Chapter 2

Chapter 2: A Dangerous Proposition

The Crestmore Hotel ballroom was packed wall-to-wall with power players—Chicago’s elite architects, developers, and real estate moguls all mingling beneath the glittering chandeliers. As Isabella “Izzy” Lakewood stepped into the grand space, her breath caught for a moment. The scene was nothing short of dazzling. Lavish floral arrangements graced every table, and the polished marble floor reflected the soft glow of candlelight.

She clutched her leather portfolio a little tighter, smoothing down the hem of her modest black dress as she made her way inside. The invitation to the annual Chicago Architectural Forum had come at the last minute, and she couldn’t afford to pass up the opportunity to network. Izzy needed new clients—desperately. Between the mounting medical bills for Ethan’s treatment and the overwhelming cost of running her fledgling architecture firm, she had reached the point where every connection counted. Tonight was critical.

But as she glanced around the room, surveying the perfectly tailored suits and sleek, designer dresses, she felt more out of place than ever. These people weren’t just architects. They were titans of industry—connected, wealthy, and far removed from the struggling architect juggling projects and late-night hospital visits.

She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, scanning the crowd for familiar faces, hoping to catch sight of someone—anyone—who might throw her a lifeline. Keep it together, Izzy, she told herself. You belong here, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

It wasn’t long before she spotted a group gathered near the bar—mostly mid-level architects she’d worked with in passing, including some from Alcott Construction, the firm handling her biggest project to date. Jonathan Alcott himself stood among them, his laugh booming across the room as he regaled them with some story she couldn’t quite hear from across the ballroom. His silver hair glinted in the light, and his presence radiated authority.

That’s my ticket, she thought, taking a deep breath. If she could get Jonathan to introduce her to a few more high-end clients tonight, maybe, just maybe, she could secure another project that would pull her out of this financial hell.

Izzy started toward the group, rehearsing her opening line in her head—something casual but confident—when she suddenly caught a snippet of conversation from a nearby cluster of architects.

“He’s here. I saw him walk in five minutes ago,” someone whispered.

“I don’t believe it,” another voice replied. “Liam Stone never comes to these things.”

Izzy froze mid-step, her heart skipping a beat at the mention of the name. Liam Stone. She had heard about him, of course. Everyone had. He was the CEO of Stone Enterprises, one of the largest real estate development companies in the country, and the man responsible for building half of Chicago’s glittering skyline. Stone Enterprises held so much sway in the world of architecture and real estate that an endorsement—or a contract—from him could elevate a small firm into a major player overnight.

But Liam Stone was notorious for being reclusive, almost impossible to meet in person. He rarely attended public events, and when he did, he stayed far from the spotlight. Ruthless and enigmatic, he was known for being cold, calculated, and unflinchingly private.

And apparently, tonight was one of the rare nights he decided to make an appearance.

Before she could stop herself, Izzy found her gaze darting across the room, searching for a glimpse of the elusive billionaire. What are you doing? she scolded herself. This is ridiculous. She had no business looking for Liam Stone. Men like him didn’t bother with people like her. Still, curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn’t resist the urge to at least see him in person.

Then she saw him.

Liam Stone stood near the far end of the room, half-hidden in the shadows of the grand ballroom, as though he preferred to observe the crowd from a distance rather than engage with it. Even from across the room, Izzy could see that he exuded power and control, the kind of presence that made people take notice without him having to say a word. He was tall, with broad shoulders that filled out his tailored black suit perfectly. His dark hair was neatly styled, his face angular and striking, with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass.

But it was his eyes that drew her in—their cold, piercing intensity scanning the room like he was already five steps ahead of everyone else, analyzing the crowd with an almost predatory focus.

She couldn’t look away.

As if sensing her gaze, Liam’s eyes suddenly snapped to hers, locking onto her with laser-like precision. Izzy’s breath caught in her throat. For a long moment, they simply stared at each other, his expression unreadable, and hers… well, she could only hope she didn’t look as stunned as she felt.

But then his lips curved, just slightly, into something that might have been a smirk—or perhaps it was merely a twitch of annoyance. Either way, it sent a chill down her spine. Before she could decipher the look, he broke the connection, turning his attention back to the group of executives he was speaking with.

Her pulse raced as if she’d just been hit with an electric current. Get it together, she scolded herself again, shaking off the odd tension that had settled over her. This was not the time to be gawking at billionaires.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she turned her attention back to the task at hand—Jonathan Alcott. She made her way across the ballroom, trying to refocus on the job ahead. But just as she was about to join the circle, Jonathan’s booming voice called out her name.

“Lakewood! Glad you could make it!” Jonathan waved her over, his grin wide and a bit too smug. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Isabella Lakewood, one of the brightest young architects I’ve had the pleasure of working with. She’s handling the Richards estate project for us.”

Izzy’s stomach clenched at the spotlight suddenly thrust on her, but she smiled and shook hands with the small circle of people Jonathan introduced her to—clients, investors, and architects from larger firms, all of them eyeing her with mild interest. She exchanged pleasantries and nodded in all the right places, though her mind was still racing from that brief, unsettling exchange with Liam Stone.

“Keep up the good work, Lakewood,” Jonathan said, giving her a hearty pat on the back. “I have high hopes for you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Alcott. I won’t let you down,” she replied, the words feeling almost robotic at this point.

Jonathan gave her a quick nod, then turned his attention back to his more important guests, clearly signaling that her moment in the spotlight was over. Izzy stepped away from the group, exhaling slowly.

She had done it. She’d made her appearance, made her connections, and now she just needed to survive the rest of the evening. Maybe she could slip out early, avoid any more awkward—

“Miss Lakewood, is it?”

The voice was smooth, deep, and so close it sent a jolt of adrenaline through her. Izzy turned around and found herself staring into the same piercing eyes that had unnerved her earlier. Liam Stone stood before her, even taller up close, his gaze steady and unwavering. He looked down at her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. Up close, his presence was even more magnetic, a combination of raw power and cold calculation.

Izzy blinked, trying to steady her breath. “Yes, that’s right.”

“Isabella Lakewood,” Liam said, as though testing her name on his tongue. “You’re with Lakewood Designs, aren’t you? I’ve heard your name before.”

His words took her by surprise, and she had to suppress the urge to ask where he’d heard of her. Instead, she forced a polite smile, though her heart hammered in her chest. “I am. I run a small firm here in Chicago.”

“I see.” His gaze flicked briefly to the portfolio in her hands, then back to her face. “And how’s that going for you?”

His tone was calm, almost disinterested, but there was a sharp edge beneath the surface, like he was testing her. She had the distinct feeling that this was some kind of challenge.

“Well enough,” she replied, keeping her voice steady. “Busy.”

Liam tilted his head slightly, as though considering her words carefully. The silence between them stretched a little too long, and Izzy felt the weight of his gaze pressing down on her. He was studying her, dissecting her, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it.

Finally, he said, “Busy is good. Especially in your line of work.”

Izzy nodded, her throat dry. What was this? A casual conversation? A test? She couldn’t figure him out. But before she could respond, Liam’s gaze shifted again—this time to something behind her. His eyes narrowed, and his expression hardened, the brief glimmer of interest in his eyes vanishing completely.

Without warning, he stepped around her, moving past her as if she were no longer worth his time. The cold dismissal in the gesture stung more than it should have. Izzy turned, catching a glimpse of who—or what—had caught his attention.

A tall, statuesque woman with jet-black hair and a gown that clung to her figure had just entered the ballroom. She glided across the floor with the kind of confidence that commanded attention, and even from a distance, Izzy could see the calculating glint in her dark eyes. She looked like she belonged in Liam Stone’s world—someone as powerful, beautiful, and untouchable as him.

Sabrina West. Liam’s ex. Izzy had heard rumors about her—a socialite who had once been the darling of Chicago’s elite, before she and Liam had a very public and bitter breakup a year ago.

It didn’t take a genius to see that Sabrina’s sudden appearance had rattled Liam. His jaw clenched, and his shoulders stiffened as he watched her approach.

Izzy swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and quickly stepped out of their path. She wasn’t part of this world. She wasn’t part of their world.

But as she slipped through the crowd, a cold knot of tension coiled in her stomach. She couldn’t help but feel like her brief encounter with Liam Stone had been some sort of warning—a dangerous proposition that hadn’t been spoken aloud but lingered in the air between them.

Liam Stone wasn’t a man to be taken lightly. And tonight, she had landed squarely on his radar.