Chapter 1: Arrival
God… I stepped out of that stupid town car and the cold just slapped me. Sharp. Mean. Snow swirling everywhere under those bright lights like someone shook the whole damn sky. Red carpet, actual velvet... under my heels, and the photographers were already going off. Flash. Flash. Flash. I yanked my black coat tighter around me but Victor was right there, arm out like it was nothing. Step-uncle escorting his step-niece to the company Christmas thing. Totally normal. Except it never is. Not with us.
He looked… f**k, he looked insane. Tux hugging those shoulders perfectly, silver threading through his hair now, that same calm smile he gives everyone cameras, board members, me when I was sixteen and he caught me staring too long. I slid my arm through his anyway. His heat
