Ales's POV
She didn't even twitch when Arthur dragged Isla out like a knight in a noir film.
Everyone else went dead quiet. Party paused. Even Sophie stopped pretending for half a second.
But not Cherry.
She stood there like a pretty little statue, face unreadable, lips pressed into a line that screamed silent fury. And that was interesting.
So I wandered over, drink in hand, watching the Queen's bestie glitch.
"You gonna pout all night, Cherry girl?"
She didn't answer. Just kept her eyes glued to the door.
"You know," I went on, leaning beside her on the rail, "I figured Russians were good at hiding things. You? Not so much."
She finally looked at me. Sharp eyes. Razor smile.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" she said. "Preferably far from me."
"You wound me."
"Not deep enough."
I smirked. This was why she was fun. Cherry wasn't like the others. She didn't giggle, didn't flatter, didn't cower. She spat back fire—and I liked dancing with flames.
"You're upset," I said. "Not because Isla's drunk. But because he took her."
She didn't flinch, but I saw the truth in her silence.
"Let me guess," I added, circling her slowly. "This wasn't part of the grand Russian plan?"
"Shut up."
"Touchy."
"I'm warning you—"
"Relax." I stopped in front of her, lowering my voice. "I'm not your enemy."
Alice crossed her arms. "Could've fooled me."
I leaned in, close enough for her to hear me over the thumping bass. "You need me, baby girl."
She raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You don't want Isla falling, not really. Not deeper than necessary. Not where it gets… irreversible." I smiled. "And me? I couldn't care less about my brother. But your girl? She's chaos in gold. She makes this place worth staying awake for."
"You expect me to trust you?"
I laughed. "God, no. I expect you to use me. Same way I'll use you. We're both dirty players with clean faces. Let's stop pretending."
She didn't speak. Didn't blink.
But she was listening now.
So I pushed further.
"I know a dozen ways to twist this school inside out. I know what Sophie's planning next. I know who's watching, and who's being watched. You've got the Russian brains. I've got the underground guts."
I leaned back and offered her my drink, knowing she wouldn't take it.
"Call it a… temporary alliance. For the Queen."
She stared at me like she was debating whether to slap me or laugh.
Then finally, "If she finds out—"
"She won't," I cut in smoothly. "Unless you tell her."
She said nothing.
Did nothing.
But she didn't walk away either.
That's the thing about deals in the dark.
They don't need signatures.
Just silence.