The grand chandelier sparkled above the sea of elegantly dressed guests. The luxurious ballroom of the Anderson Hotel was alive with laughter and the clinking of glasses. Beneath the golden light, the wealthy and powerful mingled, exchanging superficial pleasantries and veiled threats behind charming smiles.
But Noah Kingston wasn't there for the pleasantries.
He stood near the edge of the balcony, his sharp gaze observing the crowd below. The perfectly tailored black tuxedo hugged his broad frame, exuding power. His obsidian eyes—dark, cold, and unyielding—pierced through the fake smiles and shallow conversations, looking for something deeper. Something threatening.
Noah didn't believe in coincidences. Not in his line of work.
For the past three weeks, he had sensed a shift in the air. His enemies were moving in the shadows, growing bolder with every step. Yet, they remained invisible—a ghostly presence. And Noah Kingston hated ghosts.
A faint movement caught his eye.
By the bar counter, a woman stood alone. She was dressed in a dark emerald satin gown that clung to her figure like it was sculpted for her. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down her back in unruly perfection, and the emerald fabric made her bronzed skin glow like liquid gold.
But it wasn't her beauty that caught his attention. It was the way she carried herself—elegant but cautious, like she didn't belong there. She clutched her wine glass with slightly trembling fingers, and her eyes, despite their alluring darkness, were constantly scanning the room.
Elena Carter.
Noah's jaw clenched slightly. She had been attending several elite events lately—ones she had no business being at. No family name, no visible wealth. Yet, here she was, again.
He watched as she took a careful sip from her wine glass, her lips curving into a small, practiced smile. She was trying too hard to blend in, and that alone made her stand out.
Noah narrowed his eyes.
"Who the hell are you, Elena Carter?"
---
Elena's fingers trembled slightly around the stem of her glass. She could feel the weight of his gaze from across the room. It burned into her skin, making her pulse quicken.
She had done her homework. She knew who he was.
Noah Kingston—the ruthless and untouchable king of the underground.
Her instructions were clear—get close to him, gain his trust, and find his weakness. The people who had sent her assured her it was a straightforward task. But standing here, with his dark gaze stripping her to her core, she realized nothing about this was going to be easy.
His eyes were deadly. Cold and calculating, they felt like scalpels, slicing through her carefully crafted façade.
Her heart thudded against her ribs when she noticed him walking toward her.
Every step deliberate. Every step lethal.
---
"Enjoying the party?"
The deep, gravelly voice sent a shiver down Elena's spine before she could stop it. She turned slightly, forcing a calm smile to her lips. Noah Kingston stood right before her, his eyes fixed on her with the sharpness of a predator assessing its prey.
Up close, he was far more intimidating than she had imagined.
Towering frame. Broad shoulders. A chiseled jawline lined with light stubble.
But it was his eyes—void of warmth—that made her breath catch.
Elena held his gaze and responded smoothly,
"It's hard not to, when everything here looks so... flawless."
Noah's lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes remained impassive.
"Flawless, huh?" He leaned slightly closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's a dangerous assumption in a room full of predators."
Elena's smile faltered for a brief second, and Noah caught it.
She knew he was testing her, and she couldn't afford to slip. So she arched her brow and replied playfully,
"I suppose that makes me the prey?"
Noah chuckled darkly, but there was no humor in it.
"No, sweetheart. It makes you either a fool... or a threat."
His words sent a chill through her veins, but Elena tilted her head, feigning indifference.
"You have quite the imagination, Mr. Kingston."
The corner of his lips twitched into something that resembled amusement, but his eyes remained hard, still studying her.
---
The night wore on, but Noah never let Elena out of his sight.
She felt the intensity of his gaze even when he wasn't looking directly at her. It was like he had memorized her presence—every breath, every movement.
But she wasn't here to be intimidated. She had a job to do.
Elena excused herself and made her way toward the back hallway, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She glanced over her shoulder—Noah was speaking to someone, distracted.
Perfect.
Slipping through the door, she moved swiftly down the corridor, her fingers already unzipping the side of her gown slightly to reveal a small, hidden flash drive strapped to her thigh. She glanced around, making sure no one was watching, and slid into the hotel's data room.
Her hands trembled slightly as she plugged the drive into the server port, her heart thundering in her ears. The seconds felt like hours as the data copied onto the drive.
But then—a faint sound behind her.
She spun around, her eyes wide.
Noah.
He leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, watching her with a look that was anything but amused.
"You're either very bold... or very stupid."
Elena's heart plummeted to her stomach.
Shit.
She plastered on a sheepish smile.
"Oh... I was just—"
"Spare me the lie." His voice was cold, cutting. "You have exactly five seconds to tell me who sent you."
Elena's blood turned to ice.
"What?" she whispered, trying to feign confusion.
But Noah was already walking toward her, his steps slow and measured.
"Four."
Her breath hitched.
"I-I was just lost—"
"Three."
She stumbled back, her fingers brushing against the flash drive. She yanked it free and tried to run, but Noah's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in a bruising grip.
"Two." His voice was low, almost a growl, his eyes locked onto hers.
Elena's eyes widened, her pulse racing. "Please... I can explain—"
"One."
Before she could react, Noah's hand wrapped around her throat, slamming her back against the wall. Her breath hitched as his face hovered mere inches from hers.
"Who. Sent. You?" His voice was sharp, each word dripping with cold fury.
For a moment, their eyes locked. Her fear clashed with his fury, but beneath it... something flickered.
Noah's grip loosened—just slightly.
And in that brief second, Elena did the only thing she could think of.
She surged forward and pressed her lips to his.
It wasn't a kiss of affection—it was raw, desperate, and laced with defiance.
Noah froze for a brief second before his grip tightened around her wrist, crushing the flash drive in his hand. He ripped his lips away from hers, his eyes burning with lethal intensity.
"You're going to regret that." His voice was low and deadly.
Elena stared into his eyes, her lips slightly parted, her breath ragged. But she didn't flinch.
Instead, she whispered back, "I already do."
---
Noah now knew she wasn't just a random socialite. She was dangerous. And he was going to find out why—even if it meant destroying her.
But what he didn't realize was...
She was already destroying him.
----
See you in next chapter....