Chapter 2 THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY

"You look beautiful, sweetheart."

I tugged at the borrowed dress-borrowed from my mother's new wardrobe-and tried not to think about the three-thousand-dollar price tag I'd glimpsed.

"I look ridiculous," I muttered.

Claire Laurent-soon to be Claire Stone-touched my cheek with perfectly manicured fingers. "You look like you belong here."

"I don't belong here, Mom."

We stood in the bathroom of the Stone mansion. Mansion didn't even cover it. This place had wings. The bathroom was bigger than my entire apartment.

"After tonight, this will be your home too." Mom's eyes shimmered. "Everything's going to change, Maya. For both of us."

Change. Right. Because marrying a billionaire three months after meeting him was totally normal.

"Mom, are you sure about this? You barely know him."

"I know I love him. And he loves me. That's enough."

Was it? I studied her face, searching for doubt.

Nothing.

"Okay," I said. "Let's go."

The party was already in full swing. Champagne flowed. A string quartet played. People who probably had their own Wikipedia pages mingled on terraces overlooking Central Park.

I felt like an imposter.

"Maya!" Mom's voice was bright, artificial. "Come meet Richard's sons."

Sons. Plural.

My stomach dropped.

A group of men stood by the bar, all wearing tuxedos. But only one turned as we approached.

My breath stopped.

No.

Julian Beaumont-Julian Stone?-stared at me with an expression I couldn't read. Surprise. Guilt. Heat.

"You," I breathed.

"You know each other?" Richard Stone materialized beside us. Tall, silver-haired, with eyes that assessed and calculated.

"We-" Julian started.

"No," I said sharply. "We don't."

Julian's jaw tightened.

"Maya, these are my sons. Julian, Dominic, and Asher." Richard gestured.

I forced myself to look at the others.

The one in the middle-Dominic-was watching me with cold, analytical eyes. Older than Julian. Harder.

The youngest stood slightly apart, dressed in black. Artist hands, I noted absurdly. Long fingers stained with what looked like charcoal.

"Gentlemen, this is Claire's daughter, Maya. Your soon-to-be stepsister."

Stepsister.

The word hung in the air like a grenade.

Julian's face went carefully blank. The youngest-Asher?-looked at me with sudden, intense interest. And Dominic smiled. It wasn't friendly.

"Stepsister," he repeated. "How... quaint."

"Dominic." Richard's voice held warning.

"What? I'm just saying-"

"Don't. Be polite."

I wanted to disappear.

"Excuse me," I managed. "I need some air."

I fled before anyone could stop me.

The terrace was empty, thank God. I gripped the marble railing and tried to remember how to breathe.

"So. A gold-digger's daughter."

I spun.

Dominic Stone stood in the doorway, backlit and beautiful and looking at me like I was something he'd scrape off his shoe.

"Excuse me?"

He approached slowly, predatory. "Your mother. She's after my father's money. And you? What are you after?"

"I'm not after anything."

"No?" He was close now. Too close. I could see gold flecks in his dark eyes. "Then why do you look terrified?"

"Because you're acting like a psychopath."

His laugh was sharp. "At least I'm honest. Can you say the same?"

"I don't have to justify myself to you."

"No. But you will have to live with us. In our house. Playing happy family." He leaned in, and my back hit the railing. "Let me make something clear. I don't know what game you and your mother are playing, but-"

"Go to hell."

My hand moved before my brain caught up.

The slap echoed across the terrace.

Dominic's head snapped to the side. For one frozen moment, neither of us moved.

Then he turned back, and my breath caught.

His eyes burned.

"You just made a mistake," he said softly.

"Did I?"

His hand came up, and I flinched. But he didn't strike. Instead, his fingers caught my chin, tilting my face up.

"You have no idea what you've just started."

His thumb brushed my bottom lip.

My body betrayed me. Heat flooded my veins. My pulse hammered.

"This can't happen," I whispered.

"No," he agreed. "It can't."

But neither of us moved.

His gaze dropped to my mouth. My lips parted involuntarily.

"Step away from her."

We jerked apart.

Julian stood in the doorway, his expression murderous.

"Now," Julian added, voice like steel.

Dominic's smile was slow, vicious. "Or what, little brother?"

"Or I'll-"

"Stop." I pushed past Dominic. "Both of you. Just... stop."

I ran.

Through the party. Past my mother. Past curious stares. I ran until I found an elevator, punched the button, and threw myself inside.

The doors started to close.

A hand shot through, stopping them.

Dominic stepped inside.

"No," I gasped. "Get out-"

He hit a button. The elevator lurched downward.

And stopped.

Between floors.

In the sudden silence, I heard my heart pounding.

"What did you do?"

Dominic turned to me, and the look in his eyes made me back hit the wall.

"Something I'm going to regret."

He moved.

His mouth crashed into mine.