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The Elite Club was one of the most exclusive and prestigious in the world, boasting members as diverse as royal families to self-made businesspeople. It had branches in several countries with its origin a stately castle-like building in the outskirts of the Virginian hills.

Kai had always thought it looked more like a bride adorned for her wedding, with its dazzling white painted bricks, the glossy gardens that always maintained their lush verdancy and the wooded areas surrounding the sprawling property.

He was a member through his father and his grandfather before him. Centuries ago, when the club had opened its doors, it had been exclusively run and operated by men of a certain class and color.

Now men of every class and culture mingled, brushing elbows, talking politics and business.

The only requirement was the possession of a hefty bank account and the ability to pay the exorbitant fee charged for the privilege of becoming a member.

He hated the pomp and grandeur, the affectations of certain members of society.

He caught a glimpse of a minor royalty, the man's raucous laughter already grating on his nerves.

Kai strode deliberately past the gilded double doors leading into the main hall, his sharp eyes scanning the clusters of men clad in tailored suits and designer watches.

The atmosphere was thick with whispers of mergers, acquisitions, and strategies to outmaneuver rivals.

Despite his distaste for the pretensions of the place, he had to admit that The Elite Club served as a fertile ground for connections—powerful ones that could alter the trajectory of fortunes and empires.

His attention was momentarily drawn to the grand chandelier overhead, a cascading crystal masterpiece that refracted light in dazzling fragments across the room.

It reminded him of the labyrinthine paths of ambition that crisscrossed the lives of the men gathered below, twisting and shimmering, but often leading nowhere.

Kai's mood darkened further as he spotted Lars Davidson—a mogul notorious for his ruthless tactics—holding court near the bar.

Lars had an uncanny knack for making friends while setting traps for his enemies.

Kai knew better than to underestimate him.

They'd crossed paths before, and the scars of that encounter remained etched in Kai's memory.

Skipping the pleasantries, he made his way to a quieter corner of the room, where the smell of leather-bound books and aged brandy lingered.

He spotted Elijah, his oldest friend and one of the few people he trusted implicitly, nursing a glass of deep amber liquid.

Elijah's presence was a welcome reprieve—a reminder that amidst all the chaos, loyalty and honesty still existed in some corners of his world.

"Late as always," Elijah quipped, setting his drink down with a knowing smirk. "You missed the fireworks. Davidson's been stirring the pot again."

Kai settled into the chair opposite him, his jaw tightening at the mention of Lars. "Let me guess. He's angling for control of the new tech startup?"

Elijah nodded, his expression grave. "And he's not the only one. The entire room has been buzzing about it tonight."

Kai leaned forward, his mind already racing through possibilities. The Elite Club might be insufferable, but it was also the nexus where decisions were made that would ripple far beyond its walls. If he was going to protect his interests, he'd have to play the game—but on his own terms.

He was already sending out feelers in regard to that particular acquisition and he was much smarter than Davidson. But he was not here to discuss business. And it annoyed him that he had apparently come at a time when there was a lot going on.

He had decided to head out of town, the restlessness staying with him no matter what he did.

He had wanted peace and quiet, a chance to think things through.

He had told Maxie that she could have her time and pride prevented him from calling her.

He was not a beggar reaching out for scraps.

He had laid his bloody cards on the table—shown his entire hand and had nothing else to do but wait.

"You're brooding."

The amused tone of his friend's voice had him looking up from his drink.

He had seen several other friends spilling into the ballroom.

Liam and Adam were stopped by several acquaintances as they plowed through the crowd.

Kane was with his lovely wife, a mover and shaker in her own right and Bradley had Leesa in tow.

Very soon, his need for solitude would be blown.

He should have followed his instinct and gone straight to his suite of rooms. He was certainly not in the mood for company.

As Kai swirled the liquor in his glass, the amber liquid caught the light like molten gold, reflecting his inner turmoil. Elijah watched him closely, his perceptive gaze cutting through Kai's guarded demeanor.

"You didn't come here just to sulk, did you?" Elijah probed, his tone light but laced with concern.

Kai raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement breaking through his otherwise dark mood. "Maybe I did. Or maybe I'm just tired of playing this ridiculous game."

Elijah leaned back, his own drink forgotten for the moment. "You may not like the game, Kai, but it's the one we've always had to play. And you're better at it than most."

Kai exhaled sharply, setting his glass down with a soft clink. "Better doesn't mean invincible. These people don't just play—they devour. Davidson's proof of that."

Elijah's lips curled into a wry smile. "True. But do you really think backing out is an option? You're in it now—like it or not."

The hum of conversation grew louder as another wave of arrivals poured into the ballroom, their laughter and chatter a stark contrast to Kai's brooding silence. He glanced toward the entrance and caught a glimpse of—Christ! This was just what the evening needed to send it to hell.

"What the hell is she doing here?"

She hadn't seen him yet, but her confidence was unmistakable—head held high, movements purposeful, a force of nature in a room filled with calculated politeness.

Kai felt his chest tighten, the restless energy that had driven him here bubbling anew.

He wasn't ready to confront her—not tonight, not with the room watching every flicker of emotion on his face.

Elijah followed his gaze, his smirk returning with renewed vigor. "Ah, so the ever-present ex. You can always foist her off on me." His light blue eyes gleamed with admiration as he took in the sinuous curves artfully displayed in a slinky red gown.

Kai shot him a sardonic look, but Elijah only chuckled. "I'm not ashamed or even particular about picking up your leftovers. You happen to have excellent taste in women."

Ignoring the jab, Kai stood abruptly, the legs of his chair scraping against the polished floor. "I need some air."

"And I need another drink," Elijah replied, lifting his glass in mock salute. "Don't disappear completely, Kai. Chaos doesn't wait for anyone."

Kai didn't respond. He slipped through the crowd with practiced ease, the hum of the room fading as he crossed into the dimly lit terrace. The cool night air hit him like a balm, but the weight in his chest remained. This wasn't over—not by a long shot.

Since the scene at her place where she had accused him of being a coldhearted son of a bitch, he had avoided her presence.

They ran in the same social circle, but to his relief, he heard that she had gone to Italy for a movie shoot she was doing.

He was not in the frame of mind to have it out with her again, not when his emotions were so raw.

Leaning against the column, he took out his pack of cheroots and carefully selected one.

November was quickly giving way to December and the chill in the air was evidence that winter was a stone's throw away.

Inhaling the fragrant smoke and pulling it into his lungs, he tilted his head upwards, surprised and pleased to discover the full moon, with the stars sprinkled like tiny jewels around the silver orb.

The terrace door creaked open behind him, breaking the stillness of his momentary reprieve.

Kai didn't need to turn to know who it was; the scent of her perfume, a heady mix of citrus and jasmine, carried on the night air and wrapped around him like a taut string pulling him back toward the ballroom.

"You're still partial to those," she said, her tone low, almost conversational. Her heels clicked softly against the stone as she stepped closer, her movements unhurried. "I'd have thought you'd given them up by now, Kai."

He exhaled the smoke slowly, watching the thin stream dissipate into the night. "Some habits are harder to break."

She stopped a few feet away, her silhouette framed against the golden glow spilling from the glass doors. Her red gown shimmered faintly, catching the light like embers in the dark.

"And some people," she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of something he couldn't quite place, "are harder to forget."

Kai turned then, his gaze locking onto hers. Her confidence faltered for the briefest of moments, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her face before she masked it with a practiced poise.

"What do you want, Maria?"

Her name tasted familiar on his tongue, a name he hadn't spoken aloud in months. She tilted her head slightly, as if considering her answer, before a soft smile curved her lips.

"To talk. Or, at the very least, to not have you vanish every time we're in the same room."

He looked away, focusing on the horizon where the city's lights blurred into the star-speckled sky. "I didn't vanish. I stayed out of your way. There's a difference."

"Semantics," she said lightly, though there was an edge to her words. "You can't keep doing this, Kai. Avoidance doesn't suit you."

He chuckled, the sound bitter and hollow. "You made it difficult for us to be civil."