"I don't usually meet people in places this quiet," Chloe Carter said, her voice soft but lined with suspicion as she stepped into the private dining room of The Grand Meridian. The restaurant's high glass walls shimmered with the reflections of city lights, casting gold and amber across the marble floor.
"Quiet places are the only ones worth talking in," came a smooth, confident voice.
Chloe turned — and saw him.
Marcus Reed.
He rose from his seat slowly, every movement deliberate, exuding wealth and power that didn't need to announce itself. He wore a tailored charcoal suit, the kind that whispered old money and control. His dark hair was slicked back, his sharp eyes assessing her not with admiration, but with interest — as if she were a chess piece he was deciding whether to play or sacrifice.
"Miss Carter," he greeted, his tone polite but edged with authority. "It's a pleasure to finally meet."
