Maya's POV
Roderick Sterling materialized beside me like a predator who had been watching from the shadows. His tall frame cut an impressive figure against the backdrop of elegant party guests, but there was something in his calculated smile that made my stomach clench. He held two crystal champagne flutes, extending one toward me with practiced charm.
"A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be standing alone at an event like this," he said, his voice carrying that smooth sophistication that probably worked on most women. But something about his tone made my skin crawl.
"Thanks, but I'm sticking with water tonight," I replied, raising my nearly empty glass as a barrier between us.
"Not drinking?" His eyes traveled slowly down my body, lingering in places that made me want to cover myself despite being fully clothed. When his gaze finally returned to my face, his lips curved into something that barely resembled a smile. "How fascinating."
