The Billionaire's fragrance

rtainty washed over her. The event was more glamorous than anything she had ever imagined. The chandeliers, dripping with crystals, cast a wa

Ruby wasn't foolish. She knew she didn't belong here. The wealthy, the powerful, the beautiful-they all seemed to glide effortlessly through the room,

er designer gown-she didn't own one. Her dress, sleek and simple, was a rental, but its elegance was far more understa

s. As she sipped, her gaze wandered around the room, falling upon clusters of people deep in conversation, all to

hen she

a

ntuating broad shoulders and a trim waist, the crisp white shirt beneath adding a striking contrast. The crowd seemed to part around him as if they instinctivel

ut it was his eyes-sharp, assessing, and deeply intense-that caught her attention. He wasn't like the others, the kind of man who

hey inevitably found their way back to him. Who was he? His aura was almost overpowering-self-assured, pe

or a brief moment

beat longer than necessary. It felt as though he could see right through her, peeling away her layers, exp

faded into the background. The conversations around her blurred, and suddenly, she felt even

r breath caught in her throat. There was something about the way he looked at her, something that stirred a strange mix of curiosity and appreh

wander to the vast chandeliers above, the intricate floral arrangements on the tables, the grand staircase leading to the second f

his intense gaz

There y

a bright smile. Clarissa was everything Ruby wasn't-confident, glamorous, and perfectly at home in a room full of mi

g her arm through Ruby's. "There are a few people

dn't help but sneak one more glance in his direction, only to find that he had disappeared. A pang of disap

Ruby along toward a group of inve

aking hands and exchanging polite conversation, the image of Zane remained etched in her thoughts. T

crowd. He hadn't reappeared, and with each passing minute, the evening seemed to grow duller. The champagne didn't help. Neither did

uneventful night, Clarissa leaned in, whispe

skipped a bea

ling with amusement. "I saw the way you two exchanged g

eful for the dim l

ueezing her arm. "Men like him, they're sharks, but you can't let t

ind. Maybe that's what he was. Dang

a said, flashing her a quick smile. "But I'm telling you, keep y

d around the ballroom one last time, but there was no sign of the mysterious man wh

ve, a lingering thought

feel like their paths wer

this brief encounter