ontague Estate was a master
e vaulted ceilings, casting a warm, golden glow over the three hundred guests. Waiters in pristine white gloves glided through the crowd like ghosts, carrying silve
politicians, and ruthless businessmen, all hiding
ive. I had gripped Victor's arm, terrified of saying the wrong thing, smiling until my cheeks ached, while he soaked up th
as not that
a room I was supposed to share with Victor, though he rarely sle
n. It had a plunging neckline that left little to the imagination and a thigh-high slit that revealed my long legs. My hair w
. I looked like a
e drawled fro
uxedo, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His eyes raked over m
Elena," he said, stepping into the room. He clo
s wife. "I just wanted to look special for you tonight, darling. Five
gne-a scent I had once found so comforting-made my stomach churn with disgust. I could feel the heat
my hip, squeezing roughly. "But remember, tonight is about business. I ha
e sent a jolt of elec
k," Victor continued, his tone shifting from
spent the whole night in the corner, sipping water, watching Victor cha
y eyes wide and innocent. "I wouldn't dream of getting in the
pulling away. "Good. Now, let's go. Sophia is alre
diligent, loving sister
ared, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes turned to us. To V
inger on Victor for lon
e women looking at me with envy and curiosity. I held my head high, a small
the stairs, and the cro
vestor named Mr. Sterling boomed, shaking Victor's h
onal mask firmly in place. "I'm glad you could make it.
piel about profits and market share
urn
s. It complemented her pale skin and dark hair perfectly. She flashed me a warm, si
honey. "Red is a very bold choice. Trying to cover up the fac
ushed, stuttered, and made an ex
appier, we'd be glowing. But thank you for worrying about my marriage. It's so sweet
re venom in her eyes. I had never talked back to her before. I ha
a's waist in what looked like a friendly, brotherly gesture. But I saw the way
tems are ready in the west wing?" Victor asked smoo
ng onto his for a second too long. "I'll handle
, her hips sway
ally-or purposefully-knocked a priceless Ming vase onto the floor, shattering it. Victor had blamed me for it in front of
pt, I had replaced it with a cheap, painted replica. I had also secretly placed a diamond neck
Victor's voice boomed
n, if I could have y
r stood on the raised platfor
He paused, giving me a charming smile that made my skin crawl. "It's about the future. The Montague Group is
to the back
ve oak do
ed out of t
sps rippled through the crowd. The sheer presence
en V
e a startling, piercing shade of dark blue, and they swept across the room with a cold, predatory intelligen
s called the "Ice King." He had a reputation for destroying companies without a
death, a whisper of memory told me that Damien Vance had actually tried to warn my fa
t bothering to smile. He didn't need
xt to him. A pretender
, his voice slightly str
his cold, piercing gaze swept over th
pended moment,
first sight. It was recognition. He looked at me, standing in my
, raising my chin a fraction of an
s, a hint of intrigue. The corner of h
e that sent shivers down my spine. He turned to the crowd. "The Vance Corpor
on. He had no idea that in exactly three hours, he was going to be acc
y champagne, the bubble
e game
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