Chapter 1

Aria Green’s office was elegant and refined. Much like Aria herself. So unlike the business she ran.

The look on her face told me that whatever she had for me was good. Very good. She had watched Aria have a grimace on her face as she handed over assignments to the other girls. But there was definitely a perk to being the boss’ best friend.

“You look like the Chesire cat,” I said as I sat down and crossed my legs, my right leg bouncing in anticipation and anxiety of the assignment I was going to get.

“The cat, yes… he’s definitely not a canary, though. And it will not be me doing the swallowing, sweetheart.”

I rolled my eye at the innuendo.

“Who is he?” I asked with a hint of excitement.

Aria hesitated before smiling again. Her eyes were sparkling. He must be very well known to be eliciting this type of response from Aria. She had dealt with famous people before, nothing and no one ruffled her feathers. This one, though, was clearly different.

“Let me start by saying that you will get all the thrills you have ever hoped for with this.” She grinned. “However, confidentiality is paramount.”

“Of course.” In Aria’s line of business, that was given. And I say it was her business because I was not part of her agency. This escort agency was high class and opportunities were plenty, but I made my money as a romance writer. I wrote under a penname. But recently, I had received comments from my editor that the sizzling chemistry between adult leads wasn’t enough.

Once I told Aria, she clapped her hand. I had to take one of her assignments. The best one. For the experience. It would surely ignite my passion and help me write sizzling and steamy scenes.

“He can’t know that someone from the agency hired you.”

“I don’t work here, so. No problem.”

“You know what I mean. He cannot know that you’re being paid.”

I was stunned. “I am being paid?” I asked.

“If you want the money, you can have it. Or I will buy you loads of nice things.” Aria giggled.

“Then who is paying?” I blinked in confusion.

“That is none of your concern, honey.”

“Plausible deniability?” I asked.

“Something like that.” He must be in a position of power then. One where morality or appearance was of utmost importance. Politician maybe?

“So I am not being employed to be arm candy, right?”

Aria shook her head. “You will get just what you wanted. The thrill of secretly meeting a man. There will be no public outing.”

But there would be sex.

“Do I know this person?”

“Personally?” Aria clarified.

“No. I assumed they are a public figure of some sort.”

Aria failed to contain a grin. “He is definitely a public figure. Very public. Yes, you are familiar with him.”

“Married?” I asked. I didn’t want to get involved in that mess.

“Not anymore.”

Good.

“Politician?”

“… Not really.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Does it matter?”

I blinked. “As long as he is not hideous or ancient. Unless there is time for a lot of talking.”

“I wouldn’t expect much talking. But a lot of action,” Aria was blunt.

“Just tell me who it is already!”

“I need to know if you’re available first.”

“When?” The time was mentioned and she agreed immediately.

Aria hesitated before taking a deep breath and looking me straight in the eye. “Kairivera.”

“Excuse me?” I said, uncrossing my legs and scooting my ass to the front of my chair, close to falling off, completely unsure of whether I heard her clearly.

“Kai… Rivera,” she said again, slow and deliberate. And then the smugness took over.

Mother of God.

“The CEO of Pinnacle Co.?”

Aria simply nodded.

“As in… The current President… President Rivera’s son, Kai Rivera?” I squeaked.

Aria nodded more eagerly this time.

I blinked several times as my heart pounded in my chest. Kai Rivera. Arguably one of the most powerful men on the planet. He controlled the business world while his family was deeply rooted in the political world.

Well. This was getting interesting.

There was a lot to explain about Kai Rivera.

He was one of the youngest billionaires in the world.

He had kept his identity hidden for the first part of his life so that he could own his success. His father had been in the Presidential office for almost two years. His family had always been popular politically, but he had been one of the first to break away from tradition and go into business. His record in school and business was strong, but I wasn’t entirely sure it had to do with his looks or family background. He had made a meteoric rise through the ranks of businessmen.

He was stunning, and in my opinion, the country’s most eligible bachelor. He could easily win over the male actors in the world who boasted of their beauty or had a huge fan following. Those guys didn’t even come close.

He had more charisma in his small toe than any of those competitors. He was tall and wore a suit like nobody’s business. But there was something about his hands. Yes, he was exceptionally good looking, but there was something about his hands and what he did with them that turned me into a puddle of goo at the mere thought of them. They gave him an aura of strength, confidence, and decisiveness. The very thought of having them on my body made me feel faint.

“Earth to Lilith,” Aria snapped her fingers in front of my face to break me away from my daydreams about Kai Rivera.

“Yes, what?” I hummed.

“Do you think you are up for it?”

I wanted to shake Aria and ask her if she had gone insane. Of course, I was jumping at the opportunity. “Of course! But why me? Why not one of your regular, more experienced girls? They will have so much more worth in this case.”