Sophia Hart's world is shattered when her father's legacy, an art gallery he built from the ground up, teeters on the brink of collapse. Desperate to save it, she finds herself facing the enigmatic and dangerously charming billionaire, Damon Blackwood. His offer to help comes with a price-her trust. But with nothing left to lose, Sophia agrees to a deal that could save everything... or destroy her in the process. Damon Blackwood is a man of power, wealth, and secrets. He's been playing a game for years-one that has brought him to the heart of Sophia's world. He needs something her father hid away, something that could ruin them both if it falls into the wrong hands. As their connection deepens, Damon's carefully constructed walls begin to crack, revealing the truth about his dangerous past-and the lies he's built his empire on. Caught between desire and distrust, Sophia must decide how far she's willing to go for love and truth. But as the stakes rise and enemies close in, she'll learn that sometimes love and betrayal are the same thing.
Sophia's pov
"Why can't something, anything, just go right for once?" I muttered, clutching the crumpled warning letter from the bank in my shaky hands. I skimmed it again, as if somehow the words would change. They didn't. One more overdue payment, and the gallery-my father's dream, my dream-would be gone.
I stuffed the letter into my bag and straightened my back. No one here needed to know how close I was to falling apart. The gallery buzzed with Manhattan's elite tonight-sipping champagne, tossing out opinions about art they probably didn't understand. Soft jazz played in the background, the lights bathed everything in a golden glow. From the outside, it was perfect.
On the inside, I was barely hanging on.
"Ms. Hart, your collection is absolutely stunning tonight," Mr. Harper, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit, said as he passed by.
"Thank you," I replied, forcing a polite smile.
"You'll hear from me soon," he added casually, which I knew meant, I'm not buying anything tonight.
I swallowed my frustration, letting my heels carry me to another group of guests. Smile, charm, sell-that was the mantra.
Then, the energy in the room shifted. Conversations stilled. Heads turned.
I followed their gazes to the entrance, and my stomach dropped.
Damon Blackwood.
Manhattan's infamous billionaire playboy. The man who tore apart businesses for sport. And now, he was walking into my gallery like he owned the place. Hell, like he owned me.
His dark suit fit perfectly, and his sharp features had a way of demanding attention without trying. Even the way he adjusted his cufflinks felt deliberate, like he knew the room was his.
What the hell was he doing here?
"Ms. Hart." His smooth voice cut through the air as he made his way toward me, his gray eyes locking onto mine.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
"Mr. Blackwood," I managed, slipping on my most professional smile. "I wasn't expecting you tonight."
"Neither was I," he said with a smirk that could start wars. "But I heard this gallery was worth a visit. Thought I'd see for myself."
His gaze swept over the room, lingering on the art, the people, and then back to me. He wasn't admiring anything. He was calculating-deciding what to keep and what to toss.
"Well," I said, keeping my tone even, "I hope you find the collection enjoyable."
"Enjoyable?" He tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "I don't usually enjoy unprofitable ventures."
The heat rushed to my face. Did he just call my gallery a failure?
"Then I'm surprised you bothered to come," I shot back, my tone sharper than intended.
His eyes sparkled, amused. "I admire your spirit, Ms. Hart. Most people wouldn't dare talk to me like that."
"I'm not most people," I replied, folding my arms and holding his gaze.
"No, you're not." His words hung in the air longer than they should have, and then he nodded, smirk intact. "Enjoy your evening."
And just like that, he walked away, leaving me standing there, fuming.
I wanted to scream, maybe throw something at him, but I didn't. I couldn't. The elites in this room were my last hope for keeping the gallery alive, and losing my temper wouldn't exactly inspire confidence.
Still, his words played on a loop in my mind all night.
By the time the last guest left, the gallery was silent. The glow of the evening had long since faded, and the weight of reality settled back in.
Hopeless. That's what he'd called it, right? A "lost cause."
I leaned against the counter and let out a long breath. My father's voice echoed in my head, the way it always did when I felt like giving up.
"This gallery is your legacy, Sophia. You can do this."
Could I, though? Or was Damon right? Was I clinging to something already gone?
I was so lost in thought I didn't hear the footsteps at first. When they finally registered, my heart jumped, and I spun around, clutching a champagne flute like a weapon.
"Relax, Ms. Hart."
That voice.
Damon stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.
"What are you still doing here?" I snapped, unable to hide my irritation.
He stepped closer, his presence heavy in the empty room. "I thought we should talk. About your gallery."
"What about it?"
"You need help." His voice was calm, but there was something unsettling in his tone. "And I don't just mean a buyer."
I crossed my arms, trying to steady my racing heart. "What do you want, Damon?"
His smirk returned, colder this time. "Let's just say I have a proposal that could change everything."
He glanced around the room, taking in the artwork and the empty spaces.
"I'll send a car for you soon. Be ready."
Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, stunned.
What did he mean by "a proposal that could change everything"? And why did I get the feeling I was about to step into something I couldn't handle?
As the gallery lights dimmed, I let out a shaky breath. Whatever was coming, it felt like the beginning of the end-or maybe, just maybe, a new beginning altogether.
Chapter 1 The Art of the deal
23/01/2025
Chapter 2 Oh! He wants to marry me
23/01/2025
Chapter 3 Gosh! What's Damon really hiding
23/01/2025
Chapter 4 I Said No, but Life Said Otherwise
23/01/2025
Chapter 5 The Price That Change Everything
23/01/2025
Chapter 6 A Deal With The Devil, A Heart On The Line
23/01/2025
Chapter 7 And Then The Party Went Up In Flames
23/01/2025
Chapter 8 Falling For The Devil
23/01/2025
Chapter 9 Pieces Of The Puzzle
23/01/2025
Chapter 10 Danger Within
23/01/2025
Chapter 11 Cost Of Protection
07/02/2025
Chapter 12 The weight of truth
07/02/2025
Chapter 13 Between Duty and Desire
07/02/2025
Chapter 14 Strings attach
09/02/2025
Chapter 15 Fucking to forget
09/02/2025
Chapter 16 A shield or a pawn
09/02/2025
Chapter 17 All that glitters is not gold
10/02/2025
Chapter 18 Discovering the Truth
10/02/2025
Chapter 19 Are We Enemies... Or Something More
10/02/2025
Chapter 20 The lead that changes Everything
10/02/2025
Chapter 21 His Rules, My Revenge
11/02/2025
Chapter 22 The secret we keep
11/02/2025
Chapter 23 The invitation
11/02/2025
Chapter 24 The Devil's Bargain
12/02/2025
Chapter 25 The Artifact
12/02/2025
Chapter 26 The Game just changed
13/02/2025
Chapter 27 The Trap Was Set
13/02/2025
Chapter 28 The illusion of control
14/02/2025
Chapter 29 A deal with the devil
15/02/2025
Chapter 30 The set up
15/02/2025
Chapter 31 Shadow Game
15/02/2025
Chapter 32 Now The Rules Are Mine
15/02/2025
Chapter 33 Game I Didn't Sign Up For
16/02/2025
Chapter 34 The Joke's On Me
16/02/2025
Chapter 35 Rising from the Ashes
16/02/2025
Chapter 36 Beginning of downfall
17/02/2025
Chapter 37 Things fall apart
17/02/2025
Chapter 38 The Woman I Became
17/02/2025
Chapter 39 Shattered and reborn
18/02/2025
Chapter 40 Chasing the price of mistake
18/02/2025