Aria’s POV
The lipstick still stained the rim of my glass when Damien pulled me through the doors of that event. His event. Another empire launch, another “legitimate” company for his empire to wear as a mask. People in suits, women in gowns, the kind of people who called him “sir” and smiled too wide when he passed.
But me? I didn’t care about any of it.
I only cared about him.
Tonight wasn’t about power or speeches or whatever company name glowed in gold letters behind him. Tonight was mine.
I chose silk that clung like it was painted on me, cut low enough that his jaw ticked when I walked out of the room. My heels clicked slow on marble, my perfume leaving a trail of smoke and flowers, and every step I took I made sure he felt it.
I sat at his table, legs crossed, my thigh brushin
