vered by courier, the heavy parchment bearing no return

mien's precis

.m. Hôtel de Crillon.

corporate gathering. The place where alliances were forged, vendettas renewed, secrets whispered beneath the glitter of

st test

he-shoulder silk, the hue of deep wine, with a train that whispered of old-world elegance. Her hair was swept into a sleek chignon, the better to showc

eflection. Controlled. Composed. Beautiful, yes-bu

ook. Let t

would begin

-

ding to find Damien already inside, dressed in a midnight-black tuxedo, his sharp

mil

mie

logetic appraisal. Approval flickered in

r the ro

't playe

ched his mouth. "

of Paris. For a moment, silence stretched between them-thick

Not only by the press, but by people w

t his gaze

adversaries. Some would see this engage

dropping. "We g

ifted. "I

ion crossed his face.

-

açade alive with light. The ballroom beyond was already a swirl of silk gowns and b

instantly. Heads turned. Conversations p

ionaire recluse-arriving not alone,

subtle claim, a signal to the room. Camille matched his s

uthless of Europe gathered beneath a veneer of civility-tycoon

n's w

now,

-

of the room. An older man approached-silver-haired,

ien's hand flex

plied smoothly. "You

amille. "You keep intere

r. "Permit me to introduce

lle extended her hand with practiced poise.

ce cool. "I imagine we'll

," Camille re

Camille felt it, a silent exchange between the

Damien murmured, "That on

xpect noth

rate law," he said quietly. "Y

row. "Or perha

d him. Genuine. The

ore than the cold

-

aced with subtext. Smiles that hid daggers. And through it all, Damien remai

the right moments. Met probing gazes with steady poise. Def

shed surface, her mi

ames. Al

on: how deep did Damien

-

the balcony terraces, the cold air sharp against her skin. Paris g

ps appr

mi

out a word for a moment,

he said at last. "B

appearances," Camille rep

d

hing her with that u

said softly, "why I n

h she kept her voice calm.

"Some questions are b

, the air between

e-what you saw tonight

t a quiet chi

rning, beneath the danger

er of them a

t

-

aiting. Flashbulbs burst in the night. Camille leaned in slight

stepped into

t test h

of them inte