He thought back to the way he felt his breath hitched when she locked her brown eyes with his. Her eyes were warm and reminded him of hot chocolate during Christmas. It had specks of green that made them even more unique.Then her scent— oh! It drove him insane and it took everything in him to control himself. There was just something so intoxicating about it, the smell of something fruity with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon.It was perfect. Made him want to bury his nose in her hair and take a deep sniff.He remembered a look in her eyes. It was something he couldn't decipher despite how long he has spent staring into them.He hated not knowing and that made her dangerous to him.A knock at the door broke his train of thoughts.“Come in.” He ordered without turning back.The door opened and he heard that sound of heels clicking on the marvel floors, this made him tune and he came face to face with one of his assistants, Rachel. She had a nervous expression on her face. “Sir, there’s
The cold lobby of Haye’s enterprise did nothing to cool down the anger boiling with her. She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears as she stormed through the building, heels clicking hastily on the floor, fury intensifying with each step.She was in disbelief when she saw the headlines barely two hours after she left his office yesterday.“Massive Shocker: Billionaire Tycoon Killian Hayes And Fashion Mogul Elara Beckett Are Engaged And Set To Wed!”“What?!” She screamed as she saw it and instantly sent a text to Killian which he didn't respond to.Something in her snapped and she was here for a confrontation. She had agreed to the engagement, yes but they were yet to discuss how and when they would announce it. They hadn't made a plan and yet, here they were. Once again, her life has been toyed with by another person.She stormed through the building, barely paying any attention to those around her. She got to the elevator and went up to the top floor, the higher she went the
“Why?” Killian asked. “Do you not trust me?”“No, I do not.” Elara answered without hesitation. “I have worked so hard to get to where I am and I will not trust a stagger blinding thereby putting everything I have worked hard for, to risk.”“Fair.” Killian said with a shrug.“I'll head home now.” She said adjusting her blouse today had been a rollercoaster of emotions that she needed to recover from. “I will be here first thing in the morning with my lawyer.”With that she turned and walked to the door. Her hand reached for the handle before she paused.Throwing a glance over her shoulder, she looked at Killian who was watching her. “Prepare yourself.”With that, she pushed the door open and walked out.****The next day….Elara sat in the conference room at Haye's enterprise. His assistant ushered her in there as soon as she arrived. It was a private conference room on his floor so she had no worries of someone listening in on the discussion that was about to happen.She dressed with
“Unto the next.” Elera continued. “No decision is to be made without both parties' approval. This includes any form of announcement, public appearances, interviews and more “She made sure to shoot Killian a knowing look as she spoke. He nodded but his expression was neutral this time. “Agreed. There will be full transparency henceforth.”Lilian read the next rule. “No one— neither the parties involved or any of their associates who are aware of the truth behind this can leak it. Any breach of this secret will result in severe consequences for the party at fault.”Killian's lawyer, Richard, finally spoke up. “What exactly do you mean by ‘severe’?”Elara answered his question with a stone face because she wasn't here to play. Neither will she allow anyone to jeopardize things without a punishment. “Twenty years in prison, punishable by law and a one billion dollar fine.”The lawyers exchanged glances but said nothing while Killian and Elara had a stare down. He didn't break their star
“That witch!” She screamed as she threw her tablet across the room.“Calm down, ivy.” Aiden said, holding up his arms in a bid to soothe her.“Don't you dare tell me to calm down.” She snapped. “Can't you see? She's back and she's going to ruin everything!”“I know that she's back but freaking out is exactly what she wants you to do and it won't solve anything.” Aiden said calmly.“Look, Aiden.” She took a step towards him. “I know how hard I worked to get to where I am, I know the people I had to get rid of and how I got rid of them. Elara was one of those people and now that she's back, I know that she has something up her sleeve.”It was like her worst nightmare had come to haunt her in broad daylight. Something she had never imagined. She always had a plan and loved when things went as planned but this, she had never dreamt of it. It wasn't a slight hitch that she could overcome, it was a full blown stim gathering in the distance and she needed to think fast before it got to her a
It had been a couple of days since they had signed the contract. Killian messaged her to come to his mansion for a talk.Elara had always known that Killian Hayes was powerful and wealthy. He has the kind of wealth that could power generations, the type that would forever be whispered through bloodlines and leave legacies in its wake, but nothing has prepared her for the awe she felt stepping into his mansion.From the moment she drove through the enormous iron gates, she was met with a spectacular view. The mansion itself stood tall in its glory— an architectural masterpiece with sleek modern finishes and classic traditional elements all blended seamlessly.The building screamed wealth and power. The driveway was long and paved with a Blackstone polished to perfection. On either side of the driveway stood towering stone sculptures and flower hedges. “He must love art.” She muttered.A breathtaking fountain stood in the center of the driveway, its water cascading like a waterfall add
Killian waved his hand in dismissal. “There’s no need. She’s seen enough.” He turned his attention back to Elara. “Wait for me in my office. Down the hall, last door on the right.”With that, he walked past her, his cologne— cedarwood and pine, an utterly sinful combination lingered in the air after him.Elara resisted the urge to fan herself as she turned sharply in her heels and made her way to his office.His office was exactly like she had imagined— dark wood, leather furniture, a massive desk, fireplace and a large window. A decanter set sat on his desk, untouched, beside a thick folder and his computer.Shutting the door, finally alone she placed a hand on her chest as she sat down on one of the chairs. “Get it together, Elara.” She muttered to herself. “You're here for a purpose and not to drool over your fake fiancé.”By the time the door opened again, she had managed to gain back her composure and put on a professional face.She turned as watched as Killian walked in, fully c
Elara sat in front of the massive vanity mirror in one of the guest rooms at Killian's mansion. Tonight was the night of the gala where they would be making their first public appearance together.She stared at her reflection and marvelled at how talented the makeup artists waa. The woman had done a spectacular job— her skin glowed, her lips were painted a variant shade of red, her eyes had a smoky makeup that looked very seductive. She barely recognized herself.She got up and walked over to the full length mirror to look at her dress. The silk fabric clung to her body like a second skin. The dress was a masterpiece, it was black in color, under the glow of the chandelier the fabric looked like liquid as she moved. It has a plunging neckline that was teasing but didn't show too much, a high slit that was almost scandalous but was still elegant. The straps were made of diamonds that formed a crisscross pattern on her back.The dress screamed danger, wealth and power. And tonight, she
The conference room was quiet—too quiet. Everyone had left after the meeting, leaving nothing but the echo of heels, the hum of the AC and the bitter aftertaste of humiliation lingering in the air.Ivy sat at the head of the table, knuckles white around the armrests of her chair, her perfectly painted nails digging into the leather. Her heart was still racing, her breathing coming in fast as the scene from minutes ago replayed in her mind over and over.Elara.Killian.Walking into her company like they owned the place. Like they hadn’t just dropped a bomb in the middle of her sanctuary. Like they weren’t deliberately trying to ruin her.That presentation had been flawless. The proposal—bold, innovative, and worst of all, exactly what her board had been begging for. Sustainability and fashion? Exclusive tech-backed partnerships? Combining Elara’s brand aesthetics with Hayes Corp logistics? It was a golden opportunity. Too golden.She should have seen it coming. But she’d been too busy
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of Killain’s mansion, painting golden streaks across the marble floor. Elara sat at the edge of the kitchen island, sipping coffee and ignoring the man across from her like last night hadn’t happened at all.No mention of the rooftop dinner.No mention of the bracelet.No lingering looks. No heat.Just cool silence and the clink of porcelain.Killain’s jaw was clenched tight as he scrolled through his phone, pretending not to notice her ignorance. But Elara didn’t miss the way his fingers stilled every time she moved. He was watching her—quietly simmering, trying to figure her out.Good.Let him stew.She wasn’t going to fall for that charming act of his. Last night had been theatre. A stage. And she’d played her role well.Suddenly, the sound of her notification broke through the silence. She picked it up, unlocking it.A message. From a name she didn’t expect.Beckett Industries.She arched an eyebrow.“What’s that?” Killain asked ca
The note arrived on a piece of perfectly folded paper sealed with a wax that only a man like Killian would use.So fancy. The note was simple. Five words written in that unmistakable slanted handwriting.“Be ready at 7. No arguments.”Elara scoffed, rolling her eyes the moment she read it. Typical Killain.But the second delivery was harder to ignore—a matte black box, smooth as sin, sealed tight. It also had a wax seal which made her roll her eyes again at his dramatics. He was acting like they were in the Victorian era or something. She opened it out of curiosity, expecting drama. What she found was worse.A dress. Elegant, beautiful and dangerous. Not flashy. Not desperate. This wasn’t a bribe—it was a statement. This one whispered control. Taste. Power.But worst of all? It was perfect.Black. Long-sleeved on one side, sleeveless on the other. A slit high enough to scream danger, but a neckline that whispered and teased. It shimmered under the light, silver threads woven into the
Preston watched Ivy storm out of the Silversmith, her heels clicking against the polished floor like war drums fading into the distance.He chuckled, a low sound escaping from his chest as his hand reached forward, wrapping around the rim of his whiskey glass as he lifted it for the first time that evening. Her perfume still lingered faintly in the air, all expensive floral notes masking the rot underneath.The audacity.The manipulation.The desperation poorly hidden beneath tailored silk and veiled insults.He had met sharks before, predators with porcelain smiles and blood on their hands, but Ivy Beckett—she was something else. The kind of woman who couldn’t stand to lose and would rather scorch the earth than admit defeat.Still, it hadn’t been her arrogance that made him laugh.It was her assumption.That everyone had a price.That he’d abandon Elara for a better paycheck, a seat closer to the throne, or a night tangled in the sheets with her.Pathetic.Preston leaned back in the
It had taken nine days, four ignored calls, and three dozen emails disguised in professionalism and charm for Ivy to finally get a response from him.Preston Grey.Preston Grey was a ghost.He didn’t operate through a firm or an office. No trail, no receptionist, no verifiable address. Just a burner email that replied in one lined sentence and cold confirmation. But she finally had him—an hour at The Silversmith, a low-lit whiskey bar tucked beneath the Avalon Hotel, where the city’s power players went to hide their dirt.And Ivy had plenty of dirt.She walked in thirty minutes early, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she slid into a booth at the far end. The bartender greeted her with a nod and a glass of her usual. She needed the heat of the bourbon to steady her nerves.Because Preston wasn’t just a PI.He was dangerous. Calculated. A man who’d been hovering too close to Elara for her liking. Too discreet to leave trails and too confident to be accidental.She needed
As she walked further away from the table, ivy wasn't finished. Ivy’s voice was sweet when it came. That dangerous, sugar-laced tone Elara had come to associate with poison.“So,” Ivy said, “tell me, Elara… how does it feel warming the bed of two men? One in the daylight, and one in the shadows?”Elara froze.It was the briefest pause which she was certain that Ivy saw. She turned slowly, walking back to the table and taking her seat in front of her barely touched food. “Excuse me?”Ivy smiled, predatory and smug. “You heard me.”The terrace was too quiet. Somewhere below, a fountain flowed peacefully. Birds chirped like they weren’t sitting in the middle of a battlefield.Elara’s mind raced.Preston. How the hell did Ivy know about Preston?When she mentioned his name the first time, Elara had shifted the topic because she wasn't sure how Ivy knew but didn't want to discuss it further.He was supposed to be invisible. Silent. Her leverage in the background. Killain didn’t even know
The table was set to perfection.A private terrace at one of the city’s most exclusive garden restaurants called Golden leaf. Pristine white linens lay on the table, polished cutlery, and floral arrangements hand-picked that morning. It was the sort of setting made for reconciliation—or assassination.Ivy leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, a beautiful flute of champagne in her hand. She wore a cream Chanel blazer, pearl earrings that shimmered under the afternoon sun, and the kind of smile that had ruined lives.She didn’t expect Elara to show.She certainly didn’t expect her to be early.But there she was.Striding toward the table with the calm arrogance of a queen, clad in a black silk blouse, wide-legged trousers that made her look seven feet tall, and a smirk that made Ivy’s grip tighten on her glass.“Elara,” Ivy said, standing to greet her.“Ivy,” Elara replied smoothly, leaning in to brush her cheek with a kiss that never touched skin.They both sat.The silence between t
The city never slept, and neither did Ivy.Not tonight.Not since the gala.Not since that night.She stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of her penthouse, perched on top of one of the most luxurious buildings in the city, watching the skyline pulse with artificial light. But beneath the glitter of a thousand high-rises, all she saw were shadows.Her reflection stared back at her in the glass—perfectly done hair, blood-red lips, eyes sharp and tired. The woman staring back looked composed.But on the inside she was unraveling.Behind her, Aiden stirred on the couch, half-asleep, his arm draped over his eyes. His presence usually steadied her. He was the calm to her calculated storm, her partner in both business, intimacy and crime. But not tonight.Tonight, her thoughts moved too fast for comfort.She crossed her arms, rubbing at her bare skin as if that could shake the lingering feeling from her bones. The one she had carried since the masked figure tried to grab her from behind th
It had been four hours since she whispered “You’re delusional” and disappeared into her room like she hadn’t just cracked open the cage he’d kept around his darkest urges.He hadn’t moved from the study since he went in and shut the door behind him.The drink in his glass had gone untouched, the bright amber liquid catching the dim light of the chandelier above. His jaw was tight. His heart a low, steady throb beneath the skin.Delusional?No.Strategic.Because if Elara thought for one damn second that he’d sit back while she twirled around town with a man like Preston Grey—wealthy, charming, powerful—then maybe she was the delusional one.She didn’t realize what she’d started. This wasn’t a petty game of jealousy anymore.It was war.Killian sat back in the leather chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin as Ethan’s files played again on the projector screen behind him.Preston was good.Too good.The kind of man that could take Elara from him in plain sight—with a well-timed smile,