My heart aches at the reminder. I still remember the day my parents told me they wanted to retire and decided to merge their independent movie production company, Dreamessence, with Windsor Media. The Windsors and the Du Ponts had been business rivals right until that point, but the proposed merger changed everything — and not just for my parents.
They wanted to keep their beloved company in the family, and since the Windsors are well-known for arranging marriages for their heirs, they were handed the perfect solution. A marriage between the Windsors and the Du Ponts would keep the merged company in the family, and it’d keep both families in control of the business.
At the time, the one they considered for this arrangement wasn’t Hannah. It was me. Due to my friendship with Sierra, they thought I’d be the best fit. I was only twenty when the deal was made, but I’d been happy, and Ares didn’t seem opposed to it either.
That all changed when I took Hannah with me to Sierra’s twenty-first birthday party. I remember that night vividly. I saw him first, but she’s the one he never looked away from.
Chapter Two
Raven
My heart skips a beat when I see Ares leaning against his car as he waits for me in front of my office building.
I pause for a moment and take him in. His dark hair, that sharp jaw, those green eyes that are identical to Sierra’s. It isn’t fair that he continues to get more handsome the older we get. Each time I see him, he feels a little more out of reach. Ares looks up and straightens when he notices me standing by the entrance, a smile transforming his face.
“Hi!” I tell him as he holds the door open for me. Ares grins at me, and I smile back at him. There’s a good chance I’ll regret giving into him later, but until then, I’m going to enjoy every second of it.
“Where are we going?” I ask when he gets in beside me, his hands wrapping around the steering wheel.
Ares leans back against the headrest and tilts his face toward me. “Raven,” he says, sounding petulant. I can’t help the way my heart races when he says my name like that, and I involuntarily turn toward him, facing him. “Why don’t I ever see you anymore?”
Ares genuinely looks distraught, as though he really has missed me, and that fire I keep trying to douse reignites once more.
“I’ve just been busy.” My voice is weak, soft, as though I can’t make myself lie to him with authority. “I’m working really insane hours. I’ve got so many modeling contracts, and I’m trying to grow my fashion brand at the same time. Honestly, some days I barely have time to eat or sleep.”
He nods and drags his gaze away, a hint of concern in his expression as he starts the car. “Don’t overwork yourself, Rave. Remember to take care of yourself, okay? You can’t always be working. You need to have a social life too. When was the last time you saw your parents?”
I force a smile onto my face and cross my arms. The older I get, the less I see my parents. Their entire world revolves around Hannah, and I hate going where I’m not welcome. I shouldn’t feel excluded in my own home, but I do. “Sierra was actually just in my office,” I tell him. “I do have friends, you know.”
He glances at me the way he does sometimes, as though he can see straight through my lies and deception, but he nods nonetheless.
“What are you thinking of buying this year?” I ask him, my tone light and friendly.
He glances back at me with a smile on his face. “What do you think of some jewelry, maybe?”
I nod. “A new statement piece, perhaps?”
Ares looks at me with such a blank expression that I burst out laughing, and that just makes him smile in return. “I haven’t heard you laugh in so long, Raven. I missed it.”
My smile melts away and I look down at my lap, my heart aching. I wish he wouldn’t say things like that. He sees me as an old friend and his future sister-in-law, but when he tells me he missed me, it becomes hard to remember that. I tighten my grip on my handbag and inhale deeply. “A statement piece is basically just the opposite of a dainty piece of jewelry.”
Ares grins at me. “How about I just let you pick?”
I throw a pointed look his way. “Like you do every year?”
He smirks at me as he parks at one of the Windsor malls, pretty much jumping out of the car to rush around it so he can open the door for me. He offers me his hand, and I take it as I step out of his car, my eyes on his.
A flash of light startles both of us, and I turn to my side to find a paparazzo that has been trailing me lately smirking at me. I grit my teeth and take a step toward him, but he takes off running before I can even say a word.
Ares places his hand on the small of my back, and I look up at him. “I should’ve known taking you to such a public place would’ve resulted in this. I’m sorry, Raven. I’ll handle it. That picture will never see the light of day.”
I shake my head and take a step toward the mall. “It’s fine. I’m used to this. I can’t stop living my life just because I know I could be photographed at any time. It used to scare me, you know? Public opinion. Now it’s just an inconvenience that I’ve accepted as part of my job.”
Ares is quiet as we walk into the mall together. “Maybe I should get you some bodyguards.” His tone carries a hint of anger, and I look up in surprise.
“Absolutely not. I’m never in any danger, Ares. I already don’t have as much privacy as I wish I had. The last thing I need is someone in my personal space at all times.”
He looks at me as though he wants to argue with me, but thankfully he remains quiet as we walk into one of Hannah’s favorite jewelry stores.
The store manager tenses and rushes over as soon as he spots Ares, a nervous smile on his face. He’s an older man, and his graying hair looks charming on him. If not for his obvious nerves, he’d exude the kind of elegance that suits this store. “Mr. Windsor,” he says, before turning toward me with wide eyes. “Raven.” His eyes roam over my body the way men’s eyes always do. It used to disgust me, knowing they were likely thinking about one of my lingerie campaigns, but I’ve gotten used to it now. “Raven, wow. It’s such an honor to meet you. My name is Andy, and I’ll be assisting you today.”
Ares tenses and wraps his hand around my shoulder. I glance up at him in surprise, only to find him looking at the store manager with barely concealed annoyance. “We’ll ask for your assistance when we need it,” he says, his tone harsh.
He pulls me toward the glass display counters, his body tense. “What’s wrong?” I ask the moment we’re out of earshot.
Ares pulls his hand away and shakes his head. “He’s unprofessional. The way he looked at you just now? What was that? First, we get photographed the second we step out of the car, and now this?”
A soft chuckle escapes my lips as I lean back against the counter and look up at him. “Ares,” I murmur. “I’m not the little girl you used to know anymore. I was named this year’s highest paid model, and I’m a brand ambassador for many of the products sold in this mall. It’s not surprising that he’d recognize me. If anything, his expression was really quite mild. I’m pretty sure my face is on a large banner advertising this mall.”