Chapter 22

Ava's POV

I watched as Adrian stood at the center of the grand ballroom, surrounded by a sea of affluent guests. It was a night of celebration, a gathering of New York's elite, and the atmosphere crackled with excitement. But as I scanned the room, my eyes landed on a woman, poised and confident, making her way towards Adrian with purposeful strides. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, a sense of foreboding washing over me.

Her name was Victoria Harrington, a powerful and ruthless businesswoman known for her cunning tactics and insatiable ambition. She had been Adrian's closest business rival for years, constantly vying for dominance in the corporate world. And now, it seemed, she had set her sights on a new conquest – Adrian himself.

I approached them just as Victoria reached Adrian, her lips curled into a calculated smile. "Adrian Sinclair, as charming as ever," she purred, her voice dripping with honeyed words.

Adrian's eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of unease crossing his face