THE LAST SHOOTING STAR

ttention of the one man who doesn't b

closed. "Ryan Wint

. "You sure

d. "I'm no

hrough the rearview mi

she wa

she knew it. She just

the business world. I.V.

m Hollywood to Paris, from Dubai to Tokyo, the elite fought to be the first to own an I.V.Y collection. E

it from the gr

That's wha

was already shaking the fashion wor

behind the empire that set

And her two childhood

red her more th

hion mogul. She was the secret weapon of the corporate world, a highly

aped the benefits of her genius. And yet, no one in those companies not the employees

eve. And she did it in the shadows, never stepping into the sp

atching as she gazed out the window,

. Cold. U

s ridi

ected her more t

in, his voice lighter now, teasing. "You

rted. "Ex

loth cold, powerful, and ruthless when it comes to your empires. You dominate

er eyes. "Oh,

u'd either destroy each other or rule the world together." He glanced at he

hed a bro

dened. "He was

hich elite does

esigner he's unknowingly obsessed with is the same woman rejecting h

there was something dange

is teasing, she turned her head to him, a s

n the car's armrest, chin propped against her palm. "If

stif

need someone on my level, didn't you?" Her voice dropped

d the steeri

e conversation, he was t

sweat slid do

ly walked i

eyes fixed on the road. "What's wrong, Louis?" she dra

easured breath, nostril

ike you want to throw y

itted hi

mn

wn better. Irene n

eback sharp, dangero

elf to relax. "Yo

She placed a hand over her chest. "How cruel

d his jaw. "S

d." She sighed, shaking her head. "If only I

ng the wheel even tig

so soon? I thought you were se

le, one that barely hid his frust

g utterly pleased with he

y cursing himself for ever te

new one thin

ever let him

THE

t, the lingering echo of her presence refusing to fade. He didn't move

something

ing. And it wasn'

like he was nothing. Like he di

s dang

way most

was dangerous beca

him. Not a

was irritatin

ought she had dismi

Lanc

adn't just shown up to the ball

ulat

scattering of early arrivals meaning fewer eyes had been on her. And when she left? The party was in full

ev

t she had minimized attention, kept her pre

was

ome people turned toward them when they

t he knew some ha

nfirm it. A man like him, a woman like her i

y picture what tomo

her. Plastered all

op and Iren

billionaire final

is s

tness the star

peculatio

destroyed headlines before, made articles disappear, ensured tha

this

smirk crept o

ldn't

pread. Let it circula

anted to see

she

Would she be irritate

erase herself f

ting here toni

was

smirk d

rned back toward the ballroom. The moment

ough the crowd,

straightened their postures, their eyes lighting up

ut in hushed voices, admired from afar. C

onight, h

uls attempted

p, I was won

n a long time!

p, we should

less side before shivered an

dn't

n't sl

even glanc

them like the

ed for him lik

one destinat

event, stood near the VIP lounge, deep in conversation with a business associate. He was leaning s

appro

ontinued speaking. "No, list

e glan

fr

ghtly, confusion fl

th

ed on h

small, su

o

len