Locked out of her Park Avenue inheritance, scraping by on gig work in a city that once bowed to her name, Clara needs one thing: a husband. Enter Troy Templeton, the former help’s son. Now a billionaire mogul, he’s never forgiven her for what happened between them.
When a chance encounter goes viral, they strike an uneasy deal. She gets her trust fund. He gets the clean image his investors demand. Strictly business.
But surviving a marriage of convenience with your ex is anything but simple. Beneath old wounds, something far more inconvenient stirs. In public, they are the perfect couple. In private, every boundary they set begins to shift.
Before long, the problem isn’t keeping things professional. It’s admitting they both want something they swore they’d never risk again.
A scorching romance about temptation, desire and the kind of chemistry that burns through every rule you make.
In his world, power isn’t negotiated—it’s taken. Kept. Owned.
I learned that too late. Men like him don’t see women the way others do. They see leverage. Risk. Weakness. And somehow, I became all three.
Years ago, I closed a door he intended to walk through without resistance. Cost him ground he doesn’t lose. I told myself it was business. It wasn’t. Now his company owns Prescott Vantage, and his condition is simple: I stay.
I should walk away. I should know better. But walking away from men like him isn’t simple—it’s dangerous. He watches me like I’m a problem he’s already solved. Like he knows my routines. My tells. The exact moment my control slips.
I tell myself I can handle him. That staying is strategy. Survival. But the longer I’m here, the clearer it becomes.
I’m not managing him. I’m contained by him. He isn’t losing interest. He’s closing in. And the worst part? I think I was marked long before I ever realized I was his.
This book is about obsession, power, and the dangerous line between desire and control. In this book, Bri Blackwood delivers a dark billionaire romance packed with possessive energy, corporate intrigue, and a morally grey hero whose fixation is equal parts alluring and unsettling.
Cain Ashcroft is easily the standout. Cold, calculating, and relentlessly obsessed, he commands every scene with an intensity that makes him impossible to ignore. His interest in Sutton Prescott goes far beyond business, creating an atmosphere filled with unease, anticipation, and undeniable chemistry. Sutton herself is ambitious and capable, making her a strong heroine, though the speed of the romance occasionally leaves her reactions feeling slightly underdeveloped.
The premise is compelling, and the shift from boardroom rivalry to darker secrets keeps the pages turning. The final act is particularly gripping, ending on a cliffhanger that raises the stakes without feeling forced.
However, the novella-length format works against the story. The romance, emotional development, and suspense all needed more room to breathe. Even so, the addictive obsessive dynamic and intriguing setup make this a promising start to a trilogy that could become truly unforgettable.
