Savannah

The image on Dean’s phone felt like a sucker punch to the gut. It wasn't just a photo—it was a revelation of a double life I hadn't been prepared for.

At the top of the white webpage was a heading that made my pulse hammer: VIP Guest List – The Velvet Desires. My eyes darted over the names, and there it was, in unapologetic black text: Roman Nicholas Blackwood.

Below his name was a parade of elite figures—oil tycoons, tech billionaires, and even two prominent public figures whose moralizing smiles I’d seen on TV. My stomach churned. How did Dean get access to a site this exclusive?

"I take it you’re just finding out about your fiancé’s double life," Dean said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction as he pulled the phone back. "I warned you about him, Sav. Men like that have tastes you couldn't possibly imagine."

My heart was racing so fast it blurred my vision. If Dean leaked this, it would be a nuclear bomb. Chloe wouldn't just keep it a secret; she’d broadcast it to the entire town before the barbecue ribs were even served. I’d be the laughingstock—the girl who was fooled twice.

I had two seconds to save Roman. Two seconds to save myself. I had to lean so far into the lie that Dean wouldn't know which way was up.

I looked across the yard. Roman was laughing with my sister and her daughter, Emily. For a heartbeat, they looked like a perfect family, and it hurt. He caught my eye and mouthed, “You okay?”

I forced a nod and turned back to Dean, my mind sprinting.

"Did you tell Chloe about this?" I asked, my tone crisp.

"Not yet."

"Good." I leaned in, my voice dropping to a private, confident register. "And it should stay that way. You think I’m shocked? Please, Dean. This isn't the Stone Ages."

The smirk slid off his face. "You mean... you know what he—"

"Know?" I cut in, barking out a laugh that made him flinch. "Dean, I was a participant. That last 'order' you’re so proud of finding? That was my idea. We were celebrating a successful merger."

Dean’s mouth actually dropped open. "You’re serious."

"Dead serious. We like to experiment. It's not a crime to have a little wild fun, is it? You should try it sometime instead of being so... predictable."

The change in him was almost comical. Shock melted into a sleazy kind of fascination, then into a hungry look that made my skin crawl. I couldn't believe I used to find that look attractive.

"Holy shit," he breathed. "I didn't think you had it in you."

"You have no idea what I’m into," I murmured, playing the part to the end.

"That's... that's incredibly hot," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. He even reached out, his hand ghosting over my thigh. "Maybe we should... hang out sometime. You could show me what you mean."

I felt a wave of nausea. "I don't think so," I said sweetly. "Roman is very possessive. He gets quite... feral when other men look at me for too long."

"Babe?"

Chloe’s voice hit us like a bucket of ice water. Dean’s hand jerked back as if he’d been burned. He scrambled to his feet, muttering something about "catching up" and "clearing bad blood."

Chloe eyed me suspiciously before towing him away. I stood there, my fake smile melting the moment her back was turned. I tossed my soda can into the bin and headed straight for Roman.

"I need a word with you," I said, my voice tight. "Now."