PROLOGUE

Ava

My heart raced as I watched my brother's friend, Caspian, leaning casually against the staircase railing, looking every bit like a model. He was deep in conversation with a young woman, and I couldn’t help but feel jealous as she playfully touched him and flashed a flirtatious smile.

I bit my bottom lip, desperately wishing she would stop her amorous advances and let him be.

Caspian Wright. A name everyone knows. The most handsome and desirable man on earth, the ideal type for anyone, and the youngest billionaire CEO of Wright Enterprises. It's no wonder he's admired and adored by so many.

I gulped down my last of strawberry drink and scanned the bustling party, reaching for another beverage.

Just as I grabbed a glass of beer, Marcel, my older brother and the birthday boy, appeared out of nowhere, snatching the filled glass from my hand. This annoying brother of mine also happens to be Capian's best friend and his personal assistant at work.

"Oh, come on!" I groaned, pouting my lips in protest.

"No alcohol for you, missy," he scolded with a frown. "Or do you want me to tell mom on you?"

"Well, I'd be the first to tell on you for throwing a party without her consent!" I snapped, my face flushing red with anger.

Our mom had left on an important business trip and wouldn't return until the following day.

"Can you just keep quiet already?" Marcel retorted, glaring at me. "Because if you don't, I'll tell my friend over there that you have feelings for him."

I frowned at his threat, and he merely smirked, relishing my discomfort. "You know what? I'll tell him myself. You wait here."

"Wait, what?" Marcel asked, grabbing my hand as I started to walk away. "Are you being serious?"

"Yes," I nodded resolutely.

"I'll be damned if I ever let you date my friend," he declared. "It'll be over my dead body, Ava."

"Why not?" I demanded, outraged by his words. "Is it because he's your best friend?"

"I know his type, Ava and you... aren't," Marcel explained, his tone softening. "I don't want you to get hurt. Even if he gives you a chance, he'll only use you and break your heart. Plus, don't forget you're only seventeen, and he's much older than you."

"Six years my senior is older?" I scoffed, snatching my hand away from Marcel's grasp.

Despite his protests, I made my way toward Caspian, determined to confess my feelings. To my relief, that lady had already left.

Caspian was still standing by the railings, with a glass of champagne in his hand and casually scrolling through his phone with his other, as if he were eager to leave. He suddenly retreated into an adjoining room, and I followed to find him smoking a cigarette. I didn't even know he was a smoker.

He tucked it away quickly and walked toward me, his handsome face nearly bringing me to my knees. His hair was slicked back in a refined manner, complementing his exquisite navy-blue tuxedo. His deep black eyes seemed to welcome me into their depths.

"Did I stumble into the wrong room?" he asked, his voice smooth and alluring.

"No, it's fine. It's my brother's room," I replied, scratching the back of my head.

"Oh, then, what brings you here, Ari?" he asked.

"My name isn't Ari, it's Ava," I corrected, forcing a smile as I gathered the courage to speak my heart.

"Ohh," he nodded, an unreadable expression playing on his face. "But why are you here? Should I leave, or...?"

"I actually came to tell you something," I blurted, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Okay, what is it?" he asked, a note of impatience creeping into his tone.

"It's a confession, Caspian," I began, taking a deep breath and locking eyes with him. "So, the thing is that... I am in love with you."

The air seemed to still, and even the music from outside faded into the background. It felt as if we were the only ones in the world. The only thing that filled my ears at that moment was the sound of my heart beating fast and hard.

Caspian's cold response shattered the moment. "I don't play with kids," he said flatly, turning away and taking another drag from his cigarette.

"I'm not a kid, though," I said softly, a wave of sadness washing over me.

"You're sixteen!" he argued, frustration evident in his voice.

"Seventeen and I'll be turning eighteen next year!" I snapped, my chest heaving with emotion. "You don't know anything about me, do you?"

"You're still a kid, Ari... I mean, Ava," Caspian retorted, his tone softening slightly. "And besides, I don't need to know about anyone I'm not interested in."

"Can you at least give me a chance?" I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. "Who knows what could happen?"

He let out a low, irritated growl. "Let me tell you what would happen, Ari – you'd end up getting hurt, and I don't need some kid running to their parents, blaming me."

In that moment, something inside me snapped. I was really tired of being referred to as a child. Without a second thought, I rose onto my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his in a bold kiss, the bitter tang of smoke dancing on my tongue.

For the second time that evening, time seemed to stand still – though the moment ended faster than light. Caspian grabbed my throat, pinning me against the wall.

I whimpered as his grip tightened, cutting off my air supply. I tapped frantically on his hand, pleading with my eyes for him to release me. But he remained unmoved. "I warned you, didn't I?" he growled. "That you would get hurt. Don't play games with me, Ari."

Finally, he let me go. I gasped for air, my lungs burning as I screamed at the top of my voice, "My name is Ava not fucking Ari!"

Caspian didn't reply. Instead, he walked out, slamming the door hard, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room. I crumpled to the floor, covering my face as I sobbed uncontrollably.

The sting of rejection pierced my heart, hurting even more than the physical pain caused by the red marks around my neck. It was that moment that I vowed to never forgive Caspian – he had become my first sworn enemy.