A DEAL WITH THE DEVILISH BILLIONAIRE

an rolled effortlessly off his tongue, and Ava could feel the weight of every pair of ey

something

e could sense the tension radiating from him. Whether it was adre

a handful, and it was like a punishment, but she got through the pain, learned the language to a reaso

n flowing smoothly as she answered Rossi's query. She gestured delicat

proval. "Magnifico," he said, offering a slow clap. "Your father m

her knees wobble beneath her gown. She managed to ma

d as the party resumed its hum of chatter. He didn't say anything, b

*

amien introduced Ava to more of his associates. Each interaction became a test of her a

ned to her. His expression was calm, almost indifferent,

, his voice measured. "

her tone sharper than she intend

pared to what's ahead. Rossi will report back to his network, and the sc

of the lie she was living. "I'm aware of what's at

ning slightly. "Get some rest.

walked away, leaving her standing al

*

a shaky sigh. The room was stunning and far more luxurious than anything she had ever known. The king

f it felt

ht replayed in her mind, each moment a reminder of how far she was from her old life. She thought of her father

ody. She had always been strong for her family, always the one to hold things t

came to check on her, and she doubted anyone even noticed her absence. She was

tless sleep, her dreams haunted by images of her parents

*

ami

as he stared out at the city lights. He replayed the events of the night

crumble under the pressure, but instead, she had risen to the o

Perhaps there was more to

was purely transactional, and emotions had no place in his care

image of her standing beside him, her emerald dress shimmering under

ndow and returned to his desk. The real gam

*

Av

the window. For a moment, she felt disoriented, the unfamiliar sur

of the previous night. Her eyes were puffy from

her. "Miss Moretti," a voice

replied, though s

amien's team had provided. As she made her way down

ping coffee and scrolling through his phone. He lo

ng," he sai

lied, taking a sea

ired," Dami

. "I didn't

his tone cool. "This life i

see how much his words stung. She picked a

last night," Damien

" Ava sa

head," he added. "One slip,

ng over. "I know what's at stake, Damie

her defiance. But instead of retaliating, he

day might bring. She had chosen this path to save her family, an

dn't shake the feeling that she had stepped into a worl

t exactly, but she knew there wa