Chapter Two

Raven

“Did you forget anything at all?”

Cameron’s voice dragged me back to reality as she parked in front of the impossibly tall D’Angelo skyscraper.

I turned in my seat, taking a breath I hoped came off as confident. “No. I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

She didn’t look convinced. She’d been on my neck since six in the morning, literally knocking on my door before the sun came up, despite me telling her yesterday that I could handle today myself. But Cameron being Cameron showed up anyway with coffee, a pep talk, and a full outfit suggestion.

Now she checked me out again like I was her child on her first day of school. “Just remember—whether it works or not, you’ll find another way. Don’t beat yourself up.”

“I won’t,” I said, offering her a small smile. “I don’t need the extra motivation though. I’ve got this.”

The truth? I needed every ounce of confidence I could find.

At least my outfit helped. My fitted blue top, the one Dad gave me two years before he died that I’d kept it spotless, wearing it felt like armor. I paired it with black corporate trousers, black heels, and a ponytail that hopefully made me look put-together.

“Go,” Cameron urged, already hitting her indicator. “I’ll see you later. And text me if anything happens.”

“Nothing is going to happen,” I said.

She smiled then zoomed off as I stepped toward the building, the morning sun reflecting off the glass walls like the place was built for gods.

Inside, everything smelled like money, fresh polish, expensive cologne, and power.

The receptionist greeted me with a perfect smile and pointed me toward the sixth building’s waiting room. I took the elevator, unable to stop my eyes from wandering. Everything here was broad, sleek, intimidating, and cold. No wonder the man who owned it was rumored to be… well, dangerous.

I pushed that thought away.

The waiting room was empty and furnished like a luxury lounge. A staff member offered me coffee and snacks, and even after I refused, twice, then gave up and took them so I wouldn’t look weird.

An hour passed.

I browsed the internet for any photo, just one, of the mysterious, feared D’Angelo. Nothing. They had scrubbed the internet clean with no face, no features, nothing except terrifying rumors.

Great.

I tried not to overthink it, sipping my coffee, when the glass door opened and a pretty blonde woman in heels walked in.

“Miss Statham?” she asked with a polite smile.

“Yes?”

“Please come with me. Mr. Reeve requested your presence.”

Mr. Reeve? Wasn't it supposed to be…?

I followed her down a hallway so silent it made my footsteps sound like gunshots. When she opened the conference room door, I nearly stopped walking.

This was not the boardroom I imagined.

Only two men sat inside. Both older, calm, formal. Neither looked remotely like a Mafia kingpin, if anything, they looked like accountants. And the boardroom? Exceptionally majestic.

The blonde woman took her seat. “I’m Summer. You may hand your documents to me. Mr. Reeve will join us soon to assess the last phase of your proposal.”

I passed my papers over, trying not to stare at the two men too hard.

Was one of them secretly D’Angelo?

Summer cleared her throat, calling my attention back to her. “Before we begin, I should inform you that Mr. D’Angelo will not be present today, he had important meetings to attend.”

My stomach dropped a little, I had been hoping, just a bit, to impress the CEO. Impress the man who bought struggling businesses like he collected candy. Why would a man like that invest in small dreams like mine?

Doesn’t matter.

I would still give my best.

I inhaled, prepared myself, and was just about to speak when the conference door suddenly burst open with a hard, echoing slam.

Summer stood in an instant. “Mr. Reeve, good mor—”

She paused mid-sentence.

Her eyes widened before she straightened even further.

“I—I’m so sorry. Mr. D’Angelo.”

My heart stopped.

Both older men rose, Summer was already on her feet, then instinct kicked in and I stood too.

I lifted my head, and that was when the world tilted.

Two men stepped inside.

One—the one leading—was tall, broad-shouldered, and carved from cold stone. He wore a dark suit and a different pair of glasses from last night. These ones were tinted grey, making his eyes impossible to see, again. But the shape of his jaw, the arrogance in his frame, the silent authority…

My stomach sank.

It was him. It was the man I accused of stealing, the one I kicked, the very one who stared at me like a void last night.

Behind him stood the other man, the one who had tossed my bag at me after the alley mess.

I swear the ground should have swallowed me on its own.

I froze, completely unable to blink, as the beautiful, intimidating CEO walked further in, expression giving absolutely nothing. Not even a trace of humor.

He walked past Summer without acknowledging her, and for a second, I thought maybe he hadn’t seen me—

Then his eyes hidden behind those grey lenses, turned, and locked on me, briefly.

But it was enough to kick every bone in my body into panic mode.

Did he recognize me?

Of course he did.

Who forgets a crazy woman accusing them of theft and then kicking them?

Before I could react, I saw it, his lips curling, just faintly. He wasn't smiling. No, it was a sneer, a fucking sneer!

My throat tightened with nerves and unseen frustration. I swallowed hard, attempting a smile before his cold voice, low and intimating aimed out.

“If drooling at me was the only thing you came here for, then you’ve already lost the deal, Miss Statham.”