Aria regretted saying yes almost immediately.
The next evening, she found herself standing outside The Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago, the golden lights from the grand entrance spilling out onto the wet pavement. Luxury cars lined the circular driveway, valets in crisp uniforms opening doors for Chicago's elite. The air buzzed with the low hum of conversation and the clink of champagne glasses.
Her throat tightened as her eyes swept over the crowd. These people billionaires, socialites, and politicians were the type who didn't just walk into a room. They owned it.
And now, thanks to Theo Kingston, she was expected to blend in.
She tugged at the hem of the emerald satin dress Theo's assistant, Grace, had sent over earlier that day. It fit like a second skin a little too perfectly, as if it had been tailored specifically for her. The deep V-neckline dipped lower than anything Aria had ever worn, and the slit that ran up her thigh left her feeling painfully exposed.
Her hand curled into a fist at her side. This wasn't her world.
A sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The driver stepped out and opened the door.
Theo emerged like a predator stepping into his domain. He was dressed in a fitted black tuxedo, his dark hair styled with precision. He adjusted the cufflinks at his wrists with the kind of calm self-assurance that made the whole world seem to shift around him.
Aria's breath caught.
He moved toward her with measured steps, his gray eyes locking onto hers with quiet intensity.
"You're early," he said smoothly.
"You said eight o'clock."
Theo's gaze slid down her figure. His jaw twitched. "The dress suits you."
Heat crept up her neck. "It's not mine."
"It is now."
Her lips parted, but before she could respond, Theo extended his hand toward her.
Aria stared at it.
His voice dropped an octave. "This will work better if you don't look like you'd rather be anywhere else."
Aria's eyes flicked toward the polished crowd filtering into the hotel. For a brief, reckless moment, she considered running but the weight of the contract in her mind held her in place.
With a resigned breath, she slipped her hand into Theo's.
His fingers curled around hers, firm and steady. The heat of his skin shot through her veins like an electric current.
Theo's mouth tilted slightly. "Good girl."
Her pulse spiked dangerously. "Don't push your luck."
A glint of amusement sparked in his eyes as he led her toward the entrance. His grip was light but possessive, his thumb brushing the inside of her wrist in a way that felt far too intimate for a man she barely knew.
They entered the grand ballroom together.
It was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers dripped from the vaulted ceiling, casting soft light over the marble floors. The hum of conversation floated beneath the sound of a live string quartet. Elegant couples in designer gowns and tailored suits danced beneath the golden glow, moving with the kind of effortless grace that came from old money and legacy.
Aria's stomach tightened.
Eyes turned toward them the moment they crossed the threshold. The reaction was immediate women whispering behind jeweled hands, men raising glasses with thinly veiled curiosity.
Theo's hand slid around her waist, pulling her against his side.
"They're staring," Aria whispered.
"They're curious."
"They're judging."
Theo's hand tightened at her waist. His mouth lowered toward her ear, his breath skimming the sensitive skin of her neck. "Let them."
Her breath hitched.
Theo led her toward the center of the room, his movements smooth and controlled. A tall, older man with silver hair stepped toward them, a glass of whiskey in hand. His sharp eyes swept over Aria with quiet calculation.
"Richard," Theo said coolly.
Aria's pulse hammered painfully as recognition clicked into place. Richard Kingston, Theo's father.
"I wasn't aware you were bringing a guest tonight," Richard said, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Theo's expression didn't shift. "My fiancée."
Richard's gaze sharpened. Slowly, he extended his hand toward Aria. "Richard Kingston."
Aria's throat tightened as she slipped her hand into his. His grip was firm too firm, his eyes studying her like a piece of art he was trying to figure out how to price.
"Aria Morgan," she said quietly.
Richard's mouth curved slightly. "Ah, the violinist."
She stiffened. Of course he knew. A man like Richard Kingston didn't let anyone into his orbit without knowing exactly who they were.
"Charming," Richard said smoothly. "But I wonder do you really believe you belong here?"
Aria's cheeks burned. Her mouth opened but Theo's hand slid to the small of her back.
"She belongs with me," Theo said flatly. His eyes darkened, steel-cold. "And I'm not interested in your opinion."
Richard's expression tightened. A charged silence stretched between them.
Finally, Richard's mouth curled into something resembling a smile. "Of course. Congratulations." His gaze lingered on Aria a second too long before he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Aria's chest constricted painfully.
Theo's thumb brushed the small of her back. "You're shaking."
"I'm fine," Aria said quickly.
Theo's eyes narrowed. He leaned down until his lips hovered just beside her ear. "Breathe."
Aria's pulse stuttered. "I'm not your possession."
Theo's mouth curved against her skin. "No," he murmured. "But tonight, you're mine."
She pulled back sharply, glaring up at him. "Careful, Kingston. You might start believing this is real."
Theo's gaze darkened. His eyes dropped to her mouth. "What makes you think I don't?"
Her breath faltered.
Before she could respond, another figure swept toward them a tall woman in an ice-blue gown. Platinum blond hair framed her sharp cheekbones, and a diamond necklace glittered beneath the lights.
"Theo." The woman's red lips curled. "It's been too long."
Theo's expression hardened. "Emma."
Aria's stomach dropped. Emma Sinclair. Theo's ex-fiancée.
Emma's eyes shifted toward Aria, her smile turning razor-sharp. "And you must be the… new arrangement."
Theo's jaw tightened. "This is Aria Morgan."
Emma's gaze swept over Aria like she was sizing her up and finding her lacking. "Interesting choice," she murmured.
Aria's spine stiffened. She forced a smile. "I could say the same about your dress."
Emma's eyes flashed with thinly veiled disdain. "Careful," she said softly. "Theo doesn't have a habit of keeping things that don't belong."
Aria's breath caught.
Theo's hand tightened at her waist. "That's enough," he said, his tone sharp.
Emma's mouth curved slightly. "Of course."
She slipped away into the crowd.
Aria's hands curled into fists at her sides. "Charming."
Theo's gaze lingered on Emma's retreating figure before sliding back to Aria. His eyes darkened.
"You handled that well," he said softly.
Aria's jaw tightened. "Don't sound so surprised."
Theo's mouth curved slightly. His thumb brushed the small of her back.
"I think I underestimated you."
Aria's heart hammered.
Theo leaned closer, his breath brushing the sensitive skin beneath her ear.
"Good," she said, her voice sharper than intended. "Because you'll find I'm full of surprises."
Theo's gaze darkened. His hand slid down her back, his touch lingering.
Aria forced herself to breathe. She was in over her head and the worst part was, part of her didn't care.
She was playing with fire.
And Theo Kingston was more than willing to let her burn.
Theo's hand lingered on the small of Aria's back as he guided her toward the edge of the ballroom. His touch was light, almost casual but there was nothing casual about the way his fingers pressed into the thin satin of her dress, grounding her beneath the heavy gaze of Chicago's elite.
Aria's pulse hammered in her throat as she forced herself to focus on the marble floor beneath her heels instead of the weight of Theo's body beside her.
"You're tense," Theo murmured.
Aria shot him a sidelong glare. "Can't imagine why."
Theo's mouth curved slightly, but his eyes were sharp as they swept the room. His grip on her waist tightened as Richard Kingston reappeared near the bar, his gaze cool and calculating beneath the low golden lights.
"We need to give them a show," Theo said.
Aria's heart lurched. "A show?"
Theo's eyes flashed with quiet challenge. "They're waiting for proof."
"Proof of what?"
"That you belong here."
Before Aria could respond, Theo's hand slid down to her wrist. His touch was warm and steady as he pulled her toward the center of the ballroom.
Aria's heels skidded slightly on the marble floor. "Theo"
He turned, his mouth dangerously close to her ear. "Dance with me."
She stiffened. "I don't"
"I'm not asking."
A low hum of music drifted through the ballroom as the string quartet began a slow, haunting waltz.
Theo's hand slid around her waist, his other hand capturing hers with quiet authority. Aria's breath hitched as he pulled her closer, so close that the heat of his chest brushed against the thin fabric of her dress.
Her pulse spiked violently.
"I don't know how to waltz," she whispered.
Theo's mouth curved against her temple. "Follow my lead."
Aria's heart slammed into her ribs as Theo stepped forward, guiding her into the first turn. His hand pressed into the small of her back, directing her movements with unnerving precision. His body was all hard lines and controlled strength, his grip steady and confident as he swept her across the floor.
"You're doing fine," Theo murmured.
Aria's breath came in shallow bursts as the world narrowed down to the weight of Theo's hand against her back and the way his gray eyes burned beneath the low lights.
"You didn't tell me your father would be here," she said tightly.
Theo's jaw tightened. "It's better this way."
"For who?"
Theo's gaze sharpened. "Richard likes to think he's in control. This will remind him that he isn't."
Aria's chest tightened. "So I'm a pawn in your power struggle."
Theo's eyes darkened. "Don't flatter yourself. You're more than that."
Aria's breath hitched. "Then what am I?"
Theo's mouth brushed dangerously close to her ear. His breath stirred the fine hairs along her neck.
"Mine."
Aria's pulse spiked dangerously. Her heel caught on the floor, and she stumbled. Theo's grip tightened, steadying her before she could fall.
Her chest rose and fell beneath the sharp cut of her dress as Theo's gaze swept her face. His eyes were hard, but there was something beneath the cold veneer, a flicker of heat.
A hand brushed against Theo's shoulder.
"Mind if I cut in?"
Aria's head snapped toward the voice. A tall man with chestnut hair and sharp blue eyes stood beside them, his mouth curved in an easy, amused smile. His tuxedo was crisp, his demeanor relaxed but the tension between him and Theo was immediate and razor-sharp.
Theo's gaze hardened. "James."
James extended his hand toward Aria, his smile deepening. "A pleasure to meet you, Aria. I'm James Holloway."
Aria hesitated.
Theo's hand tightened at her waist. "We were in the middle of something."
James's smile didn't waver. "I'm sure you were."
Aria's eyes darted between them. "It's fine."
Theo's jaw tightened.
Slowly, Aria slipped her hand from Theo's grasp and took James's outstretched hand. James's smile widened as he led her away from Theo and into the next turn of the waltz.
"You seem tense," James murmured, his hand light against her back.
Aria's gaze flicked toward Theo, who stood at the edge of the ballroom like a storm about to break. His jaw was tight, his gray eyes sharp as he watched them.
"I'm fine," Aria said tightly.
James's mouth tilted. "If that's true, you're better at this game than Theo gives you credit for."
Aria's brow furrowed. "Game?"
James's smile sharpened. "You don't think this is real, do you?"
Her stomach dropped.
James's eyes glittered beneath the soft lights. "Careful, Aria. Theo doesn't usually play for keeps."
Aria's pulse spiked.
James leaned in slightly, his mouth brushing close to her ear. "And neither do the Kingstons."
Aria pulled back sharply. "Why are you telling me this?"
James's gaze flicked toward Theo. "Consider it a friendly warning."
Before Aria could respond, James's hand slipped from her waist as the music faded. His mouth curved slightly.
"Good luck," he said softly. "You're going to need it."
Aria's chest tightened as James disappeared into the crowd.
A shadow fell across her shoulder.
"Do you make a habit of letting strangers put their hands on you?"
Aria turned. Theo's expression was hard, his jaw tight as he stared after James.
Her eyes narrowed. "Do you make a habit of treating your fake fiancées like property?"
Theo's eyes darkened dangerously. "Careful."
"Or what?" Aria's heart hammered beneath her ribs. "You'll cancel the deal?"
Theo's mouth curved slightly but there was no humor in it.
"You're learning," he said softly.
Aria's pulse hammered painfully as Theo's hand slid around her waist again, pulling her against him.
"Stay close," he murmured, his breath brushing against her temple. "I'd hate to lose you."
Aria's gaze sharpened. "Is that a threat?"
Theo's mouth tilted in that dark, knowing way.
"Would it matter?"
Aria's breath hitched.
Theo's hand slid lower, his fingers grazing the curve of her hip. His gaze burned into hers with quiet possession.
"You're playing a dangerous game," Aria said quietly.
Theo's mouth brushed the edge of her jaw.
"I'm not the one in danger," he said.
Aria's breath caught.
Across the room, Richard Kingston stood at the edge of the bar, his sharp gaze cutting toward them. Emma lingered near the grand staircase, her eyes glinting with thinly veiled amusement. James leaned against the far wall, watching the scene unfold with the relaxed indifference of someone who knew exactly how this story was going to end.
Aria's heart hammered painfully beneath her ribs as Theo's grip tightened.
"You wanted to belong to this world?" Theo's gaze burned into hers. "Welcome to it."
Aria's breath hitched as the music swelled once more, and Theo pulled her into the next dance.
Her heart screamed in protest but her body followed his lead.
And the worst part?
Some dark, reckless part of her didn't want him to let go.