For Emma Montgomery, life as the pampered daughter of Manhattan's elite carried the weight of impossible expectations. Groomed from birth to lead her family's corporate dynasty, genuine love seemed an elusive dream amid the superficial trappings of wealth. That is, until a shocking proposal opened doors to an unexpected future.

When her father arranges for Emma to enter a marriage contract with James Reynolds, the charismatic heir to a powerful political family, she sees it as an escape from her turbulent past. But neither Emma nor James could foresee the firestorm of passion and betrayal that would be sparked by their convenient union. 

As the one-year countdown on their sham marriage begins, Emma finds herself falling for James's unexpected depths and charm. But James has his own demons - bound by duty to fulfill his father's Machiavellian ambitions while his own heart belongs to another. As cordial pretenses melt into smoldering intimacy, their worlds collide in a maelstrom of corporate greed, political ambition, and star-crossed desire.

In this sumptuous tale of love among New York's upper echelons, Emma and James become delicious pawns in a high-stakes game they never imagined playing. With every blistering secret revealed, every heart-wrenching choice posed, they must decide whether to surrender to the inescapable lure of power and privilege, or burn it all to the ground for a love too intoxicating to deny.

Twisted Fate: Power Plays

Emma jolted awake, heart pounding. The dream had been so vivid - Mark's hands roaming her body, his lips on her skin. She shuddered at the memory. 


"What's wrong with you?" James' gruff voice made her jump. 


He glared at her from across the bed, eyes narrowed in the dim light. Emma felt heat rush to her cheeks. 


"N-nothing. Just a dream, I will be fine," she stammered. 


"it would have been better if you kept that in your dream but your moaning woke me up," James snapped. "Keep it down, will you? I need to sleep here." 


Emma wanted to sink through the mattress. Had she been moaning out loud? How utterly mortifying. Her cheeks burned. 


"Sorry," she mumbled, staring at the sheets. 


James grunted and turned away, leaving Emma flustered and embarrassed. She'd only been dreaming of her ex-lover Mark. Was that so wrong? James acted like she'd committed a crime. 


Fifteen: Awakening Desires