The Bennett villa buzzes with nervous energy as Ethan Pierce straightens his bow tie for the tenth time in five minutes. Today marks the culmination of months of planning, the wedding that will cement his alliance with the Bennett family and their connections.
"Where is he?" Mrs. Bennett frets, pacing across the marble foyer. "Ethan should have been here by now to collect Chloe."
"Relax, Mother," Zoey Bennett purrs, descending the staircase like she's walking a runway. She's dressed in a figure-hugging emerald gown that probably cost more than most people's cars. "He'll be here. Rich men are always fashionably late."
I adjust my position behind the ornate pillar, watching this theater of greed unfold. Today, I'm not the discarded ex-husband lurking in the shadows. Today, I'm the mysterious Mr. Lancaster, president of Ace Corporation, and everyone in this house would kill for five minutes of my attention.
The irony is delicious.
