Chapter 1 — The Stranger in Black
Chapter 1 — The Stranger in Black
Skylar had always believed that the most dangerous people were the ones who looked harmless.
She was about to discover that she was wrong.
The ballroom glittered beneath hundreds of crystal lights, filling the room with a soft golden glow. Elegant guests moved between tables dressed in expensive suits and flowing gowns, their laughter blending with the quiet music coming from the live orchestra.
Skylar stood near the edge of the room, holding a glass of sparkling water she had barely touched.
She hated events like this.
Too many strangers.
Too many fake smiles.
Too many conversations where everyone seemed to be pretending to be someone they weren't.
“Stop looking like you're planning your escape.”
Skylar turned.
Her friend, Amelia, stood beside her with an amused smile.
“I am planning my escape.”
Amelia laughed. “You've been here for twenty minutes.”
“Exactly. That's twenty minutes too long.”
“You promised you'd stay until dinner.”
“I promised nothing.”
Amelia shook her head before turning toward the crowd.
Then her expression suddenly changed.
“Skylar.”
“What?”
“Don't turn around too quickly.”
Skylar frowned.
“Why?”
“Because the most terrifyingly handsome man I've ever seen just walked into the room.”
Skylar rolled her eyes.
“I'm not interested.”
“I didn't say you had to marry him.”
“You're already planning my wedding?”
“Just look.”
Skylar sighed.
She turned.
And stopped.
A man had just entered the ballroom.
He was dressed entirely in black.
Black suit. Black shirt. No tie.
There was nothing flashy about him, yet somehow the entire room seemed to notice him.
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't looking around.
He simply walked through the crowd with the quiet confidence of someone who knew exactly where he belonged.
Then his eyes lifted.
And found hers.
Skylar's breath caught.
For a moment, everything around her seemed to disappear.
His gaze didn't move.
Neither did hers.
There was something unsettling about the way he looked at her.
Not like a stranger.
Like someone who had been searching for her.
Skylar quickly looked away.
“Okay,” Amelia whispered. “You definitely felt that.”
“Felt what?”
“That.”
“There was no ‘that.’”
“Skylar.”
“What?”
“He was staring at you.”
“People look at people.”
“Not like that.”
Skylar ignored her.
She reached for her glass again.
When she looked up, the man was gone.
She frowned.
“Where did he—”
“Who?”
“The man in black.”
Amelia glanced across the ballroom.
“I don't see him.”
Skylar scanned the room.
Nothing.
Maybe she had imagined it.
She turned back toward the table.
And nearly collided with someone.
Her glass tipped.
Cold liquid splashed across a perfectly tailored black jacket.
Silence.
Skylar froze.
Slowly, she looked up.
Her stomach dropped.
It was him.
The stranger in black.
Up close, he was even more intimidating.
His dark eyes rested on the stain on his jacket before returning to her face.
“I…”
Skylar swallowed.
“I am so sorry.”
He said nothing.
She grabbed a napkin from the table and instinctively reached toward his jacket.
“Please, let me—”
His hand gently caught her wrist.
“Don't.”
His voice was low and calm.
Skylar looked at his hand around her wrist, then back at him.
He released her.
“I can have it cleaned.”
“I'll pay for it.”
“You don't know how much it costs.”
“Then tell me.”
For the first time, the corner of his mouth lifted.
Not quite a smile.
Something more dangerous.
“You couldn't afford it.”
Skylar stared at him.
Her embarrassment disappeared.
“So you're arrogant too?”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Apparently.”
She crossed her arms.
“Well, I'm still sorry.”
“I know.”
She frowned.
“You know?”
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
“I know more about you than you think.”
Skylar's expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
Before he could answer, someone called his name from across the room.
“Leonard!”
The stranger glanced over his shoulder.
Then back at Skylar.
“Goodnight, Skylar.”
Her heart stopped.
She hadn't told him her name.
He walked away before she could say another word.
Skylar stood completely still.
Amelia hurried over.
“Who was that?”
Skylar barely heard her.
“How does he know my name?”
Across the ballroom, Leonard stopped beside a tall man in a gray suit.
He glanced back at Skylar one last time.
The man beside him noticed.
“You're finally here,” he said.
Leonard's expression remained unreadable.
“I told you I would come.”
“You weren't supposed to approach her.”
Leonard's eyes returned to Skylar.
“I know.”
“Then why did you?”
Leonard said nothing for several seconds.
Then quietly:
“Because she doesn't remember me.”
The man's face tightened.
“She can't remember you.”
“I know.”
“And she must never find out why you know her.”
Leonard looked at Skylar one last time.
She was still standing beside Amelia, staring after him.
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out his phone.
A photograph was already open on the screen.
It was old.
The edges were worn, the colors faded.
A little girl stood beside a woman, smiling at the camera.
Leonard stared at the photograph for a long moment.
Then he looked across the ballroom at Skylar.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
He locked his phone.
“Does she know?” the man beside him asked quietly.
Leonard's jaw tightened.
“No.”
“Does she know about the photograph?”
“No.”
“Then you shouldn't have spoken to her.”
Leonard's eyes hardened.
“I had to see her.”
“Why?”
Leonard didn't answer.
His gaze remained fixed on Skylar.
Then his phone vibrated.
One message.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
She remembers more than you think.
Leonard's expression changed.
A second message appeared.
And if you tell her the truth, she won't be the only one who gets hurt.
Leonard stared at the screen.
Across the ballroom, Skylar suddenly turned.
Their eyes met again.
This time, Leonard didn't look away.
Because for the first time that night, he realized something terrifying.
Someone else had been watching Skylar too.
