Starry Night Lounge.

Carmen Pierce, slightly tipsy, repeatedly glanced at the photo her former best friend, Ellianna Moreno, had sent her. It was of Ellianna with Carmen's fiancé, Bo Montgomery, in bed together. Carmen let out a mirthless laugh.

Resolute at last, she stood up with sultry confidence and made her way toward the striking man who stood out in the crowd not far away. As she neared him, she pretended to twist her ankle, letting herself fall into his arms.

"Will you take me away?" Carmen asked softly, reaching up to wrap her arms around the man's neck, locking eyes with his nearly perfect, handsome face.

The man glanced down, noting the girl's fair skin and curvaceous figure. A fleeting emotion crossed his deep-set eyes. “Do you know who I am?”

Hearing Jayden Montgomery's deep, seductive voice made Carmen's heart flutter. Help! How can a voice be so captivating? My ears are practically swooning!

"Of course, I know who you are. You're Jayden Montgomery, Bo Montgomery's uncle," Carmen said, her beautiful eyes sparkling playfully. Her delicate face flushed with intoxication, accentuated by a crescent-shaped smile. Her voice was soft, almost as gentle as a helpless little rabbit, charming and vulnerable.

Jayden's Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. The next moment, he gently lifted Carmen's chin with his hand, a dangerous gleam of understanding flashing in his eyes. “Should I take this as you deliberately trying to seduce me?”

Carmen decided to go all in, wrapping her arm more securely around Jayden’s neck. “That's right, I'm trying to seduce you. Are you going to let me?”

Carmen wasn't just stunning; her voice was irresistibly alluring, especially with her pout, effortlessly enchanting.

Jayden looked at the exquisitely sculpted face before him. An image of her with Bo suddenly flashed in his mind, causing his eyes to narrow slightly. “Aren’t you afraid Bo will find out?”

The mention of Bo's name caused a slight twinge in Carmen's heart, but she quickly responded with a lazy drawl, “He climbed into my best friend’s bed—I dumped him.”

As she spoke, Carmen leaned against Jayden’s shoulder, the unique scent of her perfume teasing his senses.

After a moment, Jayden chuckled softly. “So you’re using me to get back at him? Aren’t you worried about getting on my bad side?”

Carmen looked up, catching a glimpse of the tear mole near his eye and those cold, predatory eyes. Her heart began to race inexplicably. This man wasn’t just Bo’s uncle; he was the formidable Jayden Montgomery, the man everyone in Manchester feared! In two short years, he had transformed the near-bankrupt Montgomery Group into a business empire!

Steadying herself with a deep breath, empowered by her intoxication, Carmen boldly leaned in to brush her lips against his. “I’m not scared.”

What was there to fear? A year ago, her father, Jonathan Pierce, had been imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, and their family declared bankrupt. Once the toast of society, she had become a laughingstock. Even her sister, newly married, was not spared ridicule from her in-laws.

Now, with both her fiancé and best friend teaming up to betray her, what could she possibly be afraid of? Besides, Jayden was incredibly handsome, far more so than her ex-fiance, Bo. She was hardly at a loss!

Jayden suddenly leaned down, his eyes as deep as a bottomless lake, gazing straight into hers. “I want to sleep with you. Does that not scare you?”

Carmen felt a sudden jolt in her heart.

However, she leaned closer to Jayden, mischievously tugging at his earlobe with her teeth, setting the tone. "Jayden Montgomery, you know I'm blatantly trying to seduce you. Aren't you worried?"

Jayden was taken aback by her boldness.

He chuckled, a rich and alluring sound. "What do you think?"

His voice was deep and sexy, carrying an undeniable magnetic appeal.

Carmen's eyelashes fluttered subtly, and she teased, "I think you might just have a thing for me, right?"

"A woman like you? Hard for any man to resist," Jayden raised an eyebrow, his gaze intent and intense. "Unless..."

"Unless Bo Montgomery is less of a man!" Carmen teased, moving closer to his lips. But suddenly, Jayden's hand cradled the back of her head, drawing her in as his enticing lips claimed hers...

It was hard to say how much time passed until an unexpected voice broke their passionate kiss. "Jayden, there you are. Everyone’s waiting for you to join them for drinks."

The unexpected female voice made Jayden furrow his brows.

He turned to face the woman who had interrupted, his dark eyes glacial, casting a chilling glare. "What do you want?"

Under Jayden's icy gaze, the woman seemed to shrink slightly.

But she mustered a gentle smile. "Jayden, everyone is in the private lounge waiting for you. Reece asked me to see when you'd be joining us."

Carmen recognized the familiar voice and slowly turned.

A face with perfectly done makeup came into view.

It was someone she knew—Lilly Hicks, who had often teamed up with her ex-friend Ellianna to cause her grief.

Looking at Lilly, it was clear she had designs on Jayden, too.

Carmen certainly wasn't going to let this woman lure Jayden away!

So, she kissed his tempting collarbone again and said in a sultry tone, "Sweetheart, how about we head to the hotel now?"

Her voice was smooth and enticing, sending Jayden's pulse racing.

Women generally didn't pique his interest.

But Carmen ignited something primal within him!

"Alright!"

His eyes flared as he looked at the woman in his arms, the heat radiating outward. In an instant, he lifted Carmen and strode away, not sparing Lilly a second glance.

...

When Carmen came back to her senses, they were already in a posh suite.

As soon as they entered, Jayden laid her on the couch, engulfing her with fervent kisses.

Carmen felt swept away by ocean waves, her body weak and defenseless, her breath quickening.

His distinct masculine scent filled her senses.

The scent was so familiar.

In a daze, his strong hand grasped her slender waist.

Carmen tensed up unexpectedly, her voice timid yet inviting, "Can we... wait a little longer..."

Her voice was slightly husky and trembling, yet deeply alluring, fueling Jayden's raw desires.

Jayden gently lifted her chin, leaving a trail of kisses on her neck, his sultry and resonant voice whispering in her ear, "Not scared anymore?"

Carmen’s lashes fluttered, but she answered daringly, "I’m not scared."

Yet her evident tension didn’t escape Jayden’s observant eyes.

He paused momentarily.

His eyes focused intently on her. "You haven’t been with Bo Montgomery, have you?"

Carmen's delicate features suddenly tightened as she frowned. "What are you implying?" she asked sharply.

He couldn't possibly think she was the type of woman who would sleep around indiscriminately, right? Yet the memory of her bold actions from the previous night, how she had brazenly flirted with Jayden Montgomery, made her question her own motives. Could she blame him for underestimating her?

Jayden watched the rollercoaster of emotions flicker across her face, barely parting his lips to speak. "Is it really that hard to understand? Let me demonstrate."

With that, he leaned in, his lips brushing against her neck before trailing down to her collarbone…

Carmen felt a wave of anxiety. But as Bo's words echoed in her mind, insisting she'd never find a man better than him, a fierce determination took over. She wrapped her arms around Jayden with newfound resolve, mirroring his movements by kissing his enticing throat and whispering in his ear, "Jayden, I've never been with Bo. You're my first."

Jayden's eyes sparked with intrigue. Was this her first kiss too?

In the next instant, he lifted Carmen, carrying her towards the bedroom. Though he wasn't often involved with women, he was far from celibate. He liked her, and she had come to him willingly. He wasn't about to let her slip away.

Inside the bedroom, clothes began to drop away one by one as the intimate mood intensified. Carmen found herself nervously licking her lips, captivated by the sight of Jayden standing before her—his tall frame, toned legs, and chiseled chest.

Suddenly, a ringtone broke the romantic ambiance, coming from the phone Carmen had casually discarded on the nightstand. Jayden's dark eyes flickered with annoyance.

Seeing her sister Sarah's name flashing on the screen, Carmen instinctively reached for it, but Jayden's firm hand intercepted hers and tossed the phone aside.

His voice was low and sultry against her ear, "I don't like interruptions when I'm busy."

"Jayden, I…" Carmen began, but her words were silenced by his irresistible kiss.

With each soft, lingering kiss, Carmen slowly surrendered to the moment…

An hour later, Jayden slipped into the bathroom, leaving Carmen sprawled on the bed, legs still trembling. Despite her exhaustion, the memory of their time together brought a blush to her cheeks. It hadn't been the rough experience she had feared—rather, it was tender, attuned to her emotions, guiding her to new heights of pleasure. She felt a sense of joy she'd never known before.

"Riiiiing!"

The phone on the floor rang again, insistently. Carmen pulled herself from beneath the covers, stumbled, but ignored the pain in her legs as she reached for it. Over forty missed calls—each from her sister, Sarah. Lost in the world with Jayden, she hadn't heard them earlier.

Taking a deep breath, Carmen dialed her sister back. "Sarah, why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?"

Her voice came out ragged and strained, catching her off guard.

"Carmen, where are you right now?" Sarah's voice on the other end quivered. "Did you… did you really go to a hotel with someone?"

Carmen hesitated but quickly realized that Lilly Hicks must have tattled to her sister, trying to sabotage her chance with Jayden. Had she answered her sister's calls earlier, she wouldn't have had her moment with Jayden, giving Lilly what she wanted.

Oddly, Carmen felt thankful that Jayden had tossed the phone aside. The experience had been a joyful revelation. She didn't feel like she had lost anything.

Sleeping with Jayden Montgomery was the aspiration of many in their social circle, and she had achieved it effortlessly.

"Sister," Carmen decided not to conceal the truth any longer. "I'm at a hotel with my boyfriend. No need to worry."

Jayden emerged from the bathroom just in time to hear her words. From his vantage point, he could see the graceful curve of her back and the elegance of her form, stirring something deep within him.

Her allure made him want more.

But he didn't want her first time to be marred by a negative aftermath. He tamped down his urges, returning to the bathroom again to cool off.

On the call, Sarah's voice cracked with emotion, "Carmen, since you split from Bo, there haven't been any other men. Why did you lie to me? Don't you know how important a woman's honor is? You might regret this forever!"

"Sarah, I'm sorry." Carmen's eyes teared up as she struggled to keep her voice steady. "I know lying was wrong, but I had my reasons. And I don't regret tonight. I'll take responsibility for my choices."

After hanging up, Carmen realized her whole body was trembling. Her family was everything, something she couldn't disregard. She knew her sister couldn't understand her decisions and was disappointed, but there were paths she had to walk, decisions she had to own.

"This card has five million dollars. You might need it," Jayden spoke in his deep, alluring voice from behind her.

Carmen turned to face him, stunned by the view—Jayden standing there with just a towel around his waist, his fit body gleaming in the light.

But her eyes quickly locked onto the credit card he held out, and her face drained of color. Her heart felt pierced by a painful thorn.

She had thought his gentleness in bed meant she was special to him, but now he seemed to see her as just another woman he'd bought.

They were all the same, she realized. Jayden's practiced moves indicated he did this often.

Yet, remembering her original reason for seeking him out, Carmen forced a thin smile. "Mr. Montgomery, I'm not here for money."

If Jayden could help her uncover the evidence of Winfrey International's plan against her family's company, it would bring justice for her father.

"Then why are you here?" Jayden's gaze chilled.

So she did have an agenda.

Carmen noticed the sarcasm lurking in his eyes but boldly held his gaze. "Jayden, I heard you work with Winfrey International. Could you possibly…”

“No,” Jayden cut her off sharply, "Five million—not enough?"

Did she intend to involve another man?

Carmen felt her heart constrict slightly. Perhaps she had overestimated herself. After a moment, she answered evenly, "If Mr. Montgomery won't assist, I won't press. As for the five million, keep it for yourself."

Momentarily forgetting her vulnerable state, Carmen dressed nonchalantly, radiating self-assurance.

Before leaving, she dug into her purse for some hundred-dollar bills and tossed them onto the bed. "But you were great. Consider this a tip."

With those words, she walked out without a backward glance.