en's

gerous woman I've ever met

este Lancaster walked out of my office, leaving behind

act mar

ove, but

of hers funny? On second tho

timing is perfect. Now I'm convinced

e media portrayed but as a woman reborn-ruthles

der my chin, replaying every word, every ge

during our brief encounter years ago a

she remember

dressed in silver and smilin

e, but I remember thinking she looked

ed her about Noah. Told her she looked like so

dn't d

mber the sharpness behind her calm exterior. Enough for me to know s

cture of innocence, cloak

e is a force to b

ire t

iability, and Celeste has sh

aside, I need t

... That guy really needs to be ta

ile beneficial, is a

ns inviting chaos into my me

rewards are too e

k, flipping it open to review

ntim

rence with

at events

in public, granting me the leverage I ne

ir deal, a

ne more condition:

pire in her name, I ne

of the elite, and I can

er to the floor-to-ceiling windows tha

ition, each building a testament

ategory Celeste

, pulling me fr

onfirming the arrangements for our f

ended by the who's

age to unveil

instructing her to ensure

ss transaction; it is a perform

I can't help but feel a

and I am eager to se

*

yself waiting at the entrance of the grand

ttering chandeliers creating a war

nds of glasses clicking and t

she ar

n in a beautiful burgundy gown that hugs he

g over her shoulders, and her makeup is imp

ce, every step meas

yes meet, and a subtle s

s outing personally," I

her touch li

he replies, her tone

the room's attention shifting

ke, speculation, and curios

r gazes, their questions unsp

eleste murmurs, he

ply, guiding her toward

easantries, and play o

harm disarming even the m

asks insightful questions, and na

ssed by her adapta

nse a tension, a guardedness

d ourselves alone on the balcony,

ng against the railin

of the charade?" she

rail, though han

art of the game," I

me, her eye

the lines between the g

tensity of her question

I say, offering

r expression

ecome second natu

e, the city's hum

that our alliance is more

ormidable forces, each with

ogether, I can't help but wo

e game has changed, and