilled, her voice carrying a melody of old money and practiced charm, “you simply must meet some friends of mine.”
Ellie cast a glance back at me, her eyes apologetic but insistent—this was an opportunity we couldn’t afford to miss. With a reluctant nod, she allowed Mrs. White to steer her towards a cluster of potential donors, each one more imposing than the last.
Alone now, the gala seemed to swell around me, its opulence suddenly suffocating. The laughter was too loud, the smiles too bright, the clinking of glassware piercing. My life’s work, hours upon hours spent in the sterile sanctuary of the lab, felt inconsequential—a mere whisper drowned out by the symphony of self-indulgence that played on around me.
I shifted uncomfortably, aware of the space Ellie’s absence left beside me. She was the extrovert, the schmoozer, the one who could charm skeptics into believers with nothing but her wit and a well-placed fact. Without her, I was just a scientist out of her element, adrift in a sea of tailored suits and silk gowns that whispered along the marble floor as their wearers glided past.
“Focus, Jade,” I told myself. “Remember why you’re here.” The mantra was a feeble attempt to anchor me to the mission at hand. I took a sip of wine, its bubbles doing little to lift the weight of isolation pressing against my chest as I watched Ellie mingle, her laughter reaching me from across the room like a lifeline I couldn’t quite grasp.
Still, I knew I had to try. For the sake of our research, for the future that hung precariously on the whims of these strangers, I would have to find my footing and step forward into the tide. But oh, how vast the ocean seemed without Ellie by my side.
The wine in my hand was just one more prop in a scene I didn’t understand. It’s not like the crisp taste could wash away the tension knotted in my stomach. I scanned the crowd again, hoping for someone to latch onto, someone who looked like they believed in more than just the next big investment opportunity.
That’s when he caught my eye.
Across the room, surrounded by a pack of well-dressed vultures, stood a man with an aura that commanded attention without begging for it. The soft lighting seemed to wrap around him like a spotlight meant only for him. He was a stark figure against the opulence of the gala, a silent testament to power and restraint.
I’d seen him before, and my breath caught in my throat.
Dante Moretti.
His presence was a gravitational pull, and before I knew it, my body had inched closer, as if on its own accord. My eyes traced the lines of his face, noting the sharp jawline and the way his dark hair fell just so, brushing against his brow with a casual elegance that seemed almost out of place amidst the rest.
I shook my head slightly, trying to dispel the ridiculous thoughts that clouded my mind. Ellie had mentioned him…but I was telling myself that he was completely out of my league.
His eyes met mine, and in that moment, the clamor of the room seemed to mute, the world narrowing down to the silent conversation between us.
I could feel my cheeks burning.