Behind The Steel And Silk

ide. The August sun was relentless, beating down on the cracked asphalt and glaring off the peeling sign above the c

closure effective immediately. Bidding to begin Monday, 11:00 AM." Just like that, the place where she'd

d sharp dresses emerge, talking into their phones, clutching leather portfolios as though they were weapons. These weren't people who cared about the smell

day,

from her lips. Maggie had the hardened smile of someone who'd seen too much of life to be surprised by it any

vultures,"

yrup on their fancy loafers," Maggi

nxiety. "Appreciate it, Mags. But I need someone to

ity hall across the street, where the auction would take place. Her old boots scuffed ag

lick suits who smelled like money and arrogance. At the front of the room, a podium stood beneath a massive banner that

er. She hated the way her hands shook in her lap, hated that she cared so much about a

But it wasn't his clothes that caught Sage's attention-it was his presence. The air shifted when he stepped forward, like gravity itse

wept over the crowd as if he were cataloging every person in the room, and

oss Global Enterprises. Summit Real Estate, as many of you know, is a subsidiary of my cor

an Cross-everyone had. Billionaire mogul, destroyer of small businesses, and a man whose face g

like Damian Cross care about a run

s and lots were called out, and developers raised their paddles with robotic precision. Th

n't go for anywhere near that. It wasn'

eer called the name

ycamore Street

re she could stop

turned in unison, a hundred pairs of eyes locking onto her.

"Miss, this is a legal foreclos

r in her chest. "I've worked there for five years, poured ev

Someone whispered something that so

d, studying her as though she were a particularly con

. "How do you

e glanced at the auctioneer.

her throat. "Wai

"your sentiment is admirable, but business isn't

, but Sage's cheeks burned. She turned to t

papers. "Opening bid is

o spare. Sage's shoulders sagged as the first

e," another

," someone e

ands steepled before him, gaze

nd, Sage wanted to scream. This wasn't a competit

eek-haired woman said, h

echoed. "One hundred se

housand," Dami

m fell

amian didn't flinch. If anything, he looked bored, as thoug

at the other bidders. "Two hundre

ne m

sand going once..

blurted. "You

ioneer said, sla

Sage's ears were ringing. Damian

ks, exuding the kind of confidence that could flatten mountains. Before he turned to leave, h

and confusion. Her café was gone, snatched away by a man who already had e

d under her breath as she followed him o

ife had just collided with his, a