Chapter One

Chapter One

The fancy ballroom at the Metropolitan Hotel was super luxurious, with sparkly chandeliers and gold decorations everywhere. It was the place for rich, important people in New York City to see and be seen. Emma Montgomery walked in on her father's arm, smiling fakely even though she didn't want to be there.

Emma hated these stuck-up high society parties. She couldn't stand having small talk with snobby social climbers while also trying to get potential investors interested in her family's real estate company, Montgomery Corporation. At twenty-five years old, Emma's life path was already set - she was the heir who had to take over the multi-billion dollar business from her father one day, whether she liked it or not.

As always, the ballroom was jam-packed with people dressed up in fancy tuxedos. The air smelled strongly of expensive perfumes, cigar smoke, and desperation from people trying to climb the social ladder. Emma's father was immediately whisked away by a group of rich old men smoking cigars. Emma headed straight for the bar, in desperate need of a drink.

She was sipping her first glass of champagne when her eyes landed on a striking man across the room. Even from far away, his chiseled jawline was captivating, and surprisingly, he flashed her a warm, friendly smile. That couldn't be James Reynolds, could it? The rumors painted the notorious heir to the wealthy Reynolds real estate empire as an arrogant, brooding man. But his welcoming demeanor seemed to contradict those stories.

Intrigued, Emma found herself shamelessly checking him out, admiring the muscles in his chest and the confident power in his stride. She mentally scolded herself. Get a grip, Montgomery. Don't let yourself be charmed by a pretty face.

Emboldened by the man's surprisingly affable smile, she sidled up to order a cocktail. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice you from across the room," Emma said with a friendly smile of her own. "I'm Emma Montgomery."

The man's expression instantly morphed into an arrogant sneer, his earlier warmth vanishing in an instant. "Do I look like I care who you are?" he asked in a rude, dismissive tone that left Emma stunned.

So the rumors were true after all. His friendly overture had just been an act. "I...I was just trying to introduce myself," she stammered, thrown by his abrupt shift in demeanor.

"Well, don't bother. Your little Montgomery Corporation is barely a blip on my family's empire," James scoffed derisively. "Now run along back to your little party, little girl."

Emma's mouth dropped open in shock at his outright rudeness. How dare he speak to her that way, after luring her in with that warm smile! The pleasant, welcoming demeanor she'd detected moments ago had been an illusion, a mask he'd dropped to reveal his true arrogant, callous nature.

Before Emma could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind her. "Emma, my dear, there you are."

She turned to find her father, Robert Montgomery, his eyes alight with a mixture of pride and mischief. "I trust you've met James Reynolds?"

Emma nodded, her brow furrowed. "Unfortunately, yes. He's just as rude as the rumors suggest."

Robert let out a hearty chuckle. "Well, you two had best get acquainted. After all, you'll both be getting married very soon."

Emma nearly choked on her cocktail. "Married? To that arrogant jerk?" She whirled on James, eyes blazing. "Over my dead body!"

James looked equally appalled. "There's no way in hell I'd marry some spoiled, daddy's little princess like you," he spat out venomously.

"How dare you!" Emma shrieked, causing partygoers to turn at the commotion. She fought the urge to slap that smug look right off his face.

Her father frowned. "Now, now, children. No need for hostility. I've orchestrated this merger to join our companies. You'll be married!"

Anger bubbled within Emma. To be forced into this against her will was appalling.

Just as she opened her mouth to protest further, a familiar figure caught her eye - Mark, her ex-boyfriend who had cheated on her with her best friend Amanda.

A tidal wave of hurt and humiliation crashed over Emma as she watched them strolling hand-in-hand, acting every bit the happy couple without a care in the world. She had finally started to piece her life back together after their devastating betrayal, but the sight of them together so brazenly reopened those still-fresh wounds.

Hadn't she suffered enough at their hands? The lies, the months of being made a fool of right under her nose? Emma had loved Mark with every fiber of her being, and had pictured growing old together after marriage. Only to have her heart shattered into a million jagged pieces when she discovered his sordid affair with Amanda - her supposed best friend.

The anger, the pain, the gut-wrenching devastation she'd endured...Emma had never truly healthily dealt with those emotions before trying to move on. So to have Mark and Amanda's indiscretion shoved in her face so publicly at this high society event, a place where reputations and public perception meant everything, felt like the ultimate insult.

How dare they flaunt their happiness after destroying her so completely? I haven't done a damn thing to get back at the people who ruined me, and they dare to parade around their affair like this, humiliating me even further in front of everyone?

A white-hot rage unlike anything Emma had ever experienced blazed through her veins. Without a second thought, she whirled around and grabbed James Reynolds, the man she had just declared she'd rather die than marry. She crushed her lips against his in a heated, desperate kiss, pouring every ounce of her hurt, her anger, her overpowering need for vengeance into that scorching lip-lock.

It was a vicious punishment - both for Mark witnessing his ex-girlfriend desecrating her virtue with another man, and for James getting a taste of his own arrogant medicine after the dismissive way he'd treated her moments before.

At first, James went stiff with shock. But then his hands seized her waist, pulling Emma flush against his solid frame as he started devouring her mouth with bruising force. It was a filthy, punishing kiss, all teeth, and desperation, but the illicit thrill jolted through Emma like an electric shock.

When they finally broke apart, Emma turned to see Mark's face contorted with rage before he stormed off, Amanda hurrying behind. A vicious rush of satisfaction swelled in Emma at destroying his smug calm.

She turned her fiery gaze back to James, boldly meeting his smoldering whiskey eyes. "You're welcome," she breathed her voice a mixture of disdain and challenge, before striding away and leaving him stunned.