Chapter 1: The Lion’s Den
The rain in New York did not just fall; it punished the city. From the seventy-fifth floor of the Vance Tower, the streets below looked like rivers of bleeding neon lights.
Aria stood in the center of the penthouse office, her boots sinking slightly into the plush, charcoal-grey carpet. Her hands were folded neatly in front of her, the perfect image of a desperate woman pleading for her family’s survival. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird, but her face remained entirely blank, smooth as marble.
Her brother had incurred a massive debt to Vance Enterprises, but that was just the cover story. The truth was, a rival syndicate had used that debt as leverage, handing Aria a weapon and an ultimatum: complete the contract against Sulaiman Vance, or her family would pay the price.
“You’re shaking,” a voice cut through the silence.
The voice did not come from the grand desk at the end of the room. It came from the shadows by the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Sulaiman Vance stepped into the dim light of the office. He was wearing a tailored charcoal suit that molded to his frame, radiating an aura of effortless power. His jawline was sharp, but it was his eyes that made Aria’s skin go cold—they were a piercing, ruthless amber, completely devoid of warmth.
