Chapter One New York City – Five Years Later

Sienna Blake stood outside the towering glass skyscraper, staring up at the massive "Cavendish Hotels" logo gleaming in silver letters. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her fingers tightening around the strap of her handbag. This was it—the opportunity of a lifetime.

But it was also the biggest risk she’d taken in five years.

She adjusted the cuff of her cream blazer, inhaling sharply as she smoothed down the front of her navy pencil skirt. She had worked too hard, built too much of a life, to let ghosts from the past shake her. Damian Cavendish was just a name now. A name that held power, wealth, and a reputation for being untouchable.

Not a man who once whispered promises in the dark.

Not the father of her child.

Sienna swallowed hard, shaking off the memories as she stepped forward. The glass doors slid open, welcoming her into a grand lobby bathed in golden light. A massive chandelier dripped from the ceiling, sparkling against marble floors. The Cavendish empire had only grown stronger, more opulent.

"Ms. Blake?"

She turned to find a woman in a sleek black dress approaching, a warm but professional smile on her face.

"I’m Rachel, Mr. Cavendish’s assistant. He’s expecting you in his office."

Sienna’s stomach twisted. She had been assured that she wouldn’t be dealing with him directly—that this was simply a meeting with the project leads. But now, hearing his name out loud, knowing she was about to see him again, sent panic crawling up her spine.

Had he changed?

Would he recognize her immediately?

She forced a polite nod and followed Rachel into the elevator. As they ascended, she focused on steadying her breathing. Five years was a long time. She wasn’t the same naïve woman who had fallen for a billionaire’s charm. She was stronger now.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a private floor with a breathtaking view of the city. Rachel gestured toward a set of glass doors at the end of the hallway.

"He’s waiting inside."

Sienna nodded, pushing past the tension in her chest. As she stepped forward, she barely had time to process the lavish interior before a deep, commanding voice cut through the silence.

"That will be all, Rachel."

Sienna’s pulse skittered.

And then—there he was.

Damian Cavendish stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored navy suit. He turned slowly, and the moment their eyes met, the air seemed to shift.

He hadn’t changed much. If anything, he looked even more powerful, more dangerously handsome. His jet-black hair was still perfectly styled, though she noticed the faintest hint of silver at his temples. His piercing blue eyes, sharp and assessing, locked onto hers with a force that nearly knocked the air from her lungs.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"Sienna Blake," Damian said finally, his voice smooth but laced with something unreadable. "Of all the interior designers in New York, I never expected to see you walk through my doors."

Sienna’s fingers dug into the strap of her handbag, willing herself to stay composed.

"I wasn’t aware this was your project, Mr. Cavendish," she replied coolly. "My firm was assigned to the hotel expansion. I assume you want the best?"

A flicker of something crossed his expression—amusement, curiosity, or perhaps something darker.

"Always," he murmured.

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken history.

She needed to take control of this moment. Professionalism. Distance. That was her armor.

"If we could focus on the project," she said, forcing a polite tone. "I’d like to go over the preliminary design concepts."

Damian leaned against his desk, folding his arms. "By all means."

Sienna walked to the large conference table and laid out her portfolio, flipping through renderings of the luxury suites, lounges, and rooftop bar. She spoke with precision, keeping her tone even, her focus sharp.

But she could feel his gaze on her the entire time.

When she finally finished, she risked a glance at him. He wasn’t looking at the designs. He was looking at her.

"You’ve changed," he said suddenly.

Sienna’s breath hitched. "People do that."

His lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "I’d like to think I knew you well once."

That was dangerous territory. She straightened her shoulders. "Then you’d know I’m here for work, not reminiscing."

His jaw ticked, but he nodded. "Fair enough. Your designs are impressive."

Relief flickered through her. Maybe this meeting would end without disaster.

But then Damian’s gaze darkened, sharp as a blade. "Tell me, Sienna—why did you leave without a word?"

Her heart stopped.

He was looking at her as if he could see straight through the walls she had built.

Her mouth went dry. "I don’t see how that’s relevant to this meeting."

"It’s relevant to me."

She clenched her jaw. "I moved on, Damian. So should you."

Something flickered in his eyes, something unreadable, but before he could speak, Rachel’s voice interrupted through the intercom.

"Mr. Cavendish, you have an urgent call from the board."

Damian exhaled slowly, his gaze still locked onto hers.

"This conversation isn’t over," he said.

Sienna didn’t reply. She gathered her things, turned on her heel, and walked out of his office with as much composure as she could muster.

But as she stepped into the elevator, her hands trembled.

Damian hadn’t changed. If anything, he was even more relentless.

And if he ever found out about Julian…

She swallowed hard, pushing the thought away.

She wouldn’t let that happen.

No matter what.