The Proposal he never wanted

Chapter 1 – The Man in the Shadows The ballroom smelled like money. Not the crisp, fresh scent of banknotes, but the heady mix of champagne, imported cologne, and the quiet arrogance of old wealth. Aria Daniels adjusted the strap of her black dress, clutching her press badge like it was her only weapon which, in a way, it was. She’d been sent to cover the Westbrook Charity Gala, a glittering event that promised free food, polite smiles, and behind-the-scenes corruption. She’d done her research. Damian Westbrook thirty-two, heir to Westbrook Holdings, and infamous for dodging cameras and commitment with equal skill. The man was as elusive as a shadow, but tonight, he was the story. Aria scanned the crowd, her journalist’s instincts prickling. The city’s elite were laughing too hard, drinking too much, hiding too well. And then she saw him. Damian. Leaning casually against a marble column, dressed in a midnight suit that looked carved for him alone. His dark hair was neatly swept back, his sharp jaw catching the chandelier’s light. His eyes cold, assessing found hers across the room. It was like being pinned under a spotlight. She looked away first. Mistake. When she turned back, he was gone. “Miss Daniels?” She spun to find him standing in front of her, close enough that his cologne smoky, clean, dangerous filled her lungs. “You’ve been looking for me,” he said, his voice a low baritone that carried both curiosity and warning. “Occupational hazard,” she replied, trying not to fidget under his gaze. “I’m here to ask questions.” “I’m here to avoid them.” Their eyes locked, and for a moment, it wasn’t a gala anymore it was a game, and neither of them had decided who would win. But games end. “I suggest you stop digging into things that don’t concern you, Miss Daniels,” he murmured. “Or you might not like what you find.” “And I suggest,” she said, stepping closer, “that if there’s nothing to hide, you shouldn’t be worried about me finding it.” For the briefest second, something like a smirk tugged at his lips. But then, like smoke, it was gone. “Careful, Aria.” He used her name like a secret. “You might just dig yourself into a hole you can’t climb out of.” Before she could respond, a hand touched his shoulder. An older man his father, billionaire Henry Westbrook whispered something into his ear. Damian’s expression darkened, but he gave Aria one last, unreadable glance before walking away. She didn’t know it then, but that look would change her life.