Chapter 2

The scent of metal, polish, and the faintest trace of jasmine filled the air of Gie's studio. It was a vast, high-ceilinged space—half sanctuary, half battleground.

Every inch of it was carefully curated for her craft: antique wooden workbenches covered in trays of gemstones, magnifying glasses, sketches pinned to boards, and unfinished pieces waiting for their final touch. Glass cases lined one side of the room, filled with past creations she kept for her private collection—pieces too beautiful to part with, even for royalty. The opposite wall housed rows of tiny drawers, each labeled with the name of a stone or metal: Alexandrite, Onyx, Moonstone, White Gold, Platinum, Tanzanite.

Gie stood before one of those drawers now, running her fingers over the delicate velvet pouches of stones inside, her mind already working on a new piece even before she knew its purpose. She had just finished the royal commission, and while the satisfaction of its completion lingered, the itch to create something new was already creeping in.

The chime of an email notification pulled her from her thoughts.

She turned to her desk, where her sleek laptop sat beside a clutter of sketches and notes. Clicking open her inbox, she scanned the new message.

From: Alexander Millers

Her breath hitched before she scoffed, shaking her head. Of course.

Alexander Millers. A name that carried both power and scandal in equal measure. A billionaire in the adult industry, his empire stretched across luxury clubs, high-end escort services, and investments in some of the most profitable pleasure-driven ventures across the globe. He was a man whose reputation preceded him—one of indulgence, sin, and an obscene amount of money.

He was also her best client.

Gie had never spoken to him in person, never once exchanged more than brief pleasantries through email. And yet, he was the only client who never questioned her designs, never asked for modifications, never placed limits on how much she could charge. Every woman who spent time on his arm eventually walked away with a custom piece from Gie—bracelets that shimmered like liquid gold, diamond pendants shaped into the most delicate of symbols, rings that looked like they belonged to an empress.

His orders were always extravagant, always tailored for whatever woman was in his favor that season.

But this request was different.

Her eyes scanned the email again, disbelief flickering across her features.

Gie,

Another commission. This time, something for a man.

The details are up to you. No limits. Make it a masterpiece.

You know where to send the invoice.

Alexander

Gie leaned back in her chair, raising a brow. For a man?

That was new.

She had assumed, like everyone else, that Alexander Millers was the kind of man who kept himself draped in women and little else. His taste was impeccable, his preferences evident in the diamond-studded collars and exquisite cuffs he had purchased for his lovers. But now… was he buying for himself? Or someone else?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she typed a short response.

Alexander,

Consider it done.

Gie

She didn't ask questions. That was one of the reasons he liked working with her.

But as she shut her laptop, her mind was already whirring, sketching ideas in the air before they even touched paper.

Gie walked toward the section of her studio reserved for gemstones, a long table illuminated by soft, overhead lights. Carefully, she slid open a few velvet-lined drawers, her fingers grazing the stones as she considered the man behind the commission.

For Alexander, nothing delicate. Nothing traditional.

A piece meant for him—or for a man in his world—had to exude power. Wealth. Command.

Platinum. Or perhaps black gold, something rare, something dangerous-looking.

As for the stone… not diamonds. Too predictable.

Her fingers hovered over a deep blue sapphire, its surface reflecting a hint of silver under the light. It was regal, cold, beautiful—but no. Not quite right.

A flash of deep red caught her eye. Garnet.

Now that was more like it. A stone of passion, desire, indulgence. The kind of stone that whispered wealth but also something darker. A predator's jewel.

She picked it up, running her thumb over its polished surface, imagining how it would sit embedded in a ring or cuff.

Yes. This would be the heart of the piece.

She sat down, pulling a sketchpad toward her, the tip of her pencil gliding across the page. The design took shape easily—bold, structured. A ring, perhaps, thick-banded with intricate carvings in the metal. Or a cuff, something that would catch the light in the dim glow of a penthouse lounge.

She imagined it on Alexander's hand, against the sleeve of a perfectly tailored suit.

And then she stopped, exhaling sharply, pressing the eraser against the sketch as if that would undo the thought entirely.

What the hell was she doing thinking about him like that?

Gie rolled her eyes at herself, shaking off the strange sensation curling in her chest.

Alexander Millers was just a client. A name attached to wire transfers large enough to fund a small country.

It didn't matter what he looked like.

She had seen his pictures, of course—impossible not to, considering his face was plastered across tabloids, online gossip sites, and magazine covers. He was the kind of man who made women ruin themselves, the kind who could unravel someone with just the way he leaned against a bar, a smirk curving his mouth.

Dark blonde hair, always just a little tousled, sharp cheekbones, a jawline that could cut through glass. And those gray eyes, piercing even in photographs, like storm clouds over steel.

A dangerous kind of beautiful.

Gie exhaled through her nose and forced herself to focus.

She had a commission to complete.

And if she was curious why Alexander Millers was suddenly ordering jewelry for a man, well—

That was none of her damn business.