Lara Hayes was never supposed to cross paths with Damien Blackwood. But with one wrong move-one dangerous job gone wrong, she's entangled in his world, under a pretense with no way out. Assigned to dig up something that would take Damien down, a secret even she doesn't understand, Lara becomes the target of the media and the people who hired her. When she's cornered, she does the only thing that might save her-she kisses Damien in front of flashing cameras, turning a deadly chase into a scandalous headline. Now, the media is on fire, and Damien's billion-dollar empire is at risk. Convinced Lara set him up, the scandal destroys her plan, leaving her with nowhere to run. But when a hidden connection between Lara and Damien's mother's past emerges, a shocking proposal forces them into a reluctant alliance. A deal is made. A marriage contract was signed. No trust. No emotions. Just a temporary solution to keep their enemies at bay. But working under Damien's control is a game of survival-especially when a rival within his company is determined to expose her, and the truth behind her assignment is darker than she ever imagined. In a world of deception, power, and secrets that could destroy them both, the most dangerous risk isn't the marriage. It's falling for the man who sees her as his greatest betrayal.
Chapter 1 The wrong place at the wrong time
Lara Hayes wasn't supposed to be here.
Not at this lavish, exclusive gala, where crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead and the rich and powerful clinked glasses filled with vintage champagne. Not in this hotel, where billion-dollar deals were made behind closed doors and secrets exchanged over whispered conversations. And most definitely not in the same room as Damien Blackwood, the very man she had been paid to spy on.
She wasn't a spy. Not really.
She was just a woman desperate to get out of a financial nightmare.
Her debts were suffocating, stacking up like a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. So when a mysterious client offered her a ridiculous sum to gather information on Damien Blackwood, she had ignored every instinct telling her to walk away. One job. One night. Get in, get the intel, and get out.
But things were already going wrong.
The plan was simple: blend in with the staff, move through the gala unnoticed, listen in on conversations, and snap a few discreet photos if needed. Her employer had been frustratingly vague about what exactly they wanted her to find, only emphasizing that anything about Blackwood's current business negotiations would be valuable.
She should have trusted her gut when she realized the job was too easy.
Because now, she was being watched.
Lara had felt it for the past twenty minutes. The weight of someone's gaze on her, tracking her movements. At first, she thought it was paranoia. Maybe the pressure was getting to her. But then she caught sight of them-two men in black suits, standing near the bar, speaking into hidden earpieces.
Blackwood's security.
Shit.
They had noticed her.
A chill ran down her spine as one of them turned in her direction. The intensity in his eyes sent a clear message: You don't belong here.
Panic surged through her, tightening around her throat.
She had to get out. Now.
Lara turned, forcing herself to move at a calm, measured pace, weaving through the elegantly dressed crowd. The orchestra's melody filled the air, mixing with the hum of idle conversation. She could still escape-if she reached the back exit, she could disappear into the staff corridors, slip out of the hotel, and this nightmare would be over.
But the second she moved, the men followed.
She quickened her pace, carefully navigating through the sea of guests without drawing too much attention. She kept her head down, her hands clenched into fists to stop them from shaking.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Unknown Number: You've been noticed. Get out.
No shit.
Her pulse pounded in her ears. She was steps away from the exit when-
A hand clamped around her wrist.
Lara spun around, her breath hitching in fear.
The man gripping her arm wasn't one of Blackwood's security, but he was definitely bad news. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his dark suit pressed to perfection. But there was something sinister in his sharp smile, the way his fingers tightened ever so slightly, like he was daring her to run.
"Going somewhere?" His voice was smooth, deceptively calm.
Lara's throat went dry.
This wasn't Blackwood's security.
This was someone else.
Someone with his own agenda.
Her stomach twisted. There was no way to know if this man was connected to her employer or a separate threat altogether. But one thing was certain-if she went with him, she wasn't coming back.
Her heart pounded. Fight or flight.
She yanked her arm free, pushing past him with all her strength.
He stumbled back, cursing, but she didn't stop to look back.
People turned in confusion as she ran, skirts swishing, champagne glasses nearly tipping as she shoved through the crowd.
"Get her!" the man growled behind her.
Lara didn't think. Didn't hesitate.
She needed a shield. Someone powerful. Someone untouchable.
Her eyes darted wildly across the room-and landed on him.
Damien Blackwood.
Tall. Dark. Dangerous.
And standing right there in the path of her escape.
Lara's body moved on instinct. She lunged toward him, grabbing the front of his suit jacket.
And before he could react-
She kissed him.
The moment their lips met, time seemed to shatter.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Flashbulbs exploded like fireworks.
For one horrifying, heart-stopping second, Lara thought Damien would push her away. That he would expose her, call security, throw her to the wolves.
Instead-
His hand came up, gripping her waist tightly.
The sheer power in that touch sent a shockwave through her. He was holding her in place. Not because he wanted to kiss her back-but because he wanted control.
Her breath caught as his fingers tightened against her hip.
His lips parted slightly, just enough for her to feel the heat of his breath against her own. But his body remained rigid, his muscles coiled beneath the expensive fabric of his suit.
Then, just as suddenly-he pulled away.
And the world erupted.
Cameras. Journalists. Guests whispering in shock.
"Who is she?"
"Is that Blackwood's mistress?"
"Did you see that?"
Lara staggered back, her chest rising and falling too fast. Her lips still burned from the sensation of his, and her pulse was a violent storm inside her veins.
She calmed herself with chants 'Breathe Lara breathe'
She looked up-
And met Damien's eyes.
They were cold. Piercing. A thunderstorm brewing in the depths of midnight.
"What," he said slowly, voice like a blade, "the fuck do you think you're doing?"
Lara opened her mouth, but no words came out.
She hadn't thought this through.
She had kissed Damien Blackwood in front of the entire world.
And now-
She was completely and utterly screwed.
As she made her way through the crowd after knocking down some of the blacmen in suits who had tried to grab her after the stunt she had pulled on Damien, she ran to the nearest restroom and changed her outfit in other to make a blissful and unnoticed escape.
Lara Hayes stumbled into the backseat of the cab, slamming the door shut with trembling fingers.
"Where to?" the driver asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
She barely heard him over the blood rushing in her ears. Her lips still tingled from the kiss-the kiss-and her chest felt like it had been cracked open, exposing every frantic, pounding heartbeat.
Damien Blackwood.
She had kissed Damien Blackwood.
In front of everyone.
The flashing cameras, the gasps, the way his fingers had tightened around her waist like he was deciding whether to pull her closer or shove her away.
A shiver tore down her spine.
She needed to get out of here.
She forced herself to swallow, to think, to push past the lingering heat of his touch and focus. Survival. That was the only thing that mattered right now.
She rattled off her apartment's address, her voice uneven, raw. The cabbie didn't question it-he simply nodded and pulled into the night traffic, leaving the glowing grandeur of the Blackwood Hotel behind.
But Lara couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't alone.
Her gaze flickered to the side mirror, catching sight of a sleek black SUV merging onto the road behind them. Tinted windows. Low beams. Following.
Shit.
Her fingers dug into her dress as she exhaled slowly. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Maybe it was nothing.
But she'd felt those eyes on her all night.
And now she'd gone and made herself a spectacle.
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