When wealthy playboy, Logan Pierce, sets his eyes on rebellious artist, Ella Harper, he's used to getting what he wants. But there's something about Ella that refuses to fall for his charm. Fiercely independent and determined to stay away from the world of wealth and privilege, Ella knows the trouble a man like Logan can bring. Yet, the undeniable chemistry between them is impossible to ignore. As sparks fly and boundaries blur, Logan's obsession with Ella grows, and the lines between desire and danger begin to fade. Ella's past holds secrets that make her reluctant to trust anyone, especially someone like Logan. But the more she tries to push him away, the harder he fights to break through her walls. Caught in a whirlwind of lust, love, and betrayal, Logan and Ella must decide if their passion is worth the risk. Can they defy the odds and have everything they crave, or will their reckless love be their downfall?
Chapter 1 The Game Begins
Ella Harper hated events like this. She hated the glittering, pristine rooms, the clinking of glasses, the fake smiles plastered across perfectly sculpted faces. It all felt like a grand performance, and she was far too tired to pretend.
Tonight, she was trapped at one of New York's most exclusive charity galas, her art featured as the star attraction. The room was packed with the city's elite-millionaires, moguls, socialites-each of them swarming like moths around the brightest flame. Ella had grown accustomed to their gaze, to the way they eyed her work with superficial interest before moving on to the next big thing. For them, art was just another way to show off their wealth. But to her, it was everything.
She leaned against a marble column, her fingers brushing the edge of the delicate wine glass in her hand, staring out over the crowd. Her focus wasn't on the people. It never was. It was on the art-on her art, hanging proudly on the far wall in a grand, gold-framed display. Every brushstroke, every line had been painted with her heart. But here, in a room like this, all of it felt empty.
She wasn't one of them. And she didn't want to be.
A sudden wave of laughter snapped her from her thoughts. Her gaze flickered over to a small group near the bar, their laughter too loud, too exaggerated. It was impossible to miss the man in the center of it all-Logan Pierce. The billionaire playboy, the talk of every magazine, the one man who seemed to effortlessly command the attention of every room he entered.
She felt a familiar frustration coil in her chest.
Logan Pierce. The last thing she needed in her life was someone like him.
Tall, dark-haired, with a jawline that could cut glass, Logan had the kind of good looks that made people stop in their tracks. But it wasn't just his looks that drew attention. It was the effortless confidence he exuded. The way he smiled like he owned the world and everyone in it. As if the rules didn't apply to him-because, for all intents and purposes, they didn't.
Logan Pierce had it all. Money. Power. Charm. And he used it like a weapon.
Ella knew better than to fall for his type. She had met men like him before-men who thought their wealth bought them everything, even love. They were the ones who lived in a world so detached from reality, they had no idea what it was like to struggle. To fight for what you wanted.
She took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts aside, but her attention was still drawn to him. She couldn't help it. It wasn't just his reputation that caught her eye. It was the way he carried himself. His presence was magnetic, pulling everyone in. Even now, as he leaned against the bar, talking to a woman with platinum blonde hair and a laugh that was just as fake as the diamonds around her neck, Logan's eyes scanned the room, always alert, always looking for something-or someone-to grab his interest.
Ella felt a pang in her chest, sharp and unexpected. She wasn't like the women who flocked to him, throwing themselves at his feet just to get a taste of his world. She was different. She had worked too hard to get where she was, to throw it all away on someone who had everything handed to him.
And yet... despite the walls she'd carefully built around herself, she found herself captivated.
Logan's gaze finally landed on her. For a brief, heart-stopping second, their eyes locked. There was a spark there, something electric, something dangerous. He held her gaze for a beat too long, as if he was considering something, weighing her in some invisible way. Then, his lips curled into a smile-slow, deliberate.
Ella swallowed hard, looking away.
"Don't look at him," she told herself. "Don't even think about him."
But that was easier said than done.
Logan wasn't the kind of man you could ignore.
He started moving through the crowd, his long strides cutting through the sea of people. Ella knew exactly what he was doing. He was heading straight for her.
Her pulse quickened, and for a split second, she panicked. What was he after? She had no illusions about his intentions. Men like Logan didn't look at women like her unless they wanted something-something they could have and discard at their convenience.
Her grip tightened around the glass, her knuckles going white. She couldn't back down now. She wasn't one of his easy targets.
When Logan finally reached her, he didn't say anything right away. Instead, he simply stood there for a moment, eyeing her with that confident, predatory gaze. The air between them seemed to hum with an almost palpable tension.
"Ell-" he started, but stopped, as if surprised by something. His eyes shifted down to her name tag for a brief moment before he continued. "Ella Harper, right? The artist."
She nodded, but didn't offer him a smile. "I'm surprised you know my name," she said coolly, taking a sip of wine.
Logan's grin widened. "Oh, I know more than just your name, Ella. I know all about your work. You're quite the up-and-comer."
Ella forced herself to stay composed. "I'm glad my work is making waves."
"Making waves doesn't even begin to cover it," he said. "I've heard people talk about your art-about how it's... different."
"Different?" She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Logan chuckled. "I didn't mean it as an insult. I meant it as a compliment. You stand out. And that's hard to do in a world full of copycats." He paused, his gaze lingering a little too long on her. "And I have to admit, I'm intrigued. Most people would have folded by now, but you-"
"I'm not most people," she cut him off, her tone sharp.
Logan's smile faltered for a second, but then it returned, even more dangerous than before. "No," he said quietly, "you're not."
There it was again. That intensity in his eyes, that pull she couldn't shake. He was challenging her, pushing her to respond. He wasn't just talking about her art anymore. He was talking about her.
Ella forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to let him see how much his words affected her.
"I'm not interested, Logan," she said flatly, taking another step back. "So, if you'll excuse me-"
"Don't be too quick to walk away," he said, his voice low. "I think you and I could have a... very interesting conversation."
Ella's heart skipped a beat. She turned her back to him, walking toward her art, trying to push him-and his magnetic pull-out of her mind.
But as she reached the display, she felt his presence behind her. She didn't turn around, but she knew he was still there, watching. Waiting.
And just like that, she realized that for all her resolve, she wasn't quite as immune to Logan Pierce as she had hoped.
Chapter 1 The Game Begins
14/02/2025
Chapter 2 A Dangerous Game
14/02/2025
Chapter 3 The Tension Builds
14/02/2025
Chapter 4 The Walls Come Down
14/02/2025
Chapter 5 Uncharted Territory
14/02/2025
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