Chapter 1

I was halfway to my knees when Alexander Sterling walked into the boutique.

One second earlier, the whole store had been watching me break.

The next, everyone forgot how to breathe.

Tiffany Vale still stood in front of me with her hand raised, her diamond bracelet flashing under the soft lights.

My cheek burned from where she had slapped me.

Her friends stood behind her, smiling like humiliation was a private sport.

Her boyfriend stared at the floor now.

Of course he did.

He had caused the whole thing with one quiet sentence.

“You have beautiful eyes.”

That was all he said.

I had not smiled.

I had not flirted.

I had not even looked at him longer than politeness required.

But Tiffany heard it.

And women like Tiffany did not blame men for wandering eyes.

They blamed the woman being looked at.

So she slapped me in the middle of the Rodeo Drive boutique where I worked.

Then she ordered me to kneel.

“Kneel and apologize,” she hissed.

My manager, Carl, stood near the register with his hands locked together.

He said nothing.

He was terrified of Tiffany’s family.

Everyone was.

Her father owned buildings downtown, restaurants in West Hollywood, and enough political favors to make decent people swallow their tongues.

I looked around the room.

No one moved.

No one helped.

So I closed my eyes.

And I started to bend.

Then that voice cut through the silence.

“That won’t be necessary.”

Low.

Calm.

Cold.

I opened my eyes.

Alexander Sterling stood near the entrance in a charcoal suit that looked made by someone who understood money as a language.

I had seen his photo once in the company handbook.

Owner of Sterling Row.

Owner of the building.

Owner of the boutique.

Owner of everything Tiffany believed protected her.

His eyes moved from my red cheek to Tiffany’s raised hand.

Then to Carl.

“Why is my employee on the floor?”

Carl went pale.

Tiffany recovered first.

“She insulted me.”

Alexander looked at me.

“Did you?”

My voice barely worked.

“No, sir.”

Tiffany laughed.

“She flirted with my boyfriend.”

Alexander turned to the boyfriend.

“Did she?”

The man swallowed.

“No.”

Tiffany whipped toward him.

“Excuse me?”

He stepped back.

“She didn’t do anything. I complimented her.”

The room went dead still.

Alexander’s eyes returned to Tiffany.

“So you assaulted an employee because your boyfriend lacked manners.”

Tiffany’s face flushed.

“Do you know who my father is?”

Alexander did not blink.

“Yes.”

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