INTO HIS WORLD

The ballroom was a masterpiece of opulence. Glittering chandeliers spilled golden light over marble floors, and soft classical music danced in the air like silk. Men in tailored suits and women in flowing gowns moved like chess pieces across the polished floor—every smile, every word, every gesture carefully curated. This was Damien’s world.

And tonight, Sienna was being thrown right into the center of it.

She stood beside Damien, dressed in an elegant black gown he had picked for her. It fit her perfectly, hugging her curves and leaving her shoulders bare. Around her neck sat a diamond necklace that probably cost more than her entire college tuition. It wasn’t just jewelry. It was armor. A declaration.

“You look stunning,” Damien whispered into her ear as they stepped further into the room. His hand rested lightly on her lower back, guiding her forward—but it felt more like control than comfort.

Sienna forced a smile, reminding herself to breathe. “Why do I feel like I’m about to be eaten alive?”

He gave her a half-smile. “Because you are. But don’t worry, they only devour the weak.”

The words sent a chill down her spine. Around them, eyes turned. People noticed Damien everywhere he went—admiring, envying, fearing. And now they were looking at her too. Measuring her. Judging her.

Damien leaned in again. “Tonight is about power. Everyone here either has it, wants it, or is pretending they don’t need it. Your job? Make them wonder which one you are.”

Sienna nodded slowly. “And what are you?”

He didn’t even blink. “All three.”

She wanted to laugh, but the atmosphere didn’t allow for that. This wasn’t a party—it was a silent war. Words were weapons. Charm was strategy. And appearances? They were everything.

Damien began introducing her to people. Powerful CEOs. Politicians. Socialites who could smile and stab you in the same breath. Sienna kept her composure, her fingers clutching her champagne flute like a lifeline. She smiled when she needed to, laughed softly at shallow jokes, and nodded when someone said something she didn’t quite understand.

But underneath the surface, she was observing. Learning. Watching Damien as he worked the room.

He was effortless.

Confident without arrogance. Dominant without desperation. When he spoke, people leaned in. When he laughed, others followed suit. He made people feel important—even when they weren’t. And Sienna realized this wasn’t just charm.

This was skill.

He wasn’t here to socialize—he was here to assert dominance. To remind everyone that in the invisible hierarchy of this world, he sat near the top.

Later, as the crowd thinned and the evening softened into low murmurs and swaying music, Damien led her onto the balcony. The city lights stretched far into the distance, twinkling like a field of stars.

He handed her a fresh drink and leaned against the rail. “You did well tonight.”

“I felt like I was pretending the whole time.”

“That’s the point,” he said simply. “Everyone’s pretending. Power is a performance. You just need to sell it better than the next person.”

She turned to face him. “Why does it matter so much to you?”

He looked at her, his eyes serious now. “Because in this world, if you’re not powerful, you’re disposable.”

That silenced her.

A few seconds passed before he added, “You held your own. But you need to learn the game if you’re going to stay in it.”

Sienna stepped closer to him, her voice steady. “Then teach me.”

Damien’s gaze flickered with something—approval? Amusement? Maybe both. “You’re not afraid?”

“I am,” she admitted. “But I’d rather play than watch.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Good. Because the real game is only just beginning.”

And as she looked out over the city, with Damien standing tall beside her, Sienna realized that whatever she thought she knew about power—she was about to be schooled.

And she was ready.