The Blackwell Building was a towering monolith of black glass and brushed steel that dominated the city’s financial district. It was an architectural marvel that Declan Cross had spent his entire career envying, and the headquarters of Roman Blackwell, the undisputed titan of corporate real estate.

The Crystal Ballroom of the St. Regis Hotel was a shimmering ocean of silk, diamonds, and calculated ambition. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the city’s architectural elite, illuminating the desperate networking that fueled the industry. A string quartet played a lively Vivaldi pi

The morning light filtered through the tall, arched windows of the Kensington family home, casting long shadows across the antique Persian rugs. It was a classic, sprawling estate that had been in Sloane’s family for three generations. It was also the very property Declan Cross had secretly leverage