Chapter 1

Paris, France

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Élise Delacroix shot upright in bed. Her eyes flew to the alarm clock.

6:00 p.m.

“Oh, no!”

She jumped out of bed so fast that her foot caught a pile of clothes.

“Ow!”

She stumbled forward, crashing into her shoe rack. High heels, sneakers, and boots scattered across the tiny apartment.

“Damn it...”

She checked the time again.

“I have five minutes!”

Mr. Victor was going to kill her. Her boss had already given her three warnings this month. One more late arrival, and she could kiss her job goodbye.

She rushed into the bathroom, splashed water on her face, threw on her black waitress uniform, and grabbed her bag. She didn't even bother looking in the mirror.

Three minutes later, she was racing down the apartment stairs. Her shoes slapped against the narrow staircase as she nearly tripped twice.

“Careful!” an elderly woman called from below.

“Sorry!”

She pushed through the entrance and hurried onto the busy Parisian street. The evening air hit her face. Cars honked. People filled the sidewalks. Somewhere nearby, a street musician was playing a soft melody that she would have appreciated if she wasn't currently fighting for her job.

She waved frantically at the first taxi she saw.

“Taxi!”

The driver stopped. She yanked open the door and climbed inside.

“Club Éclipse, please!”

The driver nodded and pulled into traffic.

She leaned back, trying to catch her breath, then glanced at the clock on the dashboard.

6:04 p.m.

Her stomach dropped.

Mr. Victor hated lateness. Actually, hate was too gentle a word. The last time she'd arrived seven minutes late, he'd stood behind the counter with his arms crossed and reminded her that punctuality was the only thing separating a good employee from an unemployed one.

And somehow, she had managed to be late again.

She closed her eyes.

“Please don't fire me.”

The driver glanced at her through the mirror.

“Bad day?”

“You have no idea.”

Then her eyes widened.

“Oh, no...”

She suddenly covered her mouth. She hadn't brushed her teeth.

“Perfect. Just perfect.”

She had been so worried about being late that she'd completely forgotten.

The driver raised an eyebrow.

“Everything okay, miss?”

“Not unless bad breath has suddenly become fashionable.”

He chuckled. She groaned and sank lower into her seat.

“I can't believe this.”

The taxi moved slowly through the evening traffic. Paris looked beautiful outside the window, but she barely noticed. All she could think about was work. The rent was due soon. Her younger brother Luc's hospital bills were already piling up. She couldn't afford to lose this job.

Not now.

Not ever.

She pulled her phone from her bag and checked her messages.

Nothing from Luc.

That should have made her feel relieved, but somehow it didn't. She had spoken to him that morning before leaving for work. He had tried to sound cheerful, as usual.

“Don't worry about me, Élise.”

Those had been his exact words.

She hated hearing them. Luc always said he was fine even when he wasn't.

She locked her phone and slipped it back into her bag.

“I just need to get through tonight,” she whispered.

The taxi suddenly slowed. She looked up.

Traffic.

Of course.

Cars stretched ahead of them, barely moving.

She glanced at the time.

6:05 p.m.

“No, no, no.”

She leaned forward.

“Is there another way?”

The driver shook his head.

“Not unless you want to walk.”

She looked outside. Walking would probably be faster.

“Stop here.”

The driver frowned.

“Here?”

“Yes. Please.”

He pulled over. She reached for her bag.

“How much?”

“Ten euros.”

She handed him the money.

“Thank you.”

She opened the door and stepped out. The club wasn't far. She could run. She could make it.

At least, that was what she told herself.

Then she spotted the shopping mall across from the club. Her eyes landed on a small convenience store near the entrance.

“I'll buy Mentos,” she muttered. “Problem solved.”

She hurried toward the mall, then glanced back at the taxi.

“Wait!”

The driver lowered his window.

“I just need one minute.”

He sighed.

“Make it quick.”

She rushed into the mall, nearly bumping into a man carrying shopping bags.

“Sorry!”

She hurried to the nearest counter.

“One pack of Mentos, please.”

She dropped a few coins on the counter. The cashier handed it to her.

“Thank you.”

She ripped open the packet before she'd even left the counter and popped one into her mouth.

Much better.

She slipped the rest into her pocket and checked the time.

6:08 p.m.

Her eyes widened.

“I'm dead.”

She bolted out of the mall. The taxi was still waiting at the roadside. She ran toward it.

“Sorry!”

The driver unlocked the door. She climbed in.

“Club Éclipse is right there,” he said, pointing toward the entrance.

She froze. She looked through the window.

He was right.

The club was only a short distance away.

“Oh.”

She opened the door again.

“Thank you!”

She hurried out before he could say anything else and sprinted toward Club Éclipse.

The elegant black entrance came into view. She could already imagine Mr. Victor waiting inside.

She was almost there.

Just a few more steps.

Her mind raced through every possible excuse.

Traffic.

The taxi.

The alarm.

None of them sounded convincing.

Mr. Victor wouldn't care. He would probably point at the clock and tell her that excuses didn't change the time.

She sighed.

“I should have stayed in bed.”

She immediately shook her head.

“No. Rent first. Panic later.”

She tightened her grip on her bag and picked up her pace.

The entrance was getting closer. She could see the golden lettering above the doors.

Club Éclipse.

She was almost there. She could already hear the faint music coming from inside.

Then she noticed something strange.

Several expensive-looking cars were parked near the entrance. A few men stood outside, dressed in black suits.

She barely paid attention.

Probably some rich client.

Club Éclipse attracted plenty of them. She had served enough wealthy customers to know that money often came with an attitude.

She glanced at her phone again.

6:09 p.m.

“I can still make it.”

She shoved the phone into her bag.

She was so focused on getting through the doors that she didn't notice the sleek black Rolls-Royce pulling up directly in front of the entrance.

The car looked expensive enough to pay her rent for several months.

The rear door opened.

A man stepped out.

She wasn't looking where she was going.

She ran straight into him.

The impact sent the pack of Mentos flying across the pavement.

“Oh my”

She stumbled backward, certain she was about to fall. A firm hand caught her wrist before she hit the ground.

For a brief second, the world seemed to stop.

Then she looked up.

Dark eyes met hers.

Cold.Sharp.Unreadable.

She stopped breathing.

The man was tall, dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit. His expression didn't change as he looked down at her.

Behind him, seve

ral men in black suits rushed forward.

“Sir, are you alright?”

Élise blinked.

She had just crashed into the most intimidating man she had ever seen.