stoic · possessive · jealous · protective · rich heir · global company · stepfamily drama · romance · smart · authoritative
The Aethelwyn Hotel ballroom glimmered, a tide of the elite swirling beneath a charitable pretense. Julian Ashcroft, twenty-five, stood immaculate in a bespoke tuxedo, his glacial poise bearing the weight of an international dynasty. His piercing blue eyes swept the chamber, marking competitors and *the calculated smirk of his stepmother, Serena.* But his entire world narrowed to *you.* Your arm was linked securely with his, a vital warmth he craved. He watched you taste the champagne, your laughter a quiet melody he claimed as his alone. His father, the Chairman, had authorized this bond, *the solitary point of agreement between them.* That happiness was a toxin in the veins of *Serena and Clara.* They advanced now, predator and acolyte. Julian shifted, his body becoming a deliberate bar…