Beneath The Marble Skies

The city buzzed with the hum of life—traffic, the distant sound of construction, the occasional laugh of someone walking by. But for Emery Lane, it all blurred into a white noise of ambition. Her heels clicked against the polished marble floor as she entered the prestigious Penthouse Suite of the Ritz-Carlton, her heart pounding in time with the rhythm of her steps. This was it—the chance she’d been waiting for. The contract she’d secured for the Gala Designs event was her ticket out of the grind. No more late-night shifts, no more scraping by to make rent. Tonight, she’d prove she was more than just the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. She adjusted the strap of her dress, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in her stomach. The gala she was about to attend wasn’t just any social event—it was the most important event of the year for New York’s elite, and Kade Kensington was the man in charge of the night. The billionaire CEO of Kensington Enterprises had an eye for detail, and the design firm he had contracted for the event was top-tier—until, of course, she ruined it. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kensington,” the voice of her boss, a frazzled woman named Olivia, echoed in her ear as she adjusted her sleek black gown. “The details for the auction items weren’t finalized properly, and now the display’s out of order. Can you help fix it?” But before Emery could respond, a tall figure appeared before her—blond, sharp jawline, and a gaze that could pierce through the deepest secrets. Kade Kensington. He towered over her, his ice-blue eyes locking with hers like a lion staring down its prey. “You must be Miss Lane,” he said, voice smooth as silk, but with a cutting edge to it. “I assume you’re the one responsible for this disaster.” Emery’s heart skipped a beat. She fought to maintain composure. She had heard of him, of course. Who hadn’t? Kade Kensington was the most feared name in the business world, a self-made billionaire who had taken his family’s fortune to unimaginable heights. He was the kind of man who dominated rooms, businesses, and hearts. “I—” she started, her voice betraying her nerves for just a second. “The display—there was a miscommunication on the—” “Do you even understand what’s at stake here?” he cut her off, his gaze narrowing. The contempt in his voice was like a slap. “I don’t tolerate incompetence, Miss Lane. You’ve embarrassed me, my company, and this entire event.” Emery felt the sting of his words, but she wasn’t about to back down. She wasn’t some pawn for him to play with. “I didn’t create the mistake, Mr. Kensington. I’m here to fix it.” His lips curved into a humorless smile. “I don’t care how you fix it. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Before she could retort, he turned, his tailored suit billowing with his swift exit. Her gaze followed him, the air heavy with an unmistakable mix of tension and something else she couldn’t quite place. The gala was already in full swing, but she barely noticed the people swirling around her, the music, or the dazzling lights. She focused on the table she needed to fix—the one Kade had just so casually dismissed. This was her moment. One mistake from the event’s star designer, and she would be back to square one. She had no intention of letting him win. The evening wore on, and as the auction began, so did the consequences of her mistake. The display was a mess, and she could feel the eyes of the guests on her. It was a nightmare. Then, it happened. Kade Kensington stood by the stage, his eyes scanning the room with precision. He was the picture of power, effortlessly commanding the attention of everyone in the room. But as his gaze shifted toward her, it felt like he was staring through her, into the very depths of her failures. Emery’s breath caught in her throat as she stood there, holding the auction piece in her hands, preparing to announce it. And then, the unthinkable happened. The lights flickered, the sound system buzzed, and the main auction item—her design—fell from its pedestal. A hush fell over the crowd, and Kade’s eyes locked with hers again. This time, there was no mistaking the anger in his stare. The room seemed to hold its breath. “You really are a walking disaster, Miss Lane,” he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear. Emery’s stomach churned. She had to fix this. She had to. But before she could move, the ground beneath her seemed to shift. “Get it together,” she whispered to herself. “Don’t let him see you break.” The next few moments passed in a blur. She rushed to repair the damage, her hands trembling slightly. But as the last bit of the display came together, she realized something—Kade was watching her. Watching her struggle. And just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Spinning around, she came face-to-face with Kade once again. He was closer than she’d ever expected—too close. She could smell the faint scent of his cologne, feel the warmth of his presence pressing in on her. “Congratulations, Miss Lane,” he said softly, his tone deceptively calm. “You’ve completely ruined everything.” His words hung in the air like a deadly promise. Just when she thought the worst was over, Kade took another step closer, his voice lowering to a near whisper. “You’ve made a terrible mistake tonight, and now you’re going to fix it… or I’ll make sure no one in this industry ever works with you again.” The weight of Kade’s words hit her like a shot put . “You’ll regret this, Miss Lane.” But before Emery could respond, a woman’s voice interrupted. “Mr. Kensington, a word?” Kade turned away, his gaze lingering on her just long enough to make her stomach tighten. Vanessa Hawthorne, the woman who’d interrupted, watched her with an unreadable expression before following Kade. Emery’s heart hammered in her chest. You’ll regret this? No, he would regret underestimating her. But her thoughts were interrupted as Olivia, her frazzled boss, rushed over, panic in her eyes. “Emery, what the hell did you do? This is our biggest client!” “I’ll fix it,” Emery bit out, turning to deal with the mess. But just as she moved, the lights flickered, dimming the entire room into an unsettling shadow. When the lights came back on, the stage was different. The centerpiece—the one Kade had just criticized—was gone, replaced by a sleek, black-and-gold sculpture. It was perfect. And then she saw the nameplate: “Designed by Emery Lane.” Her stomach twisted. That wasn’t hers. It couldn’t be. As she turned to Kade, she saw him standing near the auction table, watching her with a smug smile. “How convenient,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “Miss Lane has hidden talent after all.” Emery’s blood ran cold. Someone had framed her. But why? Before she could react, a voice came from behind her—low and dangerous. “Do you think you’re the only one with secrets, Miss Lane?” She turned sharply to find Alexander Grayson, a notorious figure in the business world, standing just behind her. His grin widened. “Let’s just say… we all have something to lose tonight.” Emery’s mind raced. This wasn’t just about a mistake—it was about something far more dangerous.