SINFUL DEAL

Elena Rivers knew two things with absolute certainty.

First, her career was on the verge of ruin.

Second, the man who could save it was the last person she wanted to owe.

She adjusted the strap of her satin gown, exhaling as she stepped onto the marble floors of the Blackwood Foundation Charity Gala. The ballroom shimmered with golden chandeliers, the murmur of Manhattan's elite blending with the clinking of expensive champagne flutes. It was the kind of event she used to attend with pride, back when her interior design firm was thriving.

Now, she was here for survival.

Her fingers tightened around her clutch. She had spent years building her name, proving she was more than just another designer catering to the rich. But one bad deal, one high-profile betrayal, and suddenly, Elena Rivers was the woman no one wanted to do business with.

She forced a smile as she wove through the room, exchanging pleasantries with people who, weeks ago, wouldn't have hesitated to sign contracts with her. Now, their smiles were polite, their conversations brief.

Her pulse quickened as she spotted him-Damian Blackwood.

He stood near the bar, the golden light catching the sharp angles of his face, the crisp black of his tailored suit making him look even more untouchable than usual. His presence commanded attention, even in a room full of billionaires. Some feared him. Some envied him. Elena? She resented the fact that she needed him.

She had never met him in person, but she knew his reputation well. Ruthless. Calculated. A man who never did anything without a price.

And she was about to walk straight into his world.

Taking a breath, she crossed the room.

"Mr. Blackwood," she said smoothly. "I believe we need to talk."

His gaze flicked to her, dark and unreadable. He took a slow sip of his drink before replying.

"Elena Rivers." His voice was low, unimpressed. "And why, exactly, would I want to talk to you?"

She tilted her chin up, refusing to let his cold demeanor shake her.

"Because I have something you need."

His lips curled slightly, not quite a smile, but close enough to send a shiver down her spine.

"Interesting," he murmured. "Let's see if you're right."