The Grand Ballroom of the Maheswara Plaza was a cathedral of glass, gold, and predatory ambition. Crystal chandeliers hung like frozen explosions from the ceiling, casting a fractured, brilliant light over Jakarta’s most powerful figures. The air was a thick cocktail of floral arrangements, five-hundred-dollar-an-ounce perfumes, and the electric hum of gossip.Eryndra stood at the top of the grand staircase, his hand resting lightly on the marble balustrade. Beside him, Raka looked like a prince—or at least, the version of a prince a snake would imagine. His tuxedo was tailored so sharply it looked like it had been molded to his frame, and the way he leaned into Eryndra’s personal space was a calculated display of possession."Look at them, Ery," Raka whispered, his breath warm against Eryndra’s ear. "They’re all here for us. Well, they’re here for your father’s money, but they’re looking at us like we’re the new kings of the city."Eryndra forced his expression to remain a mask of se

The adrenaline was still a jagged hum in Eryndra’s veins as Livia pulled back, her thumb catching a stray drop of blood from his bitten lip. She smeared it across her own mouth, a dark, carnal stain that made her look more like a goddess of death than an heiress."You’re a quick learner, Eryndra," Livia whispered, her voice still wrecked with a low, post-orgasmic rasp. She adjusted the strap of her midnight-blue gown, her eyes tracking the way his chest rose and fell. "Most men would have crumbled after a night like this. You? You look like you’re just getting your second wind."Eryndra leaned his head back against the leather seat, his fingers still twitching from the sensation of her skin. "I told you, Livia. I’m done being the guy who asks for permission. Besides, the night isn't over. We have a gala to attend, don't we?""The Heritage Auction," she murmured, checking her reflection in a small gold compact. "It’s going to be a bloodbath. Your little stunt at the Plaza has everyone'

The flash of a thousand lightbulbs felt like a physical assault. Just moments after the gala’s doors swung open, the controlled elegance of the evening shattered."Back up! Give her some space!" Eryndra’s voice cracked like a whip over the cacophony of shouting reporters."Ms. Arundhati! Is it true the Arundhati Group is backing the Maheswara hostile takeover?""Eryndra! Did you freeze Raka’s accounts out of spite or strategy?"Eryndra didn't wait for an answer. He threw his arm around Livia’s waist, pulling her flush against his side, and used his shoulder to ram through the thicket of lenses and microphones."Don't say a word," Eryndra hissed into Livia’s ear."I wasn't planning on it," Livia replied, her voice remarkably steady despite the chaos. "But look at the fountain. Third pillar."Eryndra glanced over. Nayomi Kinasih stood there, a glass of red wine in her hand, watching the spectacle with a serene, terrifying smile. She raised her glass in a mock toast."That bitch," Eryndr

The ballroom of the Grand Hyatt was a shark tank, and tonight, Eryndra Maheswara was the one holding the spear. The air was thick with the scent of lilies, expensive cologne, and the palpable dread of men who realized their empires were built on sand."Look at them, Eryndra," Livia whispered, her arm looped firmly through his. She wore a dress of shimmering silver that looked like liquid moonlight, clinging to every curve. "They’re staring at us like we’re the ones who brought the plague, not the cure.""Let them stare," Eryndra replied, adjusting his cufflinks. his gaze swept the room until it landed on the head table. "Hendra looks like he’s already rehearsing my eulogy.""He’s old school, Ery. He thinks a loud voice and a few frozen accounts can stop a tidal wave," Livia said, her lips brushing his ear. "He doesn't realize the water is already over his head.""Is your father ready?""The Arundhati reserves are positioned. The moment you drop the hammer, we start the buyback of the