changed. Conversations faltered. Heads turned. Some pretended not to notice

ence caused wasn't vanity-it was inevitability. He was Jason Jae: heir to Jae Corporation, CEO in his own right, the

just because the Astoria Grand was the playground of New York's elite,

ere for men who needed to charm their wa

d his bow tie, muttering,

nce, lips curving fa

cticed laughter, the handshakes disguised as power plays. "You walk in, an

ers of ambition disguised as conversation. "Tha

uckle. "And you think you'll

iquid glimmered pale gold under the chandeliers. "If you get cru

t's a sport. These are people's lives, Jason. Their families,

though it might hold an answer. "Destruction is the cost

t Jason had already tuned out, focusing inste

on's hand. "Mr. Jae, it's an honor. We must speak soon about potential oppor

mpty. "Have your office send the details. We'll see if i

she brushed his arm. "Jason," she purred, "you must let me introduce you to my niece.

s sharp enough to cut, and the woman flinch

st. They all wanted something: his money, his signature, his empire aligned with theirs.

ise, something tugged at

ghting was softer, where the art pieces displayed for

wo

nvas. Unlike the others, she wasn't looking around to see who noticed her. She wasn't pe

steps

ted, her jewelry minimal. In this sea of glittering competition, s

as the way she carried herself. Detached, thoughtful. As if she

potlight, she seemed comf

in these rooms. He knew the players, the sharks, the ones clawing

er this time. "Senator Hart's daughter is

red him. "

rowning. "The brunette? No

d his head.

les and exaggerated gestures. Jason recognized the typeinst

but Jason noticed the tension in her shoulders. The kind you

umor. A fake friend and someone too gracio

g people, this woman was becomi

th. "Don't. Don't even think about it. You don't

n long enough to give his friend a sharp

e impo

by the painting, but by then, the crowd had shifted. She and her companion wer

ced-lingering in his ears. He realized something unsettling: it had be

ession, even. The one person in this room who hadn't lo

eing invisible. And he

ampagne on a table, his

e night, he woul