Taming The Charming Director

y Earl

wallowed by the wind, but not before it echoed with all the agony she had tried to bury. "How dare he throw me away like that? After everything he said

lt like it was shrinking. Crushing her in the cage of her own humiliation. It hadn't even been a week since Arsene, the man who had stolen her heart with a single look, had asked for her hand in marriage. Seven days since he knelt and told her she was his future. And

ever to set foot in the talent agency where Arsene worked. She needed answers. Closure. Something more than the deafening silence he left her with.

orm, demanding answers, but instead she was met with indifference and guards who ushered her out like

carded. Now her name was dirt. A ghost in a ta

visible, yet burning with rage. If she couldn't get to Arsene, she'd find the next best thing

ointment met her

s go

ck in th

re not on

Defeated, she climbed to the rooftop. The only place in this

fury and fatigue, danced like broken threads in a st

avens. At the absurdity of it all. At l

she sme

Bitter. Smoky. Tobacco. Fi

lone. She t

Imposing. Dressed in black like the night itself. He wasn't watching her. Not yet. But something about his stillness set ev

coolly, "Excuse me. Do you

ut the pain needed somewhere to go. Even into smoke. Her father would've slap

pond. Not a word.

not asking for charity. I'll pay." sh

, sil

inally-

rette to the ground, turned his back to her, and began t

glowing ember near her feet. Was her pri

e it

up with a smirk, and sl

led after him.

stopped.

ns, and then threw a coin that landed with a sharp clink at his fe

nge," she sai

ed by something unspoken. His eyes, when th

e," he said at last, voice deep and smoo

d her brow.

er, his eyes glinting like obsidi

's ridiculous." After that her jaw ten

he goods," he murmured, his gaze unwa

you thi

said, unfazed. "Like the others. Women who believe sadn

ling in her jaw. "You don't

something darker, more amused.

N

wand

tinctively backed away until her spine pressed again

wled, voice thick with mockery. "I think I'

Raellyn snapped, folding her arms

you're trying to seduce me, you'll have to put in more effort. I'd suggest usin

one she hadn't even enjoyed for more than a moment. It landed on the concrete with a dull flicker. She

uld not le

t on the discarded cigarette

. "Take your damn cigare

utiful, terrifying sou

n, his voice lowering into a whis

. and we will... I'll

, though the man's presence was like winter itself. His eyes, glacial blue,

d. Not if she hadn't

the frantic pace of her heartbeat or sense th

er, invading her space with a languid me

iberately-and brushed the name tag hanging from

e accessory you used to deceive everyone in this building is

in his voice that stirred an involuntary reaction inside her-unwanted,

et herself be swayed b

mission by a charming face. Not now. Not ever again. Even though, admittedly, this man didn't have the

y. The longer she looked at him, the more he resembled everything

her skin, but she recovered quickly. She caught the smug

name tag from his grasp. She took a step back, straightened her spine. "I'm Raellyn. I came here for a

sed. "And who, may I as

" she said wit

pened. "Hm...

e curve of her neck, fingers curling around her throat-not enough to hurt,

at

His fingers found her lips again, this time squeezing them with an unsettling mix

o charm her. He wa

through him

Raellyn... I have no doubt we'll meet again. Very soon. And when