Chapter 1

Evelyn Carter awoke with a throbbing headache and parched throat in the dead of night.

Her heart had been soaring just hours earlier when she'd finally perfected "Eternal Bloom," the signature fragrance she'd spent years developing. With this triumph at the competition, her wedding to Dominic Reeves would finally move forward.

They'd met during university years - five years of friendship blossoming into three years of romance. Evelyn had sacrificed everything to focus on her perfumery, helping Dominic build his fledgling company from the ground up.

The promise of their future together had made her drink more champagne than usual tonight.

Rubbing her temples, she reached for the water glass on her nightstand. Then froze.

Strange noises were coming from the guest room.

Evelyn lived alone in this apartment. Dominic occasionally stayed over, but always slept separately. The muffled sounds made her worry he might be ill - until a distinctly feminine giggle cut through the darkness.

"Dom, what if Evelyn hears us?"

Though the whisper was hushed, Evelyn recognized that voice instantly. Her blood turned to ice.

Years of late-night perfume formulations had left Evelyn with chronic insomnia. The sleeping pills she'd relied on for years had dulled their effect, leaving her painfully alert now.

"After my new line wins tomorrow, I'll be the most sought-after perfumer in the industry. Investors will be lining up to fund your expansion. How could Evelyn ever compare to me?"

Evelyn's nails bit into her palms as she identified the speaker: Vanessa Blake, her college roommate and closest friend. The rumors she'd refused to believe were true - Vanessa was sleeping with her fiancé.

Dominic's reply was a knife to the heart: "I named the company after us, darling. DR Holdings - Dominic and Vanessa. Lily was just a means to an end. Would I have sabotaged her competition formulas if I truly loved her?"

"I don't want to hear her name," Vanessa purred in that affected, breathy tone Evelyn now found grotesque. "Just tell me who you love."

The sounds that followed made Evelyn physically ill. She clenched her fists until crescent moons bloomed on her palms, the pain anchoring her from storming in. All her sacrifices, her trust - reduced to this sordid betrayal.

Three years ago, Evelyn had been the rising star of perfumery after winning the regional championship. She'd turned down offers from Celestia Group and other industry giants to support Dominic's startup.

When her formulas mysteriously failed at the next major competition, leaving her humiliated as the "perfumer who couldn't smell," Dominic had been her rock. He'd suggested she work behind the scenes while Vanessa became the public face of their creations.

She'd believed they were partners. Turns out she was just a pawn in their game.

The company name she'd thought was random - DR Holdings - was their initials. While she'd poured her soul into building their business, they'd been laughing behind her back.

As dawn approached, Evelyn's fury crystallized into cold resolve. When she finally heard the front door click shut, she moved with purpose.

From her desk drawer, she retrieved a gilded business card embossed with a single name: Alexander Kensington. The CEO of Celestia Group had personally given it to her three years ago. Did he still use this number?

Her hands trembled slightly as the line connected. "Mr. Kensington? This is Evelyn Carter."

A pause. Then that unmistakable baritone: "I remember. The regional championship."

Three words that steadied her. "I have a business proposition. I think you'll find it... interesting."

Another beat of silence. "My office. Nine a.m."

Evelyn's pulse jumped. "Actually, sir, tomorrow may be too late. And your office would be... problematic. Could we arrange an alternative location?"

She held her breath, aware she was pushing her luck. Celestia Group dominated 67% of the beauty market - and Alexander Kensington was its legendary, notoriously uncompromising leader.

Yet she had no choice. The competition launch was tonight. Showing up at Celestia's headquarters would raise questions she couldn't afford.

Three agonizing minutes passed before Alexander responded: "Café Blanc on Magnolia Avenue. Thirty minutes." Before she could thank him, he added, "Bring your passport."

The line went dead.

Evelyn stared at her phone. Had she heard correctly? No time to second-guess. She dressed quickly, opting for a sleek black dress that projected quiet confidence.

The café was close enough that she arrived with minutes to spare. As she reached for the door, a suited man materialized beside her.

"Ms. Carter? Mr. Kensington is waiting." He gestured to a parked limousine where a shadowy figure sat behind tinted windows.

Evelyn didn't hesitate. The door swung open to reveal an interior like a vault - cool, impenetrable. Her eyes adjusted to take in the man's sharp profile, the way his polished Oxfords caught the morning light.

"Good morning, Mr. Kensington. I—"

"Skip the pleasantries." His voice could have frozen the Mediterranean.

Evelyn swallowed hard and met his gaze properly for the first time. The most powerful man in the beauty industry was studying her like a specimen under glass. And she was about to gamble everything on this moment.