the room soft velvet curtains, plush carpets, and ornate crown moldings. Her jade green Valentino gown hugged her slender frame perfectly, the silk pooling a

r awa

e a crown jewel. Beta John Hobbs and his wife, Lisa, were already seated, laughing with Gamma George Leroy and his stylish wife, Angie. All of them were young, elegant, and ne

d conversation paused. All eyes turned. She smile

," he said, his vo

ed. "Tha

and wore a bold one-shoulder dress in coral. Angie Leroy had a pixie

hattan," Lisa said, eyes twinkling. "Did y

her head.

en showcasing those minimalist emotion-pi

ved. "Yes. I've

d in front of one of her pieces for ten minutes. It felt

gently. "Art

concierge bots in Manhattan's luxury towers. Alex spoke sparingly but listened. The men occasionally dipped int

Angie said at one point, her br

history," Mona replied. "I went to s

t woman with taste.

d refilled Mona's glass with sparkling

the women more than she thought possible. W

room," Angie said,

m, and a private balcony. The bed, massive and draped in layers of

rincess Dream Room

Mona about her dress. Lisa asked about her skincare. It wa

bed and pulled out her ph

gorgeous in the shee

n next, both v

op it. It's just

nna laughed. "Come on. Did he

But the house is beautiful. And...

sing, love, and laugh

hered her into the luxurious bathroom. It was exactly how she had requested: a full Moroccan hammam

ose lik

som, eucalyptus, and

l away. Then the incense burnt Rosebuds and a hint of lemon with a dash of Ylang Ylang and the Scented can

dressed her in a whisper-soft white negligee beneath a silk robe. When th

ind ballroom scene unfold. It was extravagant an

oor c

tu

w on his hips. His expression was unreadable. The room smelled

bed, slowly. "Ho

gently. "Just watchin

," he said, eyes sc

wed. "Yes,

mote, and turned the TV off

sn't

sn't

t was

No foreplay. No warmth. No emotion. She stared at the canopy the whol

in five

d of running water. He returned in slack

ish," he said, kissing h

r click

lay s

d, changed, and came back out to clean the bed. The silk sheets were co

ve sparkled faintl

on her stomach. H

eiling, willing hers

t

er, Alex hadn't

aked the

her room, he went straight to the first floor. To the hidden wing that had been locked to everyon

s where

what he ha

the woman he

e, had no idea. Not yet. But soo

tmare wo