The ballroom glittered like a stage built for lies. Crystal chandeliers spilled light across gold leaf and glass, every surface polished until it gleamed. Voices carried low over clinking glasses, the hum of Chicago’s elite feeding on itself. I moved through it with precision. My suit was cut in black, shoulders sharp, every step measured. Control wasn’t something I wore, it lived under my skin. I’d been born into this world of masks and currency, and I wore mine better than any of them. Amber stood at my side. She wore Sophie’s work like armor. Black silk sculpted her waist, the slit high enough to flash thigh, the neckline dipping low enough to distract. Her hair fell in polished waves, lips painted blood red, lashes heavy enough to cast shadows across her cheekbones. On the surface, she was flawless. Almost too flawless. Her chin was high, but I caught the tension in her jaw, the faint pulse at her throat. She was performing, and most of the room believed it. The problem was, I
Last Updated : 2025-01-01 Read more