She was born into wealth, but she never wanted the crown. When Elara Sinclair learns she is the sole heir to her estranged father's billion-dollar empire, she wants nothing to do with it. A quiet life away from high society was all she ever craved. But walking away isn't an option-not when Damien Calloway, her father's most ruthless business partner, is determined to keep her in the game. Cold, calculating, and dangerously irresistible, Damien claims he's only protecting the legacy she's running from. But Elara knows better. He's after control-of the company, of her fate... and maybe even her heart. Torn between freedom and the world she was born into, Elara must decide: can she escape, or will she surrender to the one man who refuses to let her go?
Chapter 1 The Return
The city felt colder than she remembered. The sharp autumn wind curled around Elara Sinclair as she stood in front of the towering glass structure of Sinclair Global, her fingers tightening around the handle of her suitcase. The building loomed above her, sleek and impenetrable, reflecting the gray Manhattan sky like a silent judge. It smelled of rain, asphalt, and something metallic-maybe it was just the taste of regret on her tongue.
She had promised herself she would never come back.
Yet here she was.
A gust of wind swept through the street, sending a lock of chestnut hair across her face. She tucked it behind her ear with a sharp exhale, ignoring the black town car still idling behind her. She could feel the driver watching her in the rearview mirror, waiting for her to turn back, to run.
Not an option.
She adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and stepped forward. The glass doors parted smoothly, ushering her into a marble-floored lobby that smelled of wealthâ€"fresh coffee, expensive cologne, and polished surfaces that never saw a speck of dust. The hum of conversation and the occasional click of heels filled the air, but the moment she entered, a noticeable shift rippled through the room.
A woman in a tailored navy suit behind the front desk stiffened, her manicured fingers pausing over the keyboard. Her gaze flicked up, eyes widening before she masked her expression with well-practiced professionalism.
“Miss Sinclair,†she said smoothly. “Mr. Calloway is expecting you.â€
Of course, he was.
Elara inhaled slowly through her nose, willing herself to remain steady. She had known he would be waiting. Damien Calloway always got what he wanted. And this time, he wanted her in the one place she had fought to escape.
Her heels clicked against the marble as she crossed the lobby. The weight of a dozen unseen eyes pressed against her back, whispers forming like a storm cloud as she stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut, sealing her inside.
The last time she had been here, she had walked out without looking back.
Chapter 1 The Return
12/02/2025
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