As I settled into my seat, the lingering gaze I'd felt the moment I stepped into the room became impossible to ignore. My eyes, almost compelled, lifted to meet the pair that had been consuming my presence, as if drinking in every detail of my arrival. Perfect. A perfect blend of light brown, almost golden, with subtle greenish flecks. Framed by lashes so long and dark, I felt a pang of irrational envy. There was a chilling similarity in our eyes—both held a cold, impenetrable quality, utterly devoid of overt emotion. The eye contact stretched, far longer than politeness dictated, before I forced myself to break it, looking away. "Elise. It's a pleasure to see you in person." His voice. Deep. Smooth. Calm. It resonated with an unexpected power. "Enjoy the dinner," I offered, my tone deliberately cold, an ice wall meant to end the conversation. Was that rude? I hoped so. I lowered my gaze, forcing my attention to my plate, but I could feel his eyes on me still, a tangible weight, burning holes into my very soul. And what did he mean by 'in person'? The question snagged in my mind. He must have a girlfriend. I was certain of it. I stared into his eyes, my jaw clenching. Cocky. I hated that arrogant self-assurance. I swallowed down the surge of anger, met his gaze, and said, with every ounce of confidence I could muster, "I have a boyfriend." ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "I have a boyfriend," she declared, her eyes fixed on mine. I struggled to even focus on her words, so captivated was I by the flicker of defiance that ignited those depths. A genuine chuckle escaped my lips, a soft, disbelieving sound. I shook my head, my smirk widening. "You're a terrible liar, Elise." "I can't cook," she tried again, her voice flat, meeting my gaze defiantly. "You don't need to," I countered smoothly. "I can hire a cook for both of us." "I don't clean either," she continued, pushing. I took another deliberate step closer, encroaching on her personal space. "I'm not looking for a maid in disguise of a wife, Elise," I said, my voice calm but laced with a clear finality, leaning slightly into her face. She visibly flinched, shrinking back a fraction, and blinked, finally looking away from me. I wished, fiercely, that she would look into my eyes just then, allowing me even a glimpse into those elusive brown depths. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Elise Milton has perfected the art of being a "closed book." After a life defined by expectations, she's learned to keep her emotions locked away behind a wall of cold indifference. It’s her defense, her shield, her only hope of survival. But her carefully constructed world shatters when she's betrothed to Austin Alderidge, a man who sees through her facade with unnerving ease. Austin is charming, determined, and entirely unwilling to accept her icy rejection. He’s a man who gets what he wants, and he wants her—every complicated, hidden piece of her. Elise has a choice: play the perfect fiancée and lose the last vestiges of her identity, or fight against an arrangement that's meant to bring two families together. As their forced proximity ignites a dangerous game of push and pull, she finds herself facing the one thing she feared most: a man who is ready to burn the world down to get to her heart.