Richard lifted her hand from the cool marble table and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against her knuckles, his dark eyes crinkling with a genuine smile.

For the next few seconds, Roxanne remained silent, her mind racing in the quiet warmth of the VIP room. She had finally said yes to him, but she couldn’t stop her thoughts from wandering. What did that single word truly mean? What was her life actually going to look like now?

"I promised to introduce you to my world," Richard said softly, breaking the silence as if he could read the exact thoughts spinning in her head. "So, right after the official announcement this Friday, there are a few people you need to meet."

Roxanne furrowed her brows, steepling her fingers under her chin as she stared across the candlelight at him. "Who?"

Richard picked up the bottle of rich, dark wine and poured a slow stream into her glass. He slid the crystal toward her, his fingers brushing against hers. "People whose opinions matter to me," he replied, his gaze heavy and intentional.

Roxanne lifted the glass and took a slow sip, hoping the crisp, cool liquid would soothe the frantic fluttering in her chest. "Business associates?"

Richard smiled, setting his own glass down with a soft click. "Some."

"And the others?" she pressed, her brows still knit together in curiosity.

"Patience, Roxanne. You will meet them soon enough," Richard replied smoothly, entirely unbothered by her questioning. "For now, we need to focus all our energy on getting you fully prepped and ready for Friday. It’s your official introduction to the company."

Roxanne didn’t argue. Honestly, the weight of her upcoming executive role was terrifying enough to distract her from whatever secret circle he wanted to pull her into.

"Right now, the legal team is finalizing the paperwork," he continued, leaning back in his chair. "You’ll be called into the office tomorrow to sign a few final documents. Oh, and also, I picked out a dress for you." He turned slightly and snapped his fingers toward the door.

"You picked my dress?" Roxanne’s eyes widened in disbelief.

A quiet assistant immediately stepped into the room, handing a sleek, matte-black shopping bag to Richard before vanishing again.

"Weeks ago," Richard said, sliding the heavy bag across the table to her.

"Weeks? Are you serious?" Roxanne let out a breathless laugh, opening the top of the bag to peek at the luxurious, shimmering fabric folded inside.

"I was entirely confident you would eventually say yes to me," Richard murmured, a playful spark in his eyes. "And this happens to be exactly what I love to do for my woman."

Roxanne looked up from the bag, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "And what if I want to pick out my own dresses?"

Richard simply smiled, smoothly bypassing the question. "We should meet in the evenings for the rest of the week. I want to personally coach you on a few things regarding your new role, and the specific circle you are about to enter."

Roxanne nodded, sliding the shopping bag onto her lap. "I would greatly appreciate a cheatsheet from the CEO himself."

Richard’s smile widened. Unable to resist the pull of his presence any longer, Roxanne stood up from her seat and walked around the small table to his side. Richard immediately pushed his chair back, giving them more room, and pulled her down onto his thighs.

As she settled into his lap, his large hands gripped her hips tightly, anchoring her to him. Roxanne wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning down to melt into a deep, breathless kiss. The scent of his expensive cologne and the warmth of his skin filled her senses, erasing every lingering doubt in her mind.

The rest of the night blurred past in a haze of whispered promises.

Hours later, Roxanne’s car rolled to a quiet stop outside her penthouse apartment. A soft smile remained on her face as she opened the door, carefully grabbing the heavy luxury shopping bag from the passenger seat. Walking up the front steps, her heart felt lighter than it had in years.

She was his woman now. The thought sent a thrill through her veins as she unlocked the front door and stepped into the quiet apartment. Moments later, she turned the handle of the master bedroom and stepped inside, only to freeze.

"By Friday night, every single person in this city is going to know my name," Christian muttered to his own reflection, turning around in front of the full-length mirror.

Roxanne frowned, her chest tightening with immediate annoyance. What on earth is he talking about? Then her eyes landed on the sharp crispness of the charcoal fabric and the designer label still hanging from the collar of his suit jacket. Was he trying on a brand-new suit?

"What is going on, Christian?" she asked, her voice tight.

He whirled around. The moment his eyes landed on her, an arrogant grin broke across his face. He strode across the bedroom and threw his arms around her in a tight hug.

Roxanne went completely rigid in his embrace, her hands pinned to her sides, but he didn’t even notice. He simply pulled back, gripping her shoulders.

"I am so sorry for earlier, Roxy," he said, practically beaming. "I finally found out what you did for me behind closed doors."

Roxanne’s heart skipped a beat, her brows pulling tight. Did Richard actually tell him something?

"One of the executives tipped me off. Vance Enterprises is making a massive executive announcement this Friday," Christian gloated, puffing out his chest. "I am going to be named the new CEO, Roxy! Can you believe it? Finally, everything I deserve!"

Roxanne stared at him, the silence stretching between them. She felt a wave of pity mix with her disgust. He is completely delusional, she thought. He actually thinks he is getting the crown.

Christian’s eyes suddenly drifted down to her hand, noticing the expensive black shopping bag she was clutching. His smile faltered slightly, his brows knitting together. "That looks expensive. What’s the dress for?"

Roxanne smoothly pulled the bag behind her thigh, her knuckles turning white around the rope handles. "Nothing important."

Christian tilted his head, a condescending smirk returning to his lips. "Oh, silly you. Don’t tell me you bought that, thinking you were coming with me? It’s a high-level executive announcement, Roxy. You can’t come," he said, patting her shoulder mockingly. "But don’t worry. I’ll make sure to take plenty of photos for you."

Roxanne shook her head, a cold laugh bubbling in her throat. "Christian, you are completely—"

"By Friday night, I will be the most powerful man in this corporate circle," Christian interrupted, turning back to the mirror to admire his silhouette. "Everyone will be addressing me as the CEO of Vance Enterprises."

Roxanne pressed her lips into a thin line. She stared at his back, realizing there was absolutely no use in arguing with him. Letting him crash and burn in front of the entire city would be far more satisfying.

"What, are you just going to stand there like a statue?" Christian asked, looking at her reflection with an arrogant tilt of his chin. "At least congratulate me."

Roxanne’s eyes slowly scanned his frame, taking in the pristine, expensive suit he had bought for a victory that wasn’t his. A slow, dangerous smirk crept onto her face.

"Congratulations, Christian," she said softly.

His grin stretched wide, completely missing the venom in her tone. "Yes! Thank you!"

Roxanne turned toward the closet, her voice echoing lightly over her shoulder. "Friday is going to be absolutely unforgettable."

"You bet it will!" Christian called out happily, adjusting his tie in the glass.

As Christian admired himself in the mirror, Roxanne couldn’t help wondering which would shatter first on Friday. The illusion he had built around his career, or the one he had built around himself.