The day of the dinner arrived without fanfare. Eloise buried herself in work with absolute focus, as if every email answered and every spreadsheet reviewed were a way to ignore the weight of what awaited that night. August seemed just as absorbed, locked inside his office, not calling her in or provoking her the way he usually did. The atmosphere was professional. Quiet and tense. Around two in the afternoon, his office door opened. August stepped out, posture impeccable, expression unreadable. He walked to her desk and placed a small black velvet box on top of her planner. "You can leave early. Go get ready. And take this with you," he said casually. She stared at the box like it might explode. "I already have the dress and the shoes. This… doesn't make sense," she said without touching it. "You don't need to go overboard." August held her gaze patiently. "It makes perfect sense. The dress calls for something worthy of it. And you're going to wear it," he said, his t

The party continued wrapped in luxury and carefully measured laughter. Elegant guests moved through the room with champagne glasses in hand, some discussing business with serious expressions, others sharing amusing stories and laughing loudly to impress. But in a quieter corner of the ballroom among ambitious businessmen hunting for connections and overly eager social climbers, Lawrence Miller stood out in silence. He held his glass of sparkling wine like a man who already believed he had secured half of what he wanted. His gaze scanned the room with calculated precision, searching for influential faces, powerful names… contracts. Tonight was his chance to slip into that world. Among men in tailored suits and women dripping in jewelry, he believed he could finally establish his name. His company's name. The climb to the top. What he wanted was simple. Power. Beside him, Nicole spun her glass absentmindedly, wearing a dress far too flashy for the occasion. She confus

The ballroom fell into respectful silence when Joseph Montgomery stood up. Holding a champagne glass, his presence commanded attention. "I'm pleased to see this room filled with important people, friends, partners… and of course, my family," he said, briefly glancing at August, who kept his expression neutral. "I'm reaching a stage in life where passing the baton begins to feel less like an option and more like a responsibility." He paused, letting the words settle. "I want you all to know that when that moment comes, it will be done wisely. The position of CEO will go to whoever proves they have strength, vision… and loyalty." A subtle tension spread across the room. Some guests exchanged glances, others simply raised their glasses in a polite toast. August's face remained perfectly composed. But inside, he understood. That had been a warning. His father might be preparing to test or surprise him. Toward the back of the room, Joseph's sharp gaze lingered on a particula

Eloise downed the whiskey in one gulp. The liquid burned down her throat like fire, but the pain in her chest burned even hotter. Throbbing. Relentless. She rested the glass against her thigh, leaning back into the sofa as if she needed something solid to keep her soul from slipping out of her body. The silence lingered. But this time… this time, August was the first to speak. "I've felt that kind of pain before." His voice wasn't laced with pity. It was steady. Heavy. As if he were brushing against a memory he would rather have buried. "I don't fully understand everything that happened to you today… but I know that look. The look of someone who's been betrayed. Someone who's been… deceived." She stared at him. Curiosity tangled with disbelief. August Montgomery? Feeling pain? He seemed untouchable. Too strong for something like that. But he kept going. "I used that pain to make myself stronger. It wasn't easy. But it passed." Now she studied him more closely. Beh

August held her firmly and, in one smooth motion, lifted Eloise onto the cool kitchen counter. Their lips never parted. Their bodies already knew the way. The icy marble against her bare skin drew a soft gasp from her, one that was quickly swallowed by his hungry mouth. August's hands moved with precision. They gripped her waist, slid along her thighs, and then paused… there. He let out a breath, ragged, his eyes locking onto hers as if he had just discovered something that pushed him completely out of control. "No panties, Eloise…" he murmured between kisses, his voice rough with a hunger that could no longer be contained. She shivered, her whole body pulsing beneath his touch. August brushed his fingers over her skin with maddening calm, as if he knew exactly what he was doing to her. Her soft moans were music to him… and gasoline. He lowered his face to her neck, kissing slowly, teasing the lobe of her ear with delicious cruelty. She arched, and he took advantage of it. Hi