"This house isn't for sale, Mr. Thorne," she said, her voice like velvet and steel.
"Everything has a price, Ms. Vance," Julian countered, his gaze lingering on her longer than business dictated. "This house isn't for sale, Mr
Julian saw the vulnerability Elara hid behind her lens; Elara saw the lonely boy behind Julian’s billion-dollar armor. "This house isn't for sale
To force her hand, Julian moved into the neighboring estate, turning a corporate battle into a war of proximity. They clashed over property lines and town council meetings, but the friction of their rivalry began to generate a different kind of heat. Between late-night arguments over cognac and rain-soaked standoffs on the cliffs, the masks began to slip. " she said