The Mafia Billionaire's Obsession

Zara's POV The last thing I wanted to do on a Friday night was attend a charity gala full of rich people. Unfortunately, life didn't always care about what I wanted. I stood in front of my small apartment mirror, adjusting the black dress my friend had practically forced me to borrow. "You look beautiful," Evelyn said from the doorway. I smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Evelyn Hayes wasn't my mother. Technically, she wasn't related to me at all. But after spending most of my childhood moving from one foster home to another, she was the closest thing I had as a family. I met her years ago while working at a small café during college. Since then, she has become my safe place. "Beautiful and uncomfortable," I corrected. Evelyn laughed. "You'll survive one evening." "I hope so." She walked into the room and straightened the necklace around my neck. "Just remember what I always tell you." I rolled my eyes. "Don't trust rich men." "Exactly." That made both of us laugh. If only I had known how important those words would become. An hour later, I found myself standing inside the Grand Astoria Hotel. Everything around me screamed money. The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling looked like they belonged in a palace. Women wore gowns that probably cost more than my rent for an entire year. Men stood in expensive suits while discussing business deals worth millions. And then there was me. Zara Montgomery. A twenty-four-year-old marketing assistant who was only there because her boss had gotten sick and sent her in her place. I suddenly felt very small. "Relax," I whispered to myself. I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. Then another. Not because I wanted to drink. I simply needed something to do with my hands. The room felt intimidating. Everyone seemed important. Everyone looked confident. Everyone except me. As I stood quietly near one of the marble pillars, my phone vibrated. Evelyn. I smiled immediately. Evelyn: Remember who you are. Don't let those rich people scare you. I laughed softly. Then I typed back. Me: Trying my best. A few seconds later, another message appeared. Evelyn: And stay away from handsome billionaires. I shook my head. The woman was impossible. Unfortunately for me, fate had other plans. Because the moment I looked up from my phone, I walked straight into someone. The collision wasn't hard. But it was enough. The champagne slipped from my fingers. "Oh no—" The glass tilted. Golden liquid splashed forward. And landed directly on a man's black suit. My heart nearly stopped. For a moment, the entire world seemed to freeze. I slowly lifted my head. And immediately wished I hadn't. The man standing in front of me looked like he belonged on the cover of a luxury magazine. Dark hair. Sharp features. Broad shoulders. Expensive watch. Expensive suit. Expensive everything. But it was his eyes that caught my attention. Cold grey eyes. The kind that looked like they could see right through a person. I swallowed hard. "I'm so sorry," I said quickly. The man glanced down at the stain before looking back at me. His expression didn't change. He simply stared. The silence made me nervous. Had I just ruined a suit worth thousands of dollars? "Oh my God," I continued. "I didn't mean to—" "It's fine." His voice was calm. Deep. Controlled. That somehow made him even more intimidating. "No, it's not fine," I replied immediately. "I spilled champagne on you." A small smile appeared on his face. The first crack in his cold expression. "You seem more upset about it than I am." I blinked. Was he... teasing me? Before I could answer, another man approached us. He had dark blond hair and looked slightly younger. "Lucien," he said. Then he noticed the stain. His eyes widened. "Oh." That single word made me nervous all over again. The first man—Lucien—looked at him. "It's fine, Jaden." Jaden didn't seem convinced. Neither was I. Wait. Lucien? Why did that name sound familiar? Then I heard someone nearby whisper. "That's Lucien Duro." My stomach dropped. Lucien Duro. Everyone knew that name. One of the youngest billionaires in the world. Owner of multiple companies. A man whose business empire stretched across continents. But there were always rumors. Dangerous rumors. Stories people tell in low voices. Stories involving power. Violence. Fear. The kind of story nobody could ever prove. Suddenly, standing in front of him felt completely different. I wasn't talking to some business executive. I was talking to Lucien Duro. And somehow that made me even more aware of how close we were standing. "You're Zara." His voice pulled me from my thoughts. I frowned. "How do you know my name?" He glanced toward the invitation card hanging around my neck. I looked down. Of course. I felt stupid. A low chuckle escaped him. The sound surprised me. Men like Lucien weren't supposed to laugh. At least not in my imagination. For a brief moment, he looked younger. More human. More dangerous. Because now he wasn't just attractive. He was charming too. And that was far worse. "I'm sorry about the suit," I said again. Lucien looked directly into my eyes. "You've apologized three times." "Maybe because I feel bad." His gaze lingered. Longer than necessary. Something about the way he looked at me made my pulse quicken. As though he was trying to figure me out. Or maybe memorize me. Neither option felt safe. Before either of us could say anything else, a tall blonde woman appeared beside him. She slipped her arm around his. The action seemed possessive. Intentional. Like she wanted everyone to know he belonged to her. Her eyes moved towards me. Then my dress. Then my shoes. Judgment flashed across her face. Immediate. Unapologetic. I instantly disliked her. "Lucien," she said sweetly. "The board members are waiting." For some reason, she sounded annoyed. Maybe because his attention was still on me. Lucien didn't answer right away. His eyes remained fixed on mine. The tension felt strange. Confusing. I barely knew this man. Yet it felt like something important had just happened. Finally, he stepped back. "It was nice meeting you, Zara." I wasn't sure why my heart reacted to those words. But it did. "Likewise." The blonde woman guided him away. I watched them disappear into the crowd. Then immediately got angry at myself for watching. What was wrong with me? He was rich. Powerful. Dangerous. The exact type of man Evelyn warned me about. And yet... Something about him stayed in my mind for the rest of the evening.