Devillian stood in the corner of the lavish ballroom, his imposing figure partially cloaked in shadow, a glass of whiskey neat resting casually in his hand. The ice-cold amber liquid swirled gently as he took a slow sip, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat. His gaze was distant, fixed on nothing in particular, but his mind was far from still. He exuded a dark, authoritative aura that seemed to keep everyone at bay. It was as though an invisible barrier of intimidation surrounded him, making the air thick with tension wherever he stood.

He wasn't a man to be easily affected by fleeting encounters or passing glances. Yet, that brief moment-when his eyes met hers-had disrupted something deep within him. He couldn't quite place what it was, and that irritated him. He didn't like things slipping out of his control, especially when it came to his mind. The girl, whoever she was, had no idea who he truly was. And yet, there was something in her gaze that sparked an unfamiliar feeling, something dangerously close to intrigue.

Why does she feel different? he thought, his brow furrowing slightly as the image of her face flashed in his mind. It was just a glance-nothing more. But that brief connection, however insignificant it might have seemed, had stirred something in the depths of his cold, guarded heart. He couldn't ignore it, no matter how much he tried to brush it off as a mere coincidence.

Devillian took another sip of his whiskey, the sharpness of the alcohol grounding him momentarily. His eyes, though half-hooded, remained sharp, constantly aware of the room and everyone in it. The elite of the business world surrounded him-tycoons, magnates, people who wielded power in the public eye. All of them were desperate for his attention, his approval. Yet, none dared to approach him. Not yet, at least. His presence had a way of making even the most confident individuals tremble. It was as if his aura alone warned them that stepping too close to the darkness he carried could be their undoing.

He could see them out of the corner of his eye-the hopeful glances, the hesitant steps, the nervous exchanges of looks between them. They all wanted something from him. A partnership, a deal, or simply the association with his name, which was enough to elevate any business to new heights. But his reputation preceded him. Devillian was not just a businessman-he was feared. The kind of man whose deals came with unspoken consequences, and whose favors always carried a heavy price.

A few bold ones had tried in the past to approach him too casually. They'd learned quickly that his world wasn't one of handshakes and smiles. It was a world built on ruthlessness, on control, and the constant need to remain at the top-no matter the cost.

As the night went on, more eyes flicked in his direction, their greed thinly veiled by polite smiles and sparkling conversations. But no one could gather the courage to break the invisible wall that surrounded him.

And that was just how he preferred it.

Yet, even as he enjoyed the power that silence gave him, his thoughts kept drifting back to her-the girl who had somehow broken through that cold exterior, even if only for a moment. He hated it. Hated that he was thinking about her at all. She was nothing, just another face in the crowd. But the memory of her eyes, wide and vulnerable, wouldn't leave him. It clung to him like the scent of that night two days ago,faint but inescapable.

Devillian clenched his jaw, a flicker of annoyance flashing across his face. This ends here, he told himself, downing the rest of his whiskey in one smooth motion. He wasn't a man to be distracted by fleeting emotions. Not now. Not ever. He'd built his empire on cold calculation and ruthless efficiency, and he wasn't about to let something as trivial as an innocent glance get in the way.

And yet, as much as he tried to convince himself of that, something told him that this was far from over.

....................................................................

Siana wandered through the opulent corridor of the lavish resort, frustration building with each step. She'd been trying to find the washroom for what felt like an eternity, but the place was a maze of marbled floors and gold-trimmed hallways. Everything looked the same-grand, luxurious, and utterly confusing.

Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she muttered to herself, "How can anyone find anything in this place?" The irritation was clear in her voice. She made another sharp turn, glancing around, still no closer to her destination.

As she rounded the next corner, lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the figure approaching. In a split second, she collided head-on with what felt like a stone wall-or rather, a chest as solid as one. The impact threw her off balance, and she felt herself tipping backward, her heart leaping into her throat. But just before she could fall, a strong hand gripped her waist, steadying her with effortless ease.

Her breath hitched in her throat, and for a moment, the world seemed to blur. Slowly, she opened her eyes, still disoriented, and when she did, her gaze met a pair of piercing, icy blue eyes staring down at her. She froze, the air leaving her lungs as she realized who it was.

Devillian Giordano.

The dark, powerful man who had hosted the party, the one who exuded an aura so intense it seemed to suffocate the room, was standing right in front of her, his hand still gripping her waist. Up close, he was even more intimidating than from afar. His tall, imposing frame towered over her, and his presence seemed to darken the very space around them. His sharp jawline, the cold detachment in his eyes-it was all too much.

Her entire body tensed as she tried to process what had just happened. Him? Of all people...

"Careful," Devillian said, his voice a low, velvety growl that sent a shiver down her spine. There was no kindness in it, no concern-just cool, measured control.

Siana's heart raced, her pulse pounding in her ears as she struggled to find her voice. She was too close to him-too aware of the heat of his body, the way his hand lingered at her waist just a moment longer than necessary before he finally let go. It was like being touched by fire and ice at the same time.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, her body still trying to recover from the shock. "I didn't see you..."

Devillian's eyes remained locked on hers, studying her with an intensity that made her feel like she was under a microscope. There was something in his gaze-something dark and unreadable-that made her feel exposed, vulnerable. And yet, she couldn't look away.

For a moment, the world around them seemed to disappear. It was just the two of them, standing there in the corridor, with the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Siana's mind raced. She didn't know what to do, how to react. She was caught between wanting to run and being completely paralyzed by his presence.

Devillian didn't speak for what felt like an eternity. His expression remained stoic, but his eyes... there was something dangerous flickering behind them. A brief spark of recognition, maybe. Or was it something else? Something darker, more primal.

Siana's breath quickened as she forced herself to break eye contact, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I was just... looking for the washroom," she mumbled, feeling incredibly small under his piercing stare.

Devillian remained silent for a beat longer, his hand falling back to his side. He didn't need to say anything to make her feel the weight of his presence. Just standing near him was enough to make her entire body feel like it was buzzing with a strange, unsettling energy.

Finally, he took a small step back, releasing her from the suffocating closeness. "It's down the hall, to the left," he said, his voice smooth and controlled, but there was an edge to it-something that hinted at more than just casual politeness. "Try not to get lost again."

Siana nodded quickly, her face flushed with embarrassment, but also a lingering, inexplicable fear. "Thank you," she murmured, not trusting herself to say anything more. She turned to leave, her legs trembling slightly as she hurried down the hall, but she could still feel his gaze burning into her back, as if he wasn't quite done with her yet.

As she rounded the corner, she finally allowed herself to exhale, her heart still pounding. She didn't understand what had just happened, but one thing was clear: Devillian was far more dangerous than she'd realized.

Devillian stood still, his eyes fixed on the spot where Siana had disappeared around the corner. His jaw clenched tightly, the muscles in his face twitching with barely concealed irritation. He could still feel the ghost of her presence, the warmth of her body lingering in the air where she had stood only moments ago.

And that scent...

It was unmistakable. The same fragrance that had haunted him for the past two days, a maddening mix of sweetness and mystery. The scent that had seeped into his thoughts, refusing to leave, no matter how hard he tried to push it away. It was the same scent he'd caught the night that girl-that girl-had dared to kiss him on the cheek, leaving him with a strange, lingering feeling he hadn't been able to shake.

He didn't want to admit it, but the moment he had collided with her, when he'd caught the faint whiff of that fragrance, something inside him had shifted. It was like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place. The connection was undeniable.

It's her.

The realization struck him with a force he hadn't expected, sending a ripple of frustration through his entire body. That brief, innocent collision had confirmed what he'd been suspecting ever since that fateful kiss. This girl-this seemingly insignificant girl-was the same one who had dared to invade his personal space, to leave him with this persistent sense of unease. And now, she was here, at his party, unknowingly entangled in his world.

His jaw clenched harder, his annoyance deepening. Devillian was a man who thrived on control-on having everything and everyone in his life neatly compartmentalized, predictable, and manageable. But this girl, with her scent that now seemed to follow him everywhere, had somehow slipped through the cracks of his control, embedding herself in his thoughts. She was a distraction, and he hated distractions.

He took a slow, deliberate breath, trying to steady himself, but the memory of her soft body against his, the way she had looked up at him with wide, startled eyes, wouldn't leave his mind. He had been so close to her, close enough to catch the subtle hints of fear mixed with something else-something like intrigue, maybe. And that irritated him even more.

How had she managed to affect him like this? How had a simple kiss, a mere moment of eye contact, begun to unravel the carefully constructed walls he had built around himself?

Devillian's eyes darkened as he stared down the now-empty hallway. His mind raced, torn between the desire to forget her and the growing need to confront this situation head-on. He wasn't a man to be toyed with, and certainly not by someone who seemed so innocent, so unaware of the world she was stepping into.

She doesn't know who I am, he thought, his lips curling into a cold, almost predatory smile. But she will.

With a final glance down the corridor, Devillian turned sharply, his dark aura trailing behind him as he disappeared back into the crowd. He had no intention of letting this go. The girl, with her intoxicating scent and unexpected presence, had unknowingly entered his world. And now, she was part of it-whether she liked it or not.