Prologue

Sophie tapped the heels of her Louboutin shoes against the marble floor of the grand hallway leading to her twelve-square-meter office in one of Los Angeles' most elegant commercial buildings. She still hadn't accustomed herself to the California heat, which was too much for a girl born and raised in New York, where the temperatures were much lower. As a result, she was craving an environment with maximum air conditioning and a light Starbucks frappuccino, her everyday breakfast.

"Good morning, Miss Parker!" greeted her assistant with a smile on his face and the drink she longed for in his hands.

"Only if it's good for you, mon cher... Because I didn't want to leave my bed," she replied, unfriendly, taking the cup from his hand. "I hope at least you have good news for me."

"Well, Miss Parker, I'm not sure what kind of news you were expecting, but the only update I have is that you have a meeting with Mr. Ryan, Ian, and Brad at three in the afternoon at this address," he handed her the card that Ryan's secretary had left with him earlier, watching her look at the address and make a face.

"I can't believe I have to face this sunny day! That's all I needed!" she grumbled, finally taking a sip of her coffee while seated at her work desk. "This is awful!" she said with a disgusted expression, almost spitting out the drink. "When will you learn? For God's sake!"

"I ordered it just the way you explained you liked it. I'm not sure what could have happened," the assistant argued, unsure of what to do. "I can go get another one," he added, eager to help.

"No," she replied curtly. "Never mind. This day is already a mess anyway. Just go... Go," she waved her hands dismissively toward the door. "Let me work!"

The young man left, leaving the boss alone, and she started reading her emails, responding to the truly important messages, and making some necessary phone calls. Afterward, she glanced over the articles on her desk for approval, met with some of her new subordinates—making sure to demonstrate her strictness, as she had in their initial meetings—and headed for a quick lunch with the only friend she had in Los Angeles. Finally, she headed to the last-minute meeting with her employers.

She arrived at the indicated address, a building as elegant as the one where she worked herself, and went straight to the top floor where the meeting would take place. She had touched up her makeup in the restaurant bathroom and, since the company car had air conditioning, she considered herself presentable enough. She walked directly to the reception of the office on-site and informed the friendly girl who attended to her that she was there to see Ryan Montana.

The girl called for another person, who guided her down a long corridor and, at its end, opened a large, dark, imposing wooden door. Inside, the three owners of the publishing company where Sophie worked awaited her, along with three more men. She smiled warmly, greeted everyone, and apologized for the delay, even though she wasn't really late.

However, her smile faded as she looked closer at those three men. Suddenly, Sophie saw everything turn white in front of her, her body went weak, and her breathing became rapid.

She only had time to hear, as if from a distance, some male voices asking if she was okay before finally bringing her Prada dress and Louis Vuitton bag to the ground, along with herself.