Chapter 1: The Elevator Ride
The rain hit the New York pavement in sharp taps, the city shimmering under streetlights and late-night traffic. Camille Hart pulled her coat tighter around her, cursing herself for choosing heels on a stormy evening. She’d just finished an exhausting shift at the art gallery and was on her way to the penthouse suite of the Delacroix Tower—where her best friend had begged her to deliver a forgotten phone.
The building was sleek, modern, and intimidating. Camille had never stepped foot past the lobby before, but tonight, her name was on the guest list.
She stepped into the gold-lined elevator, smoothing her damp curls behind her ear. Just as the doors were about to shut, a hand stopped them—and then he walked in.
Tall, sinfully handsome, and tailored in a dark Armani suit that screamed power, the man barely glanced at her. His jaw was sharp, his lips pressed in a firm line, and his cologne hit her like an electric current—warm, rich, and absolutely intoxicating.
Her breath caught. He didn’t press a button.
“Going to the top?” she asked, voice softer than she intended.
He turned. Eyes the color of stormy oceans met hers, sharp and assessing. “Always.”
Camille blinked.
The elevator began its climb.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you here before,” he said finally, voice low and velvety.
“I don’t usually deliver phones to penthouses,” she replied, trying to ignore the way her stomach fluttered.
His lips quirked. “Lucky night for me, then.”
Camille let out a soft laugh, surprised at how bold he was.
Before she could respond, the elevator jolted slightly—then stopped.
The lights flickered. They weren’t moving.
“Seriously?” she muttered, slamming the emergency button.
He leaned against the mirrored wall, calm as ever. “Don’t worry. These things usually fix themselves.”
Camille frowned, pacing slightly. “I don’t have time to be stuck in here.”
“Maybe the universe is giving us a moment.”
She turned to him. “A moment?”
He stepped forward, just enough to make her heart hammer. “A moment to slow down. To talk. Or maybe... to see what kind of trouble two strangers can get into when no one’s watching.”
Her breath hitched.
Who the hell was this man?