LOGIN“Ok, here we are.” The realtor said as she typed in the password and pushed open the door.She stepped aside, allowing Solana to walk into the bedroom."This is a beautiful bed and bath with an incredible amount of natural light even though there are not many windows," she explained brightly, gesturing across the spacious living room. Solana looked around the empty room. It was the fourth apartment she was viewing today, and she finally felt a profound sense of relief. It was perfect. “Come on,” the realtor said, walking farther into the house. “Let’s see the rest.”Solana slowly walked after her, taking in the wide space, the high ceiling, and the simple but elegant finishings.The rooms were spacious, but the windows were surprisingly small and placed high up on the walls. And she loved that. She hated the idea of people looking into her home. But she didn’t want to feel like she was living in a box.To top it off, the apartment was a top floor loft in a quiet Los Angeles subur
Alistair sat in the luxurious cabin of his private jet, staring intently at the picture on his phone. A rare, genuine smile softened his sharp features as he scrolled through multiple long-range pictures of Solana. A few minutes earlier, he had received confirmation of his delivery being a success. And because he was who he was, he had also ordered a man to position himself in a high-rise building directly opposite Solana's studio so he could see her reacting to his gift. In the pictures, Solana was standing looking at the truck. Her initial reaction was shock before melting into a wide, radiant smile. He loved the way her eyes were sparkling with pure excitement as she looked at the truck. Seeing that joy on her face made a profound warmth spread through Alistair's chest. He felt so pleased that he was the reason for her happiness. For the first time in eight years, the heavy knot of guilt inside him loosened just a fraction. Adrian suddenly dropped into the plush
Solana quickly bit back the scathing, sarcastic comment on the tip of her tongue. She gave him a humble bow. “Yes, alpha.” She muttered, keeping the anger away from her voice. “My apologies.” Miller looked at the top of her head for a few seconds before letting out a sigh. “Just leave,” he finally said, waving a dismissive hand at her. “For a tiny thing, you give a lot of stress.” Solana had just reached the common fields when Chloe rushed across the clearing and practically tackled her in a tight hug. "You are back!" Chloe gasped, stepping back and swatting Solana on the arm. "And you are famous! I saw the fashion news. I saw the blog feature. I cannot believe you actually secured the midnight spotlight!" "Word travels fast," Solana muttered, rubbing her arm. Chloe always underestimated her own strength. "Oh, it gets better," Chloe leaned in, her eyes wide with frantic curiosity. "I saw
"We just got a new request!" Mira shouted over the rhythmic hum of three sewing machines running in perfect unison. “Sixth one today and it’s not even 2pm yet.”Solana did not even look up from the cutting table. She carefully pinned a sleek lapel into place. "Tell them they will have to wait until next week. We are fully booked.""Solana, you do not understand." Mira rushed over to the table, practically vibrating with excitement. She waved a tablet in the air. "That was the stylist for Elena Rostova. The Elena Rostova. She wants two custom pieces from the new collection for her upcoming press tour, and she is willing to pay double for a rush order."Solana finally paused, twirling the scissors in her hand. Elena Rostova was an A-list actress known for playing fierce, untouchable women on screen. It was exactly the demographic she had built her brand around. The right type of person she wanted wearing her designs."Tell her stylist we accept," she said, a genuine smile breaking t
Usually, Alistair’s penthouse suite was a silent and calm masterpiece of modern luxury, but at that very moment, it sounded like a warzone. Alistair winced as explosions and heavy gunfire echoed off the floor-to-ceiling glass windows as he walked through the foyer. He blinked in surprise as he caught sight of his beta and best friend, Adrian, sitting cross-legged on a sofa, furiously tapping the buttons of a wireless controller as he leaned wildly from side to side. “It’s 2am,” Alistair groused, tossing his suit jacket onto a chair. "What the fuck are you doing here?" Adrian didn’t even look at him. “Waiting.” “For what?” Alistair growled, rolling his shoulders. "Go back to your own place, Adrian." "What? No fucking way!" Adrian shot back, his eyes still glued to the massive television screen, his thumb mashing a trigger button. "I've been sitting here for two hours waiting for you!” He looked over his shoulder, a wide grin on his face. “I need to know everything about this da
“Cas...” she started. “No listen,” he cut in. “I’m not saying I’ll just hand you money. I can get you business loans, secure high-end investors, introduce you to real estate moguls. Even help you negotiate—"“Caspian!” She snapped, losing her patience. He stopped. "Calm down," Solana continued, chuckling softly as she folded her clothes. "I’m just leaving New York. I’m not disappearing into thin air. My business base is there. My community too.”She paused before continuing. “And I will be expanding my business here."His face brightened immediately. “Really?”“Eventually.”With a defeated groan, he dropped onto the plush king-sized bed like a petulant teenager.The sight was so ridiculous that she burst out laughing.“What?” He whined. “You’re wearing a thousand-dollar suit and pouting like you’re sixteen.”“I’m upset.”“You look like a spoiled child.”He folded his arms over his chest and dramatically looked away. Shaking her head, she sat on the edge of the mattress beside him
Solange felt a literal snap in the center of her chest as she stared at the heavy oak doors. It wasn’t the metaphoric ache of a breakup. It was a white-hot blade of agony carved through her ribs, twisting around her heart and pulling tight.She tried to scream, but the air in her lungs had turned t
Solange looked at him, her brows furrowing as confusion rose alongside irritation. If he wanted to insult her, he could have done it outright. “What are you talking about?” she bit back. “What smell? I literally just took a bath.” He shook his head; his eyes had a faraway look, like he wasn’t hear
Solange woke slowly, her body aching in all the ways that made her heart flutter and a strange humming in her chest. Her head was foggy, but she felt a calm she had never known, like she was connected to something that had been missing all her life. She felt… claimed, as if the night had somehow gi
The moment the penthouse door shut, Alistair’s restraint evaporated.He pinned her against the door, his large, calloused hand sliding up to grip the back of her neck with a terrifying but delicious pressure, and he slanted his lips over hers again.He was rough, but in a calculated way that made h







