Adam had been gone for three weeks. Marrie had not turned around. Not once. Her next move, her next game, her next target were all more important to her than anything else.
She was at a private underground party that was only discussed in high society, wearing a dark velvet dress and having blood red lips. The air was heavy with smoke. Like a heartbeat, music pulsed. Everything hazardous was housed under one roof: money, power, and secrets.
She saw him at that moment.
The Stranger
Leaning against the bar in all black, he showed a sense of ownership over the evening. Calm. secure. He was not in a hurry, but he was observing her as if he already knew how the evening would end. They met gaze. In acknowledgment, he lifted his glass just a little. Marrie's mouth curled. Exciting.
She approached with deliberate slowness. "You don't seem like you belong here," she said in indignant tone.
He took a sip of his beverage. "You don't either. You appear to be the room's owner, but halfway through, you become bored." That struck.
Marrie grinned. "Be careful. I bite."
An octave was lost in his voice. "I do too. However, I don't bleed."
Just once, her heart skipped a beat. He wasn't just another Adam. He had no intention of begging. He had no intention of falling. He intended to play.
The Billionaire's Kiss & The Hidden Arrival
Marrie was unprepared to be taken by surprise. His voice was smooth like aged whiskey, his eyes were like obsidian, and every action he took released dangerous confidence. Instead of pursuing her, he attracted her. Marrie, who was always the hunter, became intrigued and yearned.
She bent over. "So, mystery man, what's your name?"
With a sly smile, he touched her lower lip with his thumb. "John."
"Billionaire?" she asked in a seductive tone.
He intervened until their breathing became labored. "I'm just a man searching for fire tonight."
She didn't recoil. "Then join me in burning."
Their lips suddenly crashed, fiery, audacious, and electrifying. A kiss that caused the room to whirl. Everything faded, including the lights, the music, and the noise. There was nothing but the heat between them. Marrie was pressed up against the marble bar by John, her fingers gripping his collar as if she owned him, her lips tracing his jawline.
However, as the kiss intensified-
Power Shifts
A man entered the room across from the bar as if he didn't belong there, but he managed to take control of the situation.
Tall. In a fitted navy suit, he displays elegance. Messy dark hair. There was a playful smirk on his lips, as if he were concealing something. Kind but sharp eyes. He didn't try to shine, but there was something alluring about him.
Evan.
From a distance, he saw Marrie. And he hesitated when he saw her. Time slowed. Marrie, John. The kiss.
Evan gave a slight smile. But there was another fire hidden in his eyes. Not passion. Not fixation. Something more profound. He remained silent. Simply observed. Silently. Like he'd seen her before. It was as though she had spent more time in his mind than she could have ever imagined. "She won't know I'm in love with her," he vowed to himself at that very moment. Not just yet. However, "I'll cause her to fall-not by force, but by destiny."
As soon as Evan shows up, John moves away, his arrogant smile fading into silence. wide-eyed. stiff body. Marrie felt it. "What?"
He remained silent. He simply turned his head, and there he was.
Evan.
He entered. The man at the room's edge was no longer the only one. Now he was approaching them in a relaxed, casual manner, but with the air of someone in complete control. John immediately released Marrie.
Her eyes narrowed. "John, what the heck?"
His voice trailed off as he straightened his jacket. "That's my boss."
Marrie gave a blink. "You are employed by him?"
"Everyone does," John whispered. "Hell, he owns half the damn city, the building, and the company."
Marrie turned to face Evan. He was no longer just attractive; in silence, he posed a threat. She gives the so-called "boss" a raised eyebrow.
Their gazes lock. Not a grin. No salutation. Just sharp, pure energy.
When Fire Meets Ice
Evan smirked as he approached them. He doesn't even recoil. The kiss doesn't matter to him. Or perhaps he does, but he won't express it.
"John," he said calmly. "Having fun at the party?"
John nodded, his typical haughtiness gone. "Yes, sir."
Evan's gaze softened as it moved to Marrie. And you have to be Marrie. I've heard a lot of things.
She folds her arms. "You must be the buzzkill, too."
He laughs, deep and dark. "Sharp tongue"
She retorts, "Better than a fake charm."
Like a man caught between lightning and wildfire, John peers between them.
Evan takes a few steps closer, but he's not menacing, just strategic. He nods casually and says, "Enjoy the party." "Aim to avoid breaking any more."
Marrie smiles, attitude oozing from her lips. "The weak are the only ones who break. You need to be secure."
Evan grins. Avoid shaking hands. Not flirt. Just two powerful opponents delivering silent blows. He turns to leave. However, as soon as he does, his whole team is activated.
Secrets Are Sexy
That evening, Evan walks into his penthouse with his tie loose and his jacket thrown over the chair. As his personal assistant arranges a slick file, he sits with a glass of whiskey.
Subject: Marrie Rose Alverez.
Age: 24.
Status: The estranged daughter of a multimillionaire fashion designer and pharmaceutical tycoon.
Net worth: An estimated $500 Trillion in private assets.
Scandal: At the age of 19, left the family business. infighting rumors. lives alone. An extravagant way of life. No regrets.
Evan looks through pictures of Marrie dancing barefoot on a yacht, in Paris, and at art galleries. Never stop grinning. Free at all times. His mouth quivers. He whispers, "A spoiled, wild heiress." "It makes sense that she doesn't give a damn about my identity."
The assistant says, "She doesn't need anyone."
Evan takes a sip of his beverage while gazing at her audacious eyes in print. "Exactly," and that's what makes her so alluring.