Beneath the silk skies

Scarlett Matthews adjusted the strap of her red satin dress, her reflection staring back at her from the gilded mirror in the hotel's private lounge. The city lights glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but her thoughts were far from the elegance surrounding her.

She didn't belong here not really. This world of champagne towers and diamond-studded invitations felt foreign, even though she'd grown up around wealth. Tonight wasn't about fitting in, though. It was about proving she could hold her own.

The sound of footsteps behind her pulled her attention away. She turned, and her breath caught.

Elias Westbrook.

She knew his name before he even spoke. Billionaire. Hotel tycoon. The man who made headlines as often as he made deals. Up close, he was even more intimidating broad shoulders, sharp jawline, and eyes that seemed to see straight through her.

"Lost?" His voice was smooth, a low hum that sent a ripple down her spine.

"No," Scarlett replied, steadying herself. "Just taking a breather."

Elias's lips curved into something between a smile and a challenge. "Not many people would dare escape a room full of millionaires."

She arched a brow. "Not many people know how suffocating they can be."

His gaze didn't waver. "I take it you're not easily impressed."

"Not by wealth," she said, daring him to test her.

Elias stepped closer, the scent of his cologne brushing against her skin. "Good. Because I'd rather be unforgettable."

Scarlett's heart stuttered. There was something dangerous about the way he looked at her like he was already peeling back the layers she worked so hard to hide.

"I should go," she said, but her voice lacked conviction.

"Stay." His fingers brushed lightly against her wrist, the brief contact igniting sparks she couldn't ignore.

Scarlett hesitated, but something about the way Elias looked at her like she wasn't just another face in the crowd made her stay rooted in place.

"You're a long way from home," Elias observed, his voice lower now, almost intimate.

"I could say the same about you." Scarlett's lips curved into a challenge, but she wasn't sure if she was testing him or herself.

He chuckled, a sound so dark and alluring that it made her pulse race. "Touché."

She swallowed, feeling the weight of his gaze. The way he looked at her like she was something he couldn't wait to possess sent a thrilling shiver through her.

Scarlett took a step back, but Elias mirrored her, his presence overwhelming. "You don't want to walk away from this," he murmured.

Her breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean," he said, closing the distance between them with a slow, deliberate pace.

And just when Scarlett thought she'd lost her nerve, his hand brushed her cheek.

The touch was soft, yet possessive, as if claiming her in a way words couldn't. Her eyes fluttered shut, the warmth of his touch making everything else fade away.

When she opened them again, she found herself staring into the depths of his gray eyes eyes that promised trouble.

"Stay," he repeated, his voice barely a whisper now, making her heart race.

Scarlett's lips parted, but no words came out. The tension between them was thick, palpable. She could feel the pull between them, and despite every instinct telling her to walk away, she found herself nodding.

"Just one drink," she whispered.

But as Elias smiled, a slow, knowing smile, Scarlett realized that one drink might be the beginning of something far more dangerous.