iling painted with frescoes of ancient myths, and chandeliers the size of small cars dripped with hand cut

He wasn't on the VIP guest list tonight. In fact, he shouldn't have been there at all. He had used the last of his pers

who had bowed to him just a week ago. Now, they

"Mark Woods is officially bankrupt. They say the bank took his cars this m

fany. He was here for Aria. He convinced himself that if he could just get her alone, if he co

staircase swung open. The orchestra, which had been playi

ilenced the room. "The Chairperson of the Thorne Group,

held it

ght sky itself, encrusted with millions of micro diamonds that shimmered with every step. Around her neck was

ess who had descended

ore than Mark's entire startup, and the look he gave Aria wasn't just professional it was hungry. It

be me, he thought, a delusional fire burning in hi

the country lined up just to catch her eye. She moved through the crow

to escape the heat of the ballroom, he slipped throug

" he h

yes narrowing into slits, his body tensing like a predator re

she said softly. "I can

her ear. "I'll be ten feet away. If he even breathes on y

ck, his gaze nev

e didn't look angry. She looked bored. "I'm surprised you're h

le things. But we have history! Three years, Aria! You can't just throw that away for a man like Ethan Knigh

. He doesn't know those things yet. But do you know what he does know? He knows my na

ress!" Mark cried, reach

a Thorne security guard appeared o

ime ago. He died the moment he decided that a woman's value was determined by the logo on her

etty, Mark. I brought you down because you used the Thorne fortune, my father's mon

of her, heedless of the socialites watching from the ballroom. "I'm

en you threw me out, Mark. You have your freedom. Isn't that w

o the service exit. And make sure he takes a gift bag on the way out. I

! No!

scraping against the marble floors. The elite of the city watched in s

ss. Ethan was back by her side in a second

ked, his voice unchar

ime, the coldness in her eyes melted. "

Good. Because the night is young, and I believe we

ne turned her back on her past and st