Chapter 1

The air up here was thin, sharp with the kind of cold that only exists fifty stories above the city, biting at my cheeks before I even stepped fully onto the terrace. It smelled of ozone, expensive perfume, and the faint, metallic tang of the skyline itself. I adjusted the strap of my clutch, my fingers trembling slightly against the smooth leather. I had told myself I was just here for the networking event, a casual mix of tech executives and creative directors, but my heart was hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs that had nothing to do with ambition. I had seen the text. *Be here. Alone.* Just two words from him. My father. The rooftop bar was a jewel box of glass and steel, encased in a dome of soundproof acrylic that muffled the roar of the city below into a distant, electric hum. Inside, the lighting was dim and amber, casting long, dramatic shadows across the marble floors. I could hear the low clink of crystal, the murmur of polished conversations, and the soft, jazzy saxophone weaving through the air like smoke. I scanned the room, my eyes searching for the one face that meant both