A love born of scandal

"This is crazy," Rachel mumbles, holding onto Amelia's arm. "guess who is over there? Adrian Sinclair just right there looking handsome as always."

Amelia followed her gaze to a man standing near the bar. Adrian Sinclair was exactly as the tabloids described-imposing in a sharp navy blue suit, his presence effortlessly commanding. He wasn't laughing like the others, just listening, his expression unreadable. People gravitated toward him, eager to impress. He barely acknowledged them.

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Looks like a man who's used to people kissing his ass."

Rachel giggled. "you know when you're that powerful, I guess you get used to it." She nudged Amelia playfully. "Maybe he'll notice you."

"Not interested," Amelia muttered, scanning the room for anyone more approachable. She needed connections, not arrogance.

Before she could utter any other word, Rachel tensed up beside her. "Oh my God, Ethan Blackwood is coming over here."

Amelia had little time to process before Ethan appeared in front of them with a captivating smile. "Ladies," he greeted effortlessly, his eyes settling on Rachel. "Enjoying the party?"

Rachel Flustered, "It's awesome. I can't believe we're really here."

Ethan laughed. "Well, it's only going to get better. There's a private suite upstairs-exclusive guest list. I can connect you to some very influential people." His gaze locked onto Rachel's. "You have a look that could take you places."

Rachel's breath hitched, "That's very kind of you, but we're fine here," Amelia said immediately.

Ethan's smiled, but he ignored her. "Rachel?"

she paused for a moment before agreeing. "i will be back soon," she whispered to Amelia. "This could change everything."

Amelia wanted to stop her, but Rachel was already following Ethan through the crowd, disappearing up a grand staircase, while Adrian followed briefly.

Thirty minutes passed.

Amelia took a small sips of her wine as she got tensed. She turned her gaze toward Adrian's usual spot near the bar only to find it empty.

A flicker of confusion crossed her mind. He had been standing there just moments ago.

Frowning she analyzes the ballroom, searching for Adrian.

she saw Rachel, standing at the far end of the balcony, conversing with a man in a navy blue suit.

Amelia couldn't see his face clearly from her standing point, but something about his posture toward Rachel, the way he touches her wrist-set off a quiet alarm in her head.

She was about to move closer when a group of casting directors stepped into her line of sight. By the time she shifted again to get a better look, Rachel was gone.

She assumed Rachel was probably enjoying the party way more than she thought.

When Rachel returned-except she wasn't the same girl who had left-Amelia's unease solidified into something much darker.

Her best friend's face was pale, her hands trembling as she latched onto Amelia's wrist with bruising force.

"We need to go," Rachel choked out.

Amelia turned fully, her stomach dropping at the sheer terror in Rachel's eyes.

"What happened?"

Rachel swallowed hard. "Adrian Sinclair... he-he tried to-" She let out a broken breath, shaking her head. "I barely got away."

Amelia's blood ran cold.

Adrian? But she had seen Rachel with the man in the navy blue suit, was he Adrian.

Her gaze flicked back toward the bar, and sure enough Adrian Sinclair stood there, his phone in hand.

A terrible realization clawed at the edges of her mind.

anger burned through her, Without thinking, she grabbed her phone.

This man thought he was untouchable.

He was about to learn otherwise

Amelia's fingers glided over her phone screen as her heart echoed in her ears. The party buzzed but it all felt distant. Rachel sat beside her, knees pulled up on the plush hotel couch, her eyes red and unfocused.

"He locked me in," Rachel whispered, her voice barely heard over the noise outside. "I-I thought I'd be safe. He said he just wanted to talk."

Amelia tightens her fists. Her heart racing with anger and disbelief. "You don't have to do this alone i am here for you," Amelia said.

Rachel paused uncertainly, scanning the ballroom doors as if the monster himself might walk in.

Then, with a deep breath, Amelia opened her phone.

The screen cast a cold glow against her face as she typed. Warning to every woman in this industry: Adrian Sinclair is not the man he pretends to be.

Her throat tightened. She hesitated, thumb hovering over the "post" button. This was Adrian Sinclair-billionaire, media mogul, untouchable. A single accusation could set her entire life on fire.

But then she glanced at Rachel, trembling, broken.

Amelia hit post.

A second passed. Then another.

Nothing happened.

Suddenly realizing her hands were shaking, She let out a sharp sigh, "It's done," she whispered, gripping Rachel's hand.

Rachel barely nodded. "Maybe-maybe no one will see it right away," she murmured. "Maybe we have time to-"

Her phone vibrated violently in her lap.

Then again. And again.

Amelia's breath caught as her notifications exploded. Dozens of messages. Hundreds of comments. The post was already spreading.

And then-like a shift in the air-she felt the weight of the room change.

The party, once lively and carefree, was suddenly tense. Guests whispered behind raised champagne glasses. A few turned toward the far end of the ballroom.

Amelia followed their gazes, her stomach dropping.

Standing by the bar holding his phone, Adrian Sinclair expression was unreadable, but his grip on the glass tightened, nearly cracking it.

Then he slowly looked up.

Their eyes met.

A chill ran down Amelia's spine but she didn't show it.

He didn't speak or move. But his stare was suffocating, a silent promise of consequences she hadn't even begun to imagine.

Rachel tugged on her arm. "Amelia-"

Too late.

Adrian started walking.

The crowd parted for him involuntarily, silence following his every step.

Amelia swallowed hard but stood her ground.

When he finally reached her, he leaned in close and calm.

He spoke in a low voice, but the danger in it was evident, "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

Her stomach twisted, but Amelia said nothing

He exhaled a slow, humorless breath then smiled but It wasn't comforting.

"You've made a mistake," he murmured.

A shiver ran through her.

And doubt began to creep in for the first time since she'd hit post. Because something in Adrian Sinclair's eyes told her-this wasn't over.