We soon entered the lavishly decorated banquet hall, teeming with businessmen from various nationalities.
The air was thick with the heady scents of expensive cologne and the gentle tinkling of fine crystal in a cacophony of wealth and power that made my head spin.
My father and my entire family had always urged me to accompany them to these elite social events, but I had steadfastly refused, for I was not a fan of such ostentatious displays of affluence and influence.
Every eye in the room instantly turned towards us from the very second we stepped through the double doors.
Their curious gazes swept over our forms in a silent appraisal.
I could feel the weight of their stares, judging and assessing our worth based on appearance alone.
Karl seemed oblivious to my discomfort. He
