...Main Characters:...

Cecilia Monroe – A sharp, fearless journalist with a love for trouble and sarcasm.

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Damon Sinclair – CEO of Lux & Sinclair, a darkly magnetic yet morally ambiguous man.

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Lucas Hayes – A relentless detective with a past connection to Cecilia, determined to protect her.

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Selene Carter – Cecilia’s confident best friend and a hacker with a wild side.

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Adrian Knight – Damon’s right-hand man, who hides dangerous secrets.

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Vanessa Kingsley – Damon’s ex-fiancée, who will do anything to get him back.

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This story will have intense romance, unexpected betrayals, thrilling twists, and steamy chemistry....

The clinking of champagne glasses, the murmur of hushed conversations, and the scent of wealth thick in the air—Lux & Sinclair’s annual gala was in full swing.

Dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, Cecilia Monroe moved through the crowd with effortless grace. To the outside world, she belonged here—just another privileged guest sipping expensive champagne under a chandelier worth more than a city block. But she wasn’t one of them.

She was here on a mission.

Her target? Damon Sinclair.

As the powerful and enigmatic CEO of Lux & Sinclair, an elite security firm, Damon was untouchable. He lived in the shadows, a man surrounded by wealth, secrets, and rumors of crimes no one could prove. Money laundering. Illegal arms deals. Maybe even murder. Cecilia had been digging for months, chasing whispers and half-truths, and now she was finally close.

Her gaze flicked toward the grand staircase. And there he was.

Damon Sinclair.

Tall. Commanding. Dangerous.

Even in a room filled with the city’s elite, he stood apart—his presence impossible to ignore. Dressed in a sharp black suit, he oozed confidence, his piercing gray eyes scanning the room like a predator surveying its domain. Dark, slightly tousled hair framed a face that was all sharp lines and raw masculinity.

Cecilia had seen pictures of him before, but nothing prepared her for the real thing.

Her pulse quickened. Whether from nerves or something more dangerous, she wasn’t sure.

“Enjoying the view?”

The familiar voice made her freeze.

Turning slightly, she found herself face-to-face with Lucas Hayes.

Her childhood friend-turned-rival detective. The one man who knew her well enough to see through her lies.

He looked as annoyingly handsome as ever, his brown eyes filled with amusement and something else—suspicion.

Cecilia forced a smirk. “Lucas. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Didn’t know you had an interest in high-society events.”

She sipped her champagne. “I have my ways.”

Lucas’s smirk faded. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Ceci. Sinclair isn’t the kind of man you can outmaneuver.”

Her stomach tightened, but she kept her expression neutral. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lucas exhaled, stepping closer. “I know you, Cecilia. You’re not here for the free champagne.”

Before she could respond, a deep, commanding voice silenced the room.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight.”

Damon Sinclair.

His voice sent a shiver down her spine—smooth, confident, full of quiet power. Every conversation in the ballroom hushed as he spoke, his presence alone demanding attention.

Cecilia turned her gaze back to him, her journalist instincts kicking in.

This was the man she had to get close to.

This was the man she had to take down.

And if the way his eyes lingered on her for just a second was any indication—Damon Sinclair had already noticed her.

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To be continued....

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Cecilia could still feel Damon Sinclair’s gaze on her long after he had finished speaking. It was unsettling, the way his sharp gray eyes had flickered to her in a room full of powerful people, as if he knew exactly who she was.

As the gala resumed its hum of conversations and clinking glasses, Lucas leaned in close, his voice just above a whisper. “That was dangerous.”

She arched a brow. “What was?”

Lucas scoffed. “Don’t play dumb, Ceci. You caught Sinclair’s attention.”

She swirled the champagne in her glass, keeping her expression cool. “Maybe he just finds me charming.”

“Or maybe he knows you’re snooping around his empire.” Lucas’s voice was sharp, edged with concern. “You should leave before you get in over your head.”

Cecilia met his gaze, the familiar fire of challenge burning in her chest. “Too late for that.”

Lucas sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Damn it, Ceci—”

“Miss Monroe.”

A deep, commanding voice interrupted, sending a jolt through her.

She turned to find herself face-to-face with Damon Sinclair.

Up close, he was even more devastatingly intense. His sharp features were chiseled in the soft glow of the chandeliers, his gray eyes studying her with an unreadable expression. The scent of expensive cologne and something inherently him curled around her senses.

Cecilia swallowed. She had faced dangerous men before, but none like him.

Damon’s lips curled into a slight smirk. “I don’t believe we’ve officially met.”

Cecilia tilted her chin, keeping her voice steady. “Cecilia Monroe.”

He took her hand, his grip firm but not forceful. “Damon Sinclair.”

As if she didn’t already know.

His touch was warm, his fingers brushing against her skin just long enough to make her pulse tick up.

Lucas cleared his throat, stepping closer. “Sinclair.”

Damon’s gaze flickered to him, unimpressed. “Detective Hayes.”

Tension crackled between them. Cecilia could practically feel the weight of unspoken history.

Damon turned his attention back to her. “I’d like to have a private word with you, Miss Monroe.”

Lucas stiffened. “She’s busy.”

Cecilia flashed a sweet smile. “Actually, I’m free.”

Lucas shot her a look, but she ignored it. If Damon Sinclair wanted to talk, she would listen.

Damon gestured toward a hallway leading to the private rooms. “Shall we?”

She nodded, following him without hesitation.

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The private office was sleek, modern, and impersonal—like the man himself. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the city skyline, and a dark wooden desk sat at the center of the room.

Damon closed the door behind her, his gaze unreadable.

“You’re not just here for the party.” His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it. “Are you, Miss Monroe?”

Her stomach tightened, but she kept her expression calm. “You’re quite direct, Mr. Sinclair.”

His smirk was slow, dangerous. “I don’t have time for games.”

Cecilia crossed her arms. “Then let’s be honest. Why did you bring me here?”

Damon stepped closer, the air between them growing charged. “Because I know exactly who you are.”

Her breath caught, but she forced herself to stay still. “Oh?”

He leaned in, his voice a whisper against her ear.

“And I have a proposition for you.”

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