Eli's Pov
The worst part of losing something…is the fear that you might never find it again.
The party started an hour later.
The huge hall downstairs had been transformed into something really beautiful. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Long tables were covered with white cloth and expensive looking food I couldn't even name.
Soft piano music played somewhere in the background.
Men in expensive suits. Women in glittering dresses and jewelry. Champagne glasses everywhere.
My coworker Charles stood beside me sipping from a plastic water bottle.
We stood near the edge of a darker hallway that connected to the main hall, waiting for instructions.
"Man," I muttered quietly, staring at the crowd. "This is insane."
"First gala party?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"You've been staring at the chandeliers like they might fall on you."
I sighed. That's because I was thinking about my pocket watch.
He lowered his voice dramatically. "I still can't believe I'm standing in the middle of the Donovan mansion."
A second later he turned the phone screen toward me. "Look."
I leaned closer.
The screen showed an article.
The Donovan Family – The Richest Dynasty in the City.
My eyebrows slowly lifted. "Richest in the city? I believe."
Charles scrolled. "They're not just rich," he said proudly. "They're old money rich."
Another article appeared.
Donovan Industries Expands Into European Market.
I blinked again. "Wow."
Donovan Tech Ranked Among Top Global Corporations.
Charles grinned. "They've got companies everywhere. Finance, tech, construction, shipping….you name it. It's an empire."
I stared at the screen. "And their net worth?"
Charles whistled softly. "Let's just say they're richer than most of the families in the neighboring cities combined."
My brain struggled to process that. "There's levels to wealth."
Charles laughed. "Exactly."
I glanced around the hall again. Suddenly the place felt even more intimidating.
"So basically," I muttered, "everyone here tonight is either rich or trying to be friends with richer people."
"Pretty much."
We both watched as a woman casually dropped a dirty napkin on the floor…beside the trash bin and walked away.
Charles pointed. "And that's why we're here."
I sighed and picked it up. "Apparently rich people also don't know how trash bins work."
"Why use a bin," Charles said dramatically, "when poor people exist?"
I snorted. "Valid point. We clean their mess."
The music continued playing softly.
More guests arrived.
Waiters moved through the crowd carrying trays of champagne.
My back still hurt from cleaning all day.
My brain still felt stressed from the room incident earlier. And my pocket watch was still missing.
Which meant my mood was still terrible.
A sharp sound echoed through the hall.
Everyone looked toward the front.
At the front of the room, an elderly man stood near the staircase holding a champagne glass.
He tapped the rim again.
The whispers slowly quieted.
Even the piano music faded out.
Charles leaned closer. "That's him."
"Who?"
"The Donovan patriarch."
I straightened slightly to see better.
The old man stood tall despite his age.
Even from across the room he looked like someone people didn't argue with.
He cleared his throat. "Good evening everyone."
His voice carried through the room easily.
The crowd went silent.
"I appreciate everyone who accepted my invitation tonight."
Polite applause followed. Some lifted their glasses.
He waited calmly until it died down.
"As you all know," he continued, "the Donovan family has always believed in legacy, responsibility, and the future of this city."
People nodded respectfully.
He lifted his glass slightly.
"And tonight, I wish to address something regarding my family and….."
"HEY YOU!"A loud voice cut across the room.
The entire hall froze.
People immediately turned toward the far end of the room.
It's disrespectful cutting off someone older when he's talking.
Even the old man stopped speaking.
A spotlight slowly shifted across the crowd…
…and landed on someone walking forward.
Whispers erupted instantly.
"Who interrupted him?"
"That's one of the grandsons."
"People have no manners these days…"
My coworker whispered beside me.
"Someone's about to get in trouble."
Because the closer he walked…
The more familiar he looked.
My stomach dropped.
No.
No way.
It was him. The same man from earlier. The one whose room I cleaned.
The one i saw nake…
I stopped that thought immediately.
Why was he walking this way?
He walked straight through the crowd like he owned the entire building.
Which… considering the circumstances… he probably did.
Charles whispered beside me. "Eli? That's the Dylan Donovan."
My stomach dropped. "Oh my goodness!"
He kept walking closer.
My heart began racing.
Why is he still walking towards me?
The man stopped directly in front of me.
His grey eyes were cold.
Before I could even react…..he grabbed my wrist. "How dare you steal from me."
My brain froze. "What?!"
Steal from him? That sounds ridiculous. "What the hell are you talking about?" I whispered.
The whispers around the hall exploded.
"Did he say steal?"
"Is that one of the staff?"
"Did a servant steal from him?"
"You always know thieves…"
People leaned closer.
Phones started rising into the air. People were recording verything.
"I…..I didn't steal anything!" I said quickly.
He tightened his grip slightly. "Don't lie."
"I'm not lying! I swear!"
"Then explain why my watch disappeared from my room."
My breath caught. His watch? What do i even want to so with it? When I can't find mine.
"I don't even know what you're talking about!"
He leaned slightly closer to me. "Where is it?"
"You're accusing me of stealing a watch?"
"I'm accusing you of stealing my watch."
My chest tightened. "I didn't take anything!"
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Yes!"
My voice cracked. "Because I'm not stupid enough to steal from someone who literally threatened to have me arrested earlier!"
Some people in the crowd gasped.
The whispers got louder.
The old man at the front of the hall was watching.
His grip on my wrist was still firm. "You were sneaking around my room."
"I was looking for something my pocket watch!"
His eyes flickered slightly. "Is that why you took mine?"
"Does your watch have a picture of my mom and grandmother in it?" I stared directly at him.
The whispers got louder.
The cameras didn't stop flashing.
My chest felt tight.
Because suddenly…
Every rich person in that hall was staring at me.
Like I was a criminal.