Maya stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing the soft folds of her dress one last time. The stylist had done her hair in loose, elegant waves that framed her face, and the subtle makeup brought out the warm tones of her eyes. 

She hardly recognized herself—not because she looked like someone else, but because she looked like the version of herself she had never allowed the world to see. Tonight, she wasn’t just Maya the fashion designer; she was Elias Carter’s girlfriend, walking into the heart of his family’s world.

She had barely finished fastening her bracelet when her phone began to buzz on the dresser. She picked...