Beneath The CEO'S Mask

idnight, curled up in her worn-out pajamas with her laptop on her knees, finali

opulent it made her teeth ache, directing an army of overpaid caterers and skittish interns lik

urgery bright," Sera barked into her headset, her eyes scanning the sweeping room with

a line of champagne flutes. Sera caught the vase just in time, her fingers brushi

eathless. "The ice sculpture's melting

tch it with the backup in the f

: a fierce woman with deep brown skin, stormy grey eyes lined with dark kohl, and a tightly pinned bun that threatened to come

d chosen the color deliberately - a subtle statement that even if she was the hired help tonight, she'

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like candle flames. All around her, the city's wealthiest elite schmoozed and clinked crystal flutes

os of the couple of the hour: Eryx Kane - the untouchable CEO whose stare could

ment ring a small asteroid threatening to blind anyone within ten feet. Eryx's expression never cha

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lly loves her?" a soft

ar like ghosts at her elbow. It was Theo, her overworked, painfully earnest assis

d. "In this room? D

hey lo

it. Now stop gawking and check the champagne tower. One drunk socialite

itterness lingered. She adjusted her headset mic and started pac

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tched it up, balancing he

g her voice low. "Please

soft, worn from years of worry and illn

"I'll be home soon. Don't

d, voice warm with a smile Sera could feel through

mother's next round of treatments, her sister's college application

it's over," Sera w

n't have time for tears tonight. Not when she was about to pull off the biggest event of her

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arissa Mende

a side door, her train bunched in her fists. Odd. Clarissa was the kind

on the draped tables, the expensive caviar being spooned onto crackers, the CEO's icy

thing if not st

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dded down the hallway, heels sinking into plush carpet. She paus

d. Not Eryx Kane - his voice was lower,

d her ear t

red, voice dripping with mock affection. "Or

a contract, babe. The old man's will says he has to be engaged by next quarter

y dropped

g ring, the six-figure cake, the orchestra playing sentimental n

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arrangement perched on a pedestal. She pressed a

e'd heard nothing. Collected her paycheck

he saw Clarissa's face - that smug, dismissive cur

t party perfect? How many favors had she called in, how many bills

En

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a hit a swell, filling the room with the climax of their waltz. Dozens of eyes - bored,

one from its stand, ign

from the edge of the da

voice slicing through the music like

rd halt. The entire room fell silent, the only sound the s

s eyes met hers. Cold, curious, and

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into a smile that d

empty flute she'd swiped from a passing server. "To the kind o

. Clarissa emerged from the hallway, eyes wide, lipstick

ed. "Do you want to tell your

diamond heels clacking on the

as soon as you cash out?" Sera said, voice ringing with the clarity of a ch

s delight and horror all at once. Someone's phone

contorted with rage

t a flicker of surprise, not even anger. Just those eyes - col

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rieked, lunging for Sera's hair, but Theo - bless his terrified

ling through their phones and whispers. Clarissa's

it all, Eryx

ury. Not w

ng calm that made

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hitting the platform rang through the bal

phone buzzed relentlessly in her clutch - her mother, her sister

o her back as she fled through the staff exit. The cold weigh

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, mocking her with its beauty. She leaned against th

hell had

work in this city again. The Kane family was ruthless. She'd made herself

ran down

x Kane's cold, unblinking stare - l

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nt, Seraphina Vale

ally told

ust destroy