e table in front of me. The sleek leather cover was unassuming, but I knew whatever lay inside would change the way I saw James-and possibly, myself. "This will answer most of your

d dramatically. The air was thick with power and tension, the soft hum of low conversations mixing with the faint clink of glasses. Men in tailored suits and women adorned in jewels mingled with an ease that only came from knowing they belonged to a world others couldn't touch. "What is this place?" I asked, clutching Armando's arm as we navigated the opulent room. "It's where deals are made, alliances are formed, and occasionally, where enemies are confronted," he replied cryptically. Before I could respond, a man approached us. His presence was commanding, his dark eyes scanning me with interest before shifting to Armando. "Moretti," the man said, his voice smooth but laced with an undertone of menace. "Who's the lovely lady?" Armando's hand tightened around mine. "My fiancée," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. The man smirked, his gaze lingering on me a moment too long. "Lucky man," he said, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. As he walked away, I leaned closer to Armando, my voice low. "Who was that?" "Someone you don't need to worry about," he said, but his jaw was clenched, and his eyes remained fixed on the man's retreating figure. That evening, back at the penthouse, I found myself unable to shake the tension from the club. Armando was in his study, speaking in hushed tones to someone over the phone, his voice sharp and commanding. Curiosity got the better of me, and I edged closer to the partially open door. "She's not to be touched," Armando said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "If anyone so much as looks at her the wrong way, they'll answer to me." The words sent a strange warmth through me, but they were quickly followed by a pang of unease. I was in deeper than I had realized, tied to a man whose world I barely understood. The next day, Armando surprised me with a folder of my own. "What's this?" I asked, opening it cautiously. "Your future," he said simply. Inside were plans-blueprints for a business venture, details of investme