0

n't Fo

-

windows of Xavier Louis's penthouse, golden rays cast

by the turmoil of one man. But within those high-rise

ss, a tumbler of aged whiskey in hand

n louder than the city below. The smell of her perfume-soft jasmi

ni

it was supp

. It was instinctual, electric, and completely

CEO of LV Groups didn't bring home women he met at soc

last

the finest whiskey couldn't sear away the memory of her-how h

while and didn't care who noticed when she did. How she had

left him want

ndows, gazing down at the cars and people

purpose. But this woman-she had disrupted it al

p his phone

. "Sir?" came a crisp voice on the other

aid without greeting. "Fr

pause. "Whic

ort afro. Medium height. Brown eyes." H

otage. Should have somet

eded to know who she was. Not just for closure. He to

already knew it

-

d between a row of old brick buildings, Bella Blue

irt and shorts, staring into the microwave as her tea reheated. He

hell had

couldn't turn off. The gala. The stranger with the cold eyes

way he had looked at her afterward-like he want

n he wa

e. But she had expected... something. A call. A n

before it finished beeping. She took a long sip, t

finally get a night that felt like more

counter. A message fro

t text after the gala.

rrowed shoes and fake confidence, intending to network, maybe slip someone her portfolio.

essage and opened

d when she saw t

– INTERVIE

ed. Read

GRO

Now suddenly, they wanted to interview her

't make

hovered ove

his a

ddress matched their headquarters.

rose and f

be coin

do with this. But a part of her-deep, anxious, and unsure-wondere

ough to bring her b

d delete

nore the ache

, Bella cli