The music was too loud. It pulsed through the walls of the ground hall, mixing with laughter, clinking of glasses and lower hum of powerful voices making dangerous deals.
Aria Williams didn't belong here. You could tell just by looking at her. Her dress simple, elegant but not nearly as extravagant as the women around her. Her eyes sharp, observant, constantly scanning like she was searching for an escape .
Because she was. She tightened her grip on the small black purse in her hand, her fingers trembled slightly. This was a mistake.
"Relax" her friend Erica whispered beside her nudging her lightly. "It's just a party."
Aria forced a smile. A party right. Which Included billionaires, politicians and men who looked like they could ruin lives with a single phone call.
"I shouldn't be here," Aria murmured. But it was already too late cause across the room someone was watching her. She felt it before she saw it.
That heavy, piercing sensation crawling over her skin.
Slowly... hesitantly...she turned her head.
And her breathe caught.
He stood near the far end of the hall, surrounded by mean in expensive suits. Yet somehow he stood apart from them all. Taller, colder more dangerous. His black suit fits him perfectly like it was made to match his sharp controlled presence. His expression was unreadable. But his eyes...
His eyes were locked on her. Observing her like... He had already chosen her.
Aria heart skipped. He's wasn't just any man, she exactly who he was.
Damian Blackwood.
The man people whispered about.
The man no one dared to cross.
The man who didn't believe in mercy.
Her stomach tightened.
"Don't look at him," her friend suddenly hissed under her breath. "That's Damian Blackwood. He's… not someone you want attention from." Too late. Because his lips curved up slightly. Not a smile.something darker
Like he had just found something interesting in a room full of boredom.
And that something… was her. A waiter standing in front of her bent to say something to her. His was polite but firm.
"Mr. Blackwood is requesting your presence."
Aria blinked.
Her pulse spiked.
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else," she said quickly.
The waiter shook his head.
"No, miss. He was very specific."
Her throat went dry.
Around her, the noise of the party faded into nothing.
All she could hear was the pounding of her heart.
"I'm not going," she whispered.
Her friend grabbed her arm.
"Aria… you can't refuse him."
"Why not?" Aria snapped softly, panic rising.
"Because men like him don't take no for an answer."
That was exactly the problem.
Aria swallowed hard. She was scared she wanted to run but she didn't know if he was going to come for her.
Then, slowly… she stood up. And walked towards him.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Like she was walking straight into something she wouldn't be able to escape.
When she finally stopped in front of him, she forced herself to look up. And that was when she knew she made a very big mistake.
Up close, Damian Blackwood was even more intimidating.
His gaze dropped to her face, slow and deliberate.
Taking in everything.
Her eyes. Her lips. The slight tension in her posture.
It made her feel exposed. Seen. Owned. By the Devil standing in front of her.
"Mr. Blackwood," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "You asked for me?"
Silence.
For a moment, he just looked at her.
Then—
"You don't belong here."
The words were calm. simple. But they hit harder. than she expected.
Her jaw tightened.
"Then why call me over?" she shot back.
A dangerous flicker crossed his eyes.
He smirked.
He stepped closer.
Not enough to touch.
But enough that she could feel the heat of his body… the faint, expensive scent of his cologne.
"You stood out," he said quietly.
Her breath hitched.
"That's not a compliment," she replied.
"It wasn't meant to be."
Her cheeks flushed.
Before she could respond, he leaned in slightly—his voice dropping lower, more intimate.
"And yet… I can't seem to look away."
Her heart slammed against her chest.
This was bad.
Very bad.
"Then maybe you should," she said, trying to pull herself together.
For a second… nothing happened.
Then—
He chuckled.
Low. Dangerous.
Like she had just said something amusing.
"I don't do 'maybe,' Aria."
Her name.
He knew her name.
A chill ran down her spine.
"How do you—"
"I know everything I need to know."
Of course he did.
Men like him always did.
Aria took a small step back.
She needed space.
Air.
Distance.
But his hand suddenly caught her wrist.
Not rough.
Not gentle either.
Just firm enough to stop her.
Electricity shot through her body at the contact.
Her breath caught.
"Let go," she said quietly.
His grip didn't tighten.
But it didn't loosen either.
"Careful," he murmured, his eyes darkening. "You're walking away from an opportunity."
"I didn't ask for one."
"People rarely do."
Her chest rose and fell quickly.
"Then I'm not interested."
For the first time—
Something shifted in his expression.
Not anger.
Not irritation.
Something far more dangerous.
Interest.
Real interest.
He stepped closer again, closing the small distance she had tried to create.
"You will be," he said softly.
Her stomach twisted.
"Confident, aren't you?"
"I don't deal in uncertainty."
Aria's pulse raced.
Everything about this man screamed trouble.
Danger.
The kind of danger that didn't destroy you all at once—but slowly… completely.
She should walk away.
She should pull her hand free and disappear into the crowd.
She should forget this moment ever happened.
But she didn't.
Because a part of her—
A small, reckless part—
Was curious.
And Damian Blackwood noticed.
His thumb brushed lightly against her wrist.
The smallest movement.
But it sent heat rushing through her veins.
"Tell me," he said, his voice low and controlled. "What is it you're running from, Aria?"
Her breath hitched.
How did he—
"I'm not running," she said quickly.
He tilted his head slightly.
Studying her.
Like he could see straight through her lies.
"Everyone here is chasing something," he said. "Money. Power. Status."
His gaze darkened.
"But you…"
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
"You look like you're trying to escape something."
Her heart stopped.
For a second—
She couldn't breathe.
Because he was right.
And that terrified her.
Across the hall, a man suddenly appeared at the entrance.
His eyes scanned the room—
Then locked onto Aria.
And everything inside her froze.
No.
Not here.
Not now.
"Found you," he muttered under his breath.
Aria's fingers tightened instinctively around Damian's sleeve.
Her fear didn't go unnoticed.
His gaze flicked past her—
Landing on the man approaching.
And in that instant…
The air changed.
Darkened.
Dangerous.
Damian's grip on her wrist shifted slightly—
Not to stop her this time.
But like he was claiming her.
"Do you know him?" he asked quietly.
Aria's voice came out barely above a whisper.
"Yes."
The man was getting closer.
Faster.
Panic rose in her chest.
"Help me," she said suddenly, her eyes locking onto Damian's.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then his lips curved slowly.
Not kind.
Not reassuring.
But something far more dangerous.
Possessive.
"Careful, Aria," he murmured. "You might not like the kind of help I offer."
Her heart pounded.
"I don't have a choice."
His eyes darkened.
"No…" he said softly.
"You just made one."