tap, tap of Lowin Vance's long fingers against his left thigh. Sitting in the leather luxury of the backseat,

ne cut through the silence. Th

sound of pure dismissal, a

pea

expansive corner office, his polished shoes squeaking fr

iven your demands regarding the contract some serious thought.

flashed in his mind. Jade Houston and your girlfriend are scheming somet

mured, his tone

ut across his forehead, wiping

lize everything? Say, the VIP

rk amusement. The anonymous

ka

taring blankly at his receiver in absolute confusion. Did he j

ing in his chest. Up front, Mark's hands instantly gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuc

y, his gaze catching Mark's

time I showed them how nas

ly, a cold sweat breaking down his own spine. He didn't e

ttened. "It was a rhet

in his throat. What a terr

d by 7:30 AM, the executive boardroom was already radiating pure terror. The

morning coffee in the hallway when Mark sprinted past, hi

rked their cars yet. It's over for all of us today, Tom thought, throwing his coffee into th

hing heavily, only to find Lowin sitting perfe

yebrow, his cold

eone cha

ueaked, quickly pul

d. S

tapping a slow, agonizing rhythm against the polished wood. Tom sat in

olor to find the CEO already waiting for them. Usually, Lowin Vance arrived exactly one minute before the clock struck the hou

in, completely unfazed by the suffocating atmosphere. As major shareholder

look at that. Big boss? Did someone evac

don't think so, Dane... doesn't he look

hispering loudly, "No way. Who actually ma

Salvatores wouldn't get them all killed. But what Lowin said next mad

ng his head slightly to the right, his eyes never leaving his dark screen.

as finally snapped. Putting a face that handsome in a menta

They had only been trying to lighten the dark, heavy aura radiating off him,

just walked out of a smooth two-hour flight, and she had already caught the eye of t

ight, when Amilah stepped into the terminal. She was breathtaking. She wore an off-shoulder, long-sleeve cro

ke murmured, letting ou

irectly into her path. His driver, watching from a distance, j

ced, high-wattage smile. "I've got to admit,

ses sliding down her nose. She looked him

complimen

Mike," he said, smoothly exten

smoothly, deliberately ignoring

and back smoothly. "Nah, com

te exhaustion. "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to get

drop you off wherever you're

no thank you. My ride

n. "Maybe we could sit down first? Have a quick cup o

, specifically starting on Annah's gown, and this rich idiot was physically blocking her exit

Amilah said reluctantly. "I

ct. Le

ston didn't stop talking for a single second, loudly bragging about his father's immense wealth, his own inheritance, and how he would be taking over

in front of her luxury boutique, Amilah c

e, angel," Mike said, le

rew over her shoulder,

around,

ese elite heirs really think the world revolves around them, she thought, clicking her tongue i

er hands, her face lighting up with a massive smile as s

How are things lo

completely viral the second it aired. More than a hundred elite clients have called wanting the exact same

ight of the airport interac

e to design a custom piece for a hig

That's in

back room, throwing her arms arou

too," Amilah laughe

"I have a massive surprise for you. I didn't even

an eyebrow.

ed, holding her hands to her chest. "Our boutique was se

it, B

ance E

hit the fl

ait... a merger? With the biggest business dynasty in the country? How doe

your desk," Beryl explained rapidl

u have to work as the lead executive fashion designer for their corporate branch. Every gown you design, Vance Empire will globally market it. And th

ssed folder on her desk. The opportunity was staggering. It was the kind

lah murmured, her voice tigh

elief. "What do you mean it doesn

. They only partner with multinational corporations. Why would an untouchable entity like

you. Look at the data. In forty-eight hours, you secured over a hundred high-net-worth clients just by existi

racing against her ribs. "I'll think

. Only his executive assistant handles the public signings, and the PR dep

ath. "When do they exp

ne week. So you h

first," Amilah said, pushing the folder into h

fted that proposal personally, she would

poke a word the entire time, his focus entirely consumed by the silent phone on his desk. The moment the

sofa and aggressively loosened his tie,

for a long, agonizing moment, rubbing his thumb agains

rlfriend, Tom?" L

er, horror flashing in Dane's eyes. "Oh shit, big boss... I thought you li

e in Dane's direction, c

ard, sweating t

marrie

owers in the city and have them delivered to Amizee Trends. But br

mind over a guy, he's just completely obsessed with the desig

ife, figure it out. If she doesn't like them, you can cons

letely ruthless. "Right away, sir." He backed out of the of

g as he tossed a secure tablet onto Lowin's desk. "Get over the love-struck att

ce instantly. His entire aura

rin said, a cold smi

, dry chuckle escaping him. "Vi

rity. Victoria had run her mouth to her inner circle,

the sofa. "She completely

feather," Da

stepped inside, holding a secure encrypted tablet. His face w

t you requested regarding Amilah Mi

ctly to him, his posture

t and landed here early this morning. Our ground detail confirms sh

s jaw tightening as he absorbed the information. She had fled his

his eyes flashed with a lethal light. He looked over at the Sal

ed in unison, a dangerous,

o shoot a high-end promotional ad for the hotel's new culinary menu, but when she stepped onto the floor, the di

s her element. She smiled for the cameras an

arted rolling, the shoot turn

go again from the top,

every single time. By take fifty, she had consumed an entire bottle by herself, and a fresh one was immed

xicated, stumbling over her own feet without the director

r with a fake look of concern. "Victoria, wh

she slurred, her eyes heavy as she

stepped into the dark corner of t

She is compl

typing bubbles popped

: Good job.

nning onto the set after receiving

What happe

fore Lowin gets here," Victoria mumbled, her body comp

uite Victoria had reserved for the trap. But the moment the elevator doors opened on t

. "But the penthouse suite is currently occupied. You'll have to

. "What are you talking about? Victoria made explicit arrang

there was a scheduling error in our records. We only realized this aftern

your life. Realizing she had no choice, and with Victoria completely passing out in her arms, Susan quickly bo

rescent Hotel. Seeing the production crew packing away their cameras, a vict

VIP lounge, expecting to wait for the arrival of the tyrant. He rounde

nder fingers tapping a slow, rhythmic beat against the polished table. He didn't have a drink. He

is he early? He pushed the dread down, convincing himself

ade said, sliding into the l

" Lowin replied smoothly, h

his suit. The sheer, quiet stillness of the man

Lowin purred, his voice steady. "To mar

rse, of

, carrying a silver tray. She placed two pre-poured crys

ink down in one go. Lowin raised his own glass, taking a slow, calculated sip while his

e table. Lowin finished his glass, setting it down with a soft click. He didn

nd Lowin pretend the drug ha

it remarkably hot in

His forehead instantly broke out into a thick sweat, and a vicious wave o

ing into a chaotic haze. He pushed himself out of the

or, a large, yellow sign blo

ifying intensity. His balance failed, his knees buckling, when a figure suddenly stepped out of

ate bathroom inside this r

k twice. He slammed his body through the door and stumbled str

t and the distinct sound of an electronic d

over his nervous system. He staggered into the dimly lit bedroom, his blurry vision catching t

ears, his hallucinating mind

he closed door with smirks on their faces. Lowin tilted his head

call checkmate?

s face. Without another word, they turned on their he

omeone entering the space, a heavily drunk Victoria lifted hersel

," she whispered triumphantly, wrapp

her cadence, dread hit him, the voice and the face sounded exactly like Victoria. Before his compromised brain could pull away, the intoxi

notorious paparazzi known for digging up the dirtiest scandal

d, and a message from popp

de Houston is having an affair with a model behind his

renaline spiked through his veins. He grabbed his coat, a dark grin