Novels by OPEY

Selene’s PovI woke up in the guest wing bed alone, staring at the ceiling. Damien’s kiss from last night still lingered on my lips. It wasn’t supposed to feel like that. Not real. Not good.My phone buzzed. Talia.“You okay? I heard about the restaurant photos. You two looked cozy,” she texted.I typed back quickly. “It’s part of the plan. Keep digging on Adrian.”I got dressed in a simple black dress and headed to the kitchen. Damien was already there, sipping coffee, looking too handsome in his white shirt. His jaw was tight.“Morning,” I said, pouring myself a cup.“Morning,” he replied, eyes on me. “Sleep well?”“Not really. That call from Adrian kept me up.” I sat across from him. “What’s the plan for today? You said we’re meeting your family?”He nodded. “Family house at ten. Victor’s lawyer will be there too. We need to look united. No slips.”I stirred my coffee. “United. Right. After you kissed me like that last night.”Damien set his cup down. “You kissed me back, Elena. Do

Damien’s Pov“Damien…” Elena whispered, her voice shaky.I kept my hand on her waist, feeling the heat through her dress. Her gray eyes locked on mine, wide and conflicted. The air between us felt thick enough to choke on.“Tell me,” I said quietly. “How far are you willing to go?”She didn’t pull away. Instead, her fingers curled into my shirt. “This is dangerous. We both know that.”“Dangerous is my middle name,” I replied, stepping closer until our bodies almost touched. “But right now, I need the board to believe we’re real. Adrian’s already moving. If they think this is fake, I lose everything.”Elena let out a short breath. “And what about me? What do I get if I play along tonight?”“Whatever you want,” I said. “Name it. Money. Power. Protection. I’ll give it to you.”Her lips curved into a small, bitter smile. “You think everything has a price, don’t you?”“Everything does,” I answered, brushing my thumb along her jaw. “Even us.”She closed her eyes for a second. When she opene

Selene’s PovThe restaurant was exclusive, lights low, tables spaced for privacy. Damien sat across from me looking unfairly good in a tailored black suit. Cameras waited outside. This was our first public show.“You’re tense,” he said, pouring me more wine. “Relax. Or people will think I’m forcing you.”“You are forcing me, in a way,” I replied with a sweet smile for anyone watching.His mouth twitched. “You said yes.”“Because I have my reasons.”We ordered. Between courses he reached across the table and took my hand, thumb stroking my knuckles. It was for show, but my body didn’t get the memo. Heat spread up my arm.“Tell me something real about you,” he said quietly. “Not résumé stuff. Real.”I hesitated. The online version of him had asked the same thing once. I’d told him about losing my mother young, about wanting to prove myself to my father. He’d listened.“I lost someone important three years ago,” I said carefully. “It changed everything. Made me… harder.”Damien’s grip ti

Damien’s PovThe lawyer read the will conditions again like I hadn’t heard them a hundred times. Elena sat beside me in the sleek conference room, legs crossed, looking every bit the poised future wife. She played the part well. Too well.“Thirty days from the reading,” the lawyer said. “Legal marriage, public appearance of unity. Otherwise Cross Technologies transfers to Adrian Cross.”Elena reached over and laced her fingers through mine. The touch was warm. I squeezed back harder than necessary.“We understand,” she said sweetly. “We’re ready.”Later in the car she pulled her hand away like it burned her.“How long have you known about this marriage clause?” she asked.“Long enough.” I watched the city blur past. “Adrian can’t get the company. He’d sell our defense contracts to people who shouldn’t have them.”She was quiet for a moment. “You really care about protecting something.”I glanced at her. “Surprised?”“Maybe.” Her voice softened. “I thought you only cared about winning.

Selene’s PovI barely slept.Damien’s proposal played on repeat in my head while I paced my tiny apartment. Fake marriage. The perfect weapon. I could live in his world, learn every weakness, and destroy him slowly. Make him feel the same helplessness my father felt before he died.But those eyes… the way he looked at me like he was seeing straight through the fake name. And that brief touch yesterday. I hated how it affected me.The next day I went back to his office.He was waiting, standing by the window again like some dark king surveying his kingdom.“I accept,” I said.No smile. Just a nod, like he’d expected nothing less. “We’ll announce it quietly. A whirlwind romance. The board will love the stability it signals.”I crossed my arms. “And what’s my story? Poor girl swept off her feet by the big bad billionaire?”“Something like that.” He stepped closer. “We’ll need to sell it. Dinners, events, shared living. Starting tonight.”“Tonight?”“My place. The guest wing is yours. Bri

Damien’s PovShe was lying.I knew it the moment Elena Hale opened her mouth. The way she held herself, the precise way she answered every question, it was too perfect. And those eyes. Dark, fierce, familiar in a way that clawed at memories I’d buried three years ago.I stood at the floor-to-ceiling window of my office, watching the city lights. My phone buzzed. Grandfather’s lawyer again.“Thirty days, Damien. Marry or Adrian takes everything. Those are the terms.”I ended the call without replying. Adrian would run the company into the ground and sell our secrets to the highest bidder. I couldn’t let that happen.A soft knock. My assistant, Marcus, poked his head in. “The new consultant started sabotaging the Thompson deal today. Subtle, but it’s there. You want her gone?”“No,” I said. “Keep her close. I want to watch her.”Marcus raised an eyebrow but left.That night I sat in my penthouse with a glass of whiskey, scrolling through old messages on an encrypted app I hadn’t opened