Maya adjusted her dress as she stepped out of her sleek car, her pulse quickening. The towering gates of Robert’s estate stood before her, a symbol of everything opulent yet unattainable in her life. She hesitated for a moment, clutching her purse tightly. She knew this wasn’t just about fun anymore. It hadn’t been for a while. But as much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, the flutter in her chest every time she saw Robert was undeniable.
The driveway stretched endlessly, lined with pristine hedges and marble statues that whispered wealth and power. Maya had been here before—many times—but tonight, something felt different. She wasn’t sure if it was the way Robert had sounded on the phone earlier, his voice rich with amusement, or the way her heart seemed to race without reason.
