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JULIAN’S POV

I headed up to my room to get ready for the evening. I didn’t have much time, but I wasn’t worried. A few minutester, I was dressed in a red suit. Everything was in ce the cufflinks, the polished shoes, and the silver tie I rarely wore but always felt powerful in.

As I adjusted my tie in front of the mirror, I called my ountant. “I need tickets to the event tonight,” I said, already anticipating a bit of pushback.

“You know you’re cutting it really close, Sir,” she replied. “Tickets will be more expensive than usual.”

“I don’t care. Just get them,” I said firmly. The extra cost wasn’t my concern. I had a n to carry out, and tonight’s event was a critical step.

I gave myself onest look in the mirror, straightening my posture. I looked good- confident, powerful. Just the way I needed to look tonight.

I left my room and walked down the hall toward the guest room where Ron, Jack, and the others were staying. I gave a light knock on the door.

“Come in,” a voice called.

I stepped inside and was surprised to see they were already dressed–tailored suits, polished shoes, the whole package. They looked sharp. I nodded in approval. “Alright,” I began, leaning back against the table beside me. “Let’s go over the n to make sure everything is in order. We need two key roles tonight. First, someone needs make sure everything is in order. We need two ke to get Sarah’s attention and draw her in for an interview. Second, someone needs to spike her drink during the interaction, Everything else will fall into ce after that.”

Ron smirked and nodded in Jack’s direction. “He should be the one to spike her drink. The guy’s basically invisible in a crowd–no one ever notices him. We just need the right substance to add to her drink.”

“We can get that on the way there,” I added, already mentally listing the nearby contacts we could hit up.

“In that case,” Jack said, dropping down onto the bed with a grin, “you should be the one to get interviewed. You’ve got more fame, more recognition. She’ll bite quicker with you than any of us.”

They weren’t wrong. I had the face, the name, and the presence. I could draw her in easily.

Sessfully unlocked!

dy, let’s move.”

“Alright then,” I said with a final n

Without another word, I turned and walked out, the others falling in line behind me. We got into the ck SUVS waiting out front. The event venue wasn’t far from my

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ce, so within minutes, we were pulling up in front of the building.

As we stepped out, the shing lights of the cameras immediately blinded us. Reporters swarmed the area, snapping pictures without even knowing who half of us were. But that’s the thing–step out of a luxury car wearing a thousand–dor suit and people assume you’re important.

As nned, Ron and his team followed me closely, looking sharp andposed. They yed the part perfectly.

In the crowd, we quickly spotted Sarahughing, a ss of champagne in hand, chatting with a few other reporters. Good. That meant I didn’t have to offer her a drink -it was already in her hand. One less step.

We exchanged a quick nod, everyone silently acknowledging their roles. Then we split up, each of us moving into position.

I made my way through the crowd, angling toward her. When I reached the edge of the group she was in, I “identally” stepped on her shoe.

“Ouch,” she said, turning sharply.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, offering a quick but concerned look. “I hope I didn’t hurt your foot.” “It’s fine,” she replied, brushing it off, though I saw her expression change when she really looked at me. Her eyes lit up slightly

“I’m Sarah,” she said, extending her hand.

A small smile curved my lips as I shook her hand. “Julian.”

Now she’d ask for myst name. Probably dig into my business background too. I was ready for all of it. I had my answers rehearsed, polished, and convincing.

“You have a lovely name,” she said instead, stepping a little closer. “That name has always been my favorite.” She paused, studying my face. “Would you like to apany me somewhere less noisy?”

I nced back. Everyone was in position. We had nned for her drink to be spiked out here, in the open. But if she wanted a private setting for the interview… That would make things even easier.

I brought out my phone and quickly typed out a message to Ron: “Change of n. Looks like she wants to interview me privately. Someone should trail me–keep your distance, but be ready. We’ll handle her from there.” I hit send and slipped the phone back into my pocket, masking any signs of suspicion.

Looking back at her, I gave a small smile and gestured with my hand for her to lead the way. “Sure,” I said casually, letting her think she was in control of this moment.

We stepped out of the crowded event hall, slipping past the clusters of reporters and guests without drawing too much attention. The noise of the party quickly faded as we moved through the hallway and into the quiet backstage area. Dim lights buzzed

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overhead as we approached a narrow corridor. I kept my steps steady, but my earsb. /bwere trained on the soft sound of footsteps behind us–Ron, Following us just like I asked, careful not to raise suspicion.

She stopped in front of a door, pulled a small key from her purse, and unlocked it with ease. That caught me off guard. How the hell does she have ess to this room?

We stepped inside. She flipped on the light, revealing a small, intimate space–more like a lounge than an office. There was a couch, a side table, and, strangely, a bed pushed against the wall. My eyes narrowed slightly. This… doesn’t look like a ce for

terviews.

Even more confusing–she wasn’t holding a mic, no notepad, no recorder, not even her phone. So how was she nning to conduct this so–called “interview“?

Before I could voice any of my thoughts, she caught me off guardpletely. She stepped forward, grabbed me by the cor, and pressed her lips against mine, shoving. me back against the wall.

What the hell?

My eyes widened in shock. I didn’t move at first–my brain was still trying to catch up to what just happened. This definitely wasn’t part of the n. We just met. She was supposed to be the one we were targeting, not the other way around.

I broke away from the kiss, catching my breath. “Whoa… What are you doing?” I asked, my voice sharp with confusion.

She smirked slightly, eyes scanning mine. “I saw the way you looked at me earlier. Your didn’t step on me by ident. It was a setup.”

Damn. Was I that obvious? Had she figured it all out?

“You nned that little bump so we’d end up here, alone… didn’t you?” she said, a glint of something dangerous or maybe amused shing in her eyes.

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