The Prince I Love to Hate The Heir Affair Book One

CHAPTER 1: THE ART OF DECEPTION

Sophia Carter stood outside the towering glass-and-steel headquarters of Blackwood Enterprises, her eyes fixed on the name etched in silver across the entrance. The building seemed to pierce the sky, its sleek design exuding power and sophistication. But Sophia wasn't intimidated. She had a mission.

For years, she had been perfecting the delicate touch required to restore priceless works of art. The patience, the precision, the ability to see beyond the surface-these were the skills that made her a brilliant art conservator. But tonight, she was using them for something else entirely.

She adjusted the navy blue blazer she had borrowed for the occasion, smoothing out the creases as she walked inside. The lobby was exactly what she expected-luxurious, polished, and impersonal. A receptionist, poised and professional, barely glanced at her before directing her to the 30th floor, where her interview was scheduled to take place.

Sophia forced a polite smile and stepped into the elevator, her heart pounding. This wasn't just a job interview. It was a chance to infiltrate the Blackwood empire and uncover the truth about her father's death.

A once-respected art dealer, her father had been ruined by a scandal involving forged paintings-paintings that had mysteriously disappeared into the hands of Blackwood Enterprises before he died under suspicious circumstances. His downfall had destroyed their family, and Sophia had sworn to uncover the truth, no matter what it took.

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and Sophia stepped into a sleek, modern office space. The receptionist directed her to a waiting area, where sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows over the polished marble floors.

Her pulse quickened as she glanced around the office. Damian Blackwood's office was just beyond those glass doors. Sophia took a deep breath and reminded herself of her role-she wasn't here as a grieving daughter or a woman seeking revenge. She was Sophia Carter, a skilled art conservator, and she needed this job.

Once she was inside the Blackwood empire, she would finally find the truth. And then, she would bring them down.

Sophia's eyes wandered to the artwork on the walls, a mix of modern and contemporary pieces that seemed to be worth a small fortune. She recognized a few of the artists, but there were others she had never seen before. Her trained eye picked out the subtle details, the brushstrokes, the textures.

As she waited, Sophia's mind began to wander back to her father. She remembered the way he used to smile when he talked about art, the way his eyes lit up when he discovered a new piece. He had been a good man, a man who had loved his family and his art with equal passion.