s'

ficial stars, stretching all the way from the desert's edge to the curvin

tude welcomed me home. This mansion-three floors, marble interiors, and a private beach that glimmere

m, shrugging it off and tossing it onto the nearest leather chair. I made my

beneath me, kissed by the soft white waves that crawled in like wh

ing and exhaled sl

ologies, or the press conference I had to give in less than forty-eight hours. I should be th

nd was stuck

h

d to blame me for it. Or maybe I blamed her. It was hard to recall now, with how chaotic the exchange had been. All I reme

li

s best

past couple of months. She had shown me he

self and pushed

Rotten attitud

t wasn't bought-something natural and unteachable. But that attitude? The way she stood t

sn't goi

e as hell wasn't going to let some fashion-obsessed w

muttered under my b

ors. The water hit my skin like clarity-hot, cleansing, and necessary. I stood there for longer than I intended, lettin

ir, her face lingered in the corners o

. The room was sharp-dark wood, metal finishes, a black matte desk, and floor-to-cei

alfway through reviewing an inve

ar

answered with a smirk. "Shou

peaker. "Stop calling me that.

," I said, stretching.

e said, laughi

t go

need to h

s sounds

ut what happened

y. "So this is a

an Zoli

olly. "She spilled

he was viewing a dress, and you-Mr. No Apology N

t like I didn't offer to pay for the dress. She denied th

ade it sound like you were the victim. Seriously, Eros? She wa

my nose. "Why are we s

o do something for he

got my

ly are you

vara said. "She's insanely talented-like, runway-

d, raising an eyebrow

gested

really think I'm going to hand money over

money. She needs it to

t's in i

dustry, for one. Diversification. And mayb

eally don't

you listen when I don

ightly. Tha

reed to consider you after thinking it t

laptop, but the report I'd bee

hink ab

ask," Evara re

teasing, some catching up-bef

o shut down my screens and call it a night,

w I'm not crazy.

were si

's ske

ren't just dresses-they were statements. There was something deliberate i

t have talent.

e I'd met her, I saw someth

ngth gown with structured shoulders, a deep V neckline, and in

ngth gown with structured shoulders, a deep V neckline, and in

s no den

an had s

d. Powerful

dn't like admitting, even to myself. The girl I dismissed as prideful and annoying-she h

te and clean sketches making up an impressive outfit. Desig

, pouring out designs no one knew about, betting everythin

logic and raw precision. Every move was calculated, every risk minimi

ok my

falling into th

action. It was business. At most, curiosity. A

but picked it up again. I dialed the

ito, who do I need to find?" Pablo was my PI

tion you can get on Zolina Lanconi

ou could have done thi

myself attached. I didn't want to giv

ren't I?" I tell hi

soon as possible." With that, I hung u

uld buy. My room was dimly lit by the blue glow of the moon peeking through the edge of the blinds. The

considering investing. Would she gloat? Would she still hate me? O

hoped she s

eep boundaries whe

own, I alr

f storm you didn't wa

't sure I

t

ev