Beneath Her Charm

ff the rain-slicked pavement, creating a chaotic yet beautiful mosaic of colors. At the luxurious Vanguard Hotel, the air w

e perfectly, her caramel skin shimmered under the soft glow of the chandeliers. Yet, there was something unnerving about her beauty-it was

son, a tech entrepreneur rumored to be one of the wealthiest men in the city. But Dare wasn't just another rich man; he was caut

could he not? But as magnetic as she seemed, there was a flicker of unease in his chest. His instincts

graceful yet deliberate. "Mr. Lawson," she said, her voice

rk eyes narrowing. "And who

ect white teeth. "Someone who can

e years that people didn't just approach him with offers of help unless there was somethin

of amusement and something darker. "

ptical. "Trust doesn't come

ke you?" she asked, her

his stance. "You're pl

"Am I? Or is it you who's playin

fidence, but he wasn't about to let h

pression unreadable.

f women in the past-some with agendas, some with nothing more than their beauty to offer. But ther

d, but he couldn't shake the feeling

, her breath warm agains

eak: The

hand. He debated following through, but his curiosity got the better of him. By midnight, he

asting shadows across her face. The room was dim, yet the glow from the streetlights below illuminated

e said without

are replied, closing the door

, finally facing him. "Powerful, but bor

arrowing his gaze. "And yo

hing darker. "Not quite." She reached for a folder on the table

contents. It was a dossier-on him. Every business deal, every

dangerous. His fingers tightened around the fol

"But don't worry-I'm not here to b

him better than he knew himself. It was unsettling. His first instinct was to de

By giving me everything about my life-my business, m

fool, Dare. You're just blind. You've spent so long building your

thin. "And you think you'r

. I know," she said,

ul Hook:

ne buzzed. He glanced at the scree

. Get ou

door. Amara's gaze was fixed on him, and there was an unreadable expression on

want us talking," she said,

re it was too late. But his pride-his need to be in control-kept him r

Someone who knows your enemies better than you do. And i

, even though the room was warm. Dare's mind raced,

out you, Dare. It's about what you represent. There are people in this c

outside. Heavy, deliberate footsteps. Dare'

eyes glinting with something dangerous. "

part of him told him to walk away, to leave before whatever was coming arrived. But the temptation to confront

ftly, her voice almost a w

low but steady. "I'm not goi

ourself, Mr. Lawson. You're about to get all the a