The morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Sterling Enterprises luxury penthouse, casting a warm, golden glow over the mahogany dining table. It was a picture of absolute serenity, a stark contrast to the absolute chaos Clara Vance knew was brewing in the city below.

She

The Grand Plaza Cafe was an establishment designed for the city’s elite to see and be seen. With its towering indoor palm trees, cascading water walls, and tables spaced far enough apart to offer the illusion of privacy while still maintaining a public stage, it was the perfect venue for Julian Crof

The penthouse suite of the Sterling-owned hotel was a sanctuary of silence, save for the rhythmic patter of rain against the floor-to-ceiling windows. Clara sat comfortably on the plush velvet sofa, a cup of Earl Grey tea warming her hands, while Arthur stood behind her, his broad chest pressing lig