CHAPTER 1

Maya stood in the middle of her big bedroom, taking in the warm familiarity of it. The walls were painted soft cream, the tall windows letting in the late afternoon sunlight, dancing across her old bookshelves and childhood trinkets. A nostalgic smile tugged on her lips. It felt good to be back after years of studying overseas in Asia. She was unpacking her belongings in silence, the quiet hum of the estate seeming to settle her nerves. She wore a great, loose, oversized shirt that fell to mid-thigh and a pair of simple cotton underwear—her favorite outfit for comfort.

She had politely declined, though, when the maids offered to assist her, because this was going to be her space, and she wanted to settle into it on her own terms. Her father, Charles, was downstairs somewhere, precisely in his study, buried as always in his work.

The ringtone of her phone cut through the silence, and she looked at the screen to see Reese's name flashing and a grin spread across her face. Reese had been her best friend from middle school, and now Reese was chasing her dream in Hollywood, already making waves as a rookie actress. Maya swiped to answer.

"Reese!" she exclaimed, setting down the stack of books she'd been arranging.

"Maya!" Reese's voice exploded across the line, chipper as ever. "Finally, you're back in civilization. Tell me everything. How was Asia? Did you fall in love with some mysterious stranger? Get into a secret ninja society?"

Maya laughed. "Absolutely none of that, I promise. Just endless lectures, exams, and figuring out how not to get lost in Seoul."

“Well, that's a bummer. I, at least, was hoping for at least one spicy romance."

"Sorry to let you down." Maya rolled her eyes, her smile still on her face. "What about you, Miss Hollywood? Last I heard, you were about to audition for some big show."

"Oh my god, Maya, you won't believe it! I got the part! I'm officially playing the best friend of the lead in High Stakes! Like, it's not some huge role or anything, but still!”

"Reese, that's so cool!" Maya said. She was really excited for her. Maya flopped onto her bed, forgetting about unpacking for the moment. "You're going to kill it. I just know you will. Tell me about it."

Reese launched into a full rundown of her experience on set, including the scandal of a diva costar who had apparently thrown a fit because someone broke her nail. Maya laughed, happy to hear the sound of Reese's voice. It was grounding, hearing her friend chatter on like no time had passed.

Eventually, Maya got up and stretched. "I'm starving. I'm going downstairs to get a snack. Don't hang up. I still need to hear about this director you're crushing on."

"Oh fuck, he's gorgeous, but he's married, so he's strictly eye candy," Reese teased.

Maya padded downstairs, the phone pressed against her ear. The kitchen was just as she had left it-sleek marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, and the faint scent of vanilla hanging in the air. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of milk, reached for a jar of cookies on the counter.

"So, tell me about your classes," Reese was saying as Maya poured herself a glass of milk. "Were they as intense as you thought they'd be?"

"Definitely, I thought my brain would explode during finals," Maya replied, balancing her phone between her shoulder and ear as she plated her snack. "But the experience was worth it. I learned so much, and the culture was incredible—"

The words caught in her throat as she turned and found a man standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

He was tall, commanding, and undeniably handsome. Dark hair framed his chiselled features, his silver eyes sharp and mesmerizing. A faint scar ran through one brow, adding an edge of danger to his otherwise polished appearance. His tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders and lean frame; every detail screamed money and power. He looked to be in his early thirties, at least a decade older than her.

Maya's heart skipped a beat.

"Maya?" Reese's voice called through the phone. "You still there?"

Maya hastily hit End, without answering, heat filling up her cheeks. She set the phone down and clutched the edge of the counter for support.

"I'm sorry," the man said, his deep baritone voice smooth yet tinged with amusement. "I didn't mean to startle you.

“It's–it's all right”, stammered Maya, embarrassment mounting as she was uncomfortably aware of her state of undress. "I didn't hear you come in."

He stepped into the kitchen, his movements unhurried. "May I know who you are?"

She blinked, taken aback by the question. "I'm Maya. Charles' daughter."

His eyebrows lifted fractionally, surprised. "Charles never mentioned he had a daughter.”

Maya raised her own brow. "And you are?"

"Zane," he stated, with no embellishment, his eyes steady on her.

She didn't know the name, and it didn't matter. The look on his face when he regarded her, intense and unreadable, caused her stomach to flutter. Chemistry crackled in the air between them, electric and undeniable.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Zane," she said, forcing a polite smile even while her heart galloped. "Sorry for, well this." She waved a vague hand at her oversized shirt and bare legs, willing the floor to swallow her.

His lips twitched, a ghost of a smile playing on them. "No need to apologize. I quite liked what I saw.”

Maya chewed her lip, undecided whether she should linger and ask more questions, or hightail it out the door and cut her losses. She settled on the latter. "I should go," she said in a rush, snatching up her plate of cookies and glass of milk. "It was nice meeting you."

She quickened her pace out of the kitchen, feeling his stare on her all the while. By the time she reached the haven of her room, her cheeks were ablaze, and her heart was racing in her chest.

Tossing her plate onto the nightstand, she fell onto her bed with a groan. "What just happened?" she muttered out loud to herself.

Her phone buzzed, and she picked it up to see a message from Reese.

You hung up on me! Who was the hottie? Spill.

Maya blew out a breath, her mouth ticking upwards in a faint smile. She had an inkling that Reese wasn't going to let her off the hook this easily. And she was left wondering who this Zane was and why he was in her house. Why did he talk of her daddy with such familiarity despite her daddy being older than him? And why was her reaction towards him so instinctive, and if it was mutual.