Firs

she'd chosen for the fitting- a deep navy wrap dress that whispered elegance but sc

Enterprises penthouse for the fitting. She wanted to keep things professional, brisk, detached. But her reflection showed someon

f the Blake building, and Rosie gathered her garment bag

lent, except for the qui

he top floor, a butler in

t this way. Mr. Bla

urse

luxury-dark leather, clean steel, glass walls framing the New Yo

rsing a tumbler of scotch. He turned when she entered, eyes

he said, his voic

ly, setting the garment bags down by t

eyeing the bags. "Is

g the scarlet gown, and watched his

shed the fabric- deliberate, slow. "

ignoring the shiver that danced across

d a brow. "

. "The tuxedo, Luca

she'd designed-a custom fit, sharp lines, midnight black with subtle

justing his cufflinks. Rosie froze,

ooked...

, catching her sta

e lapels, adjusting the fit on his broad shoulders. She kept her fingers light,

htly, stepping back. "I

hers, reading everythin

"Because after Friday...

d. "What d

Rosie. We're sending a message- to your competitors, my enemies, and e

as, this is a business ar

predatory. "That's what y

led. "I s

, halting her. His touch was

e low and raw, stripping away the armor for j

t the truth spill out-that her father had blackmailed her, that she had l

e whispered, pulling her ha

ightened. "Do

g before her resolve crumble

lone in her apartment,

y'd both built new lives. But the moment she saw

wine, her fingers

ho made her feel alive-and the one

the ache to quiet. This was

wn, she kne

cas Blake was ev

s Later –

ght as she stepped out of the limo and in

ful billionaire. His eyes locked onto her immediately, darkening as they took her in-the scarlet g

ted just a second before sliding h

er his breath, lips near her ea

ispered back, forcing a daz

he flashbulbs exploding around them. R

sie! Back

rekindled

n your fiancée return

on her hand and led her inside

ng gowns and sharp suits, but all

ade-but part of her hated even more how

h practiced ease, his hand resting on the small

near the balcony, Rosie turned to him

hissed. "Everyone's tal

errupted smoothly, eyes gleaming. "We're rewri

ed closer, his fingers brushi

embling despite her effort to sound st

rs, something raw flickerin

, his thumb grazing her

r voice tighter than she wanted. "

ver. "The rules were y

nerve in her body sparked under his scrutiny.

ou with your image,

ling yourself that. But tonight... everyone in this room believes something else

phone buzzed. Lucas pulled it from his pocket,

ie asked, sens

tightened.

t Lucas's side, speaking in a low, urgent tone. Rosie couldn't c

harp and focused. "I have to step

wned. "

e, swallowed up by the

ng-not just from the lingering heat

ol night wrapped around her, a stark contrast to the fevered energy inside.

hell was

rld anymore. It ne

thought when a voice b

. I thought I r

e man approaching. Tall, slick, with

tending a hand. "I'm a... competitor of Lucas's.

and cautiously. "

more than nice. Your return is.

that supposed to

a dangerous man, Ms. Kirkland. Getting tangled up

fened. "I can

d with something unr

elted back into the crow

ing. Whatever Lucas was caught up in, it was b

w tight, eyes stormy. He found Rosie near

?" she asked, se

then nodded onc

n his shoulders t

she said quietly. "He w

arkened. "Stay

out," she shot ba

ce low and urgent. "This isn't just about appearances anymore, Rosie. Things are

yes flashing. "I d

, intense and unrelenting. "But you're here

he air between them

s voice boomed through the speakers, ca

just a fraction. "Stay

tepping into the spotlight as

n, her heart poun

ctor's warning... or how deep she was a

r how hard she tried to bury them... The

. . .