The grand chamber was alive with spangling lights and lively music. Emilia Carter peered out over the ocean of well-dressed guests mingling below, trying to ignore the growing apprehension in her stomach. As a fiscal critic, she was no foreigner to high society festivals like this bone.

 But probing the veritable charity hosting the event added an uncomfortable edge. According to the records, commodities were not adding up in their finances. Her job was to uncover what — or who was responsible. But digging deeper meant defying the riddle at the center of it all billionaire philanthropist Alexander Sterling. Her aspect

 scrutinized the crowd until she spotted him, incontinently drawing all eyes. Indeed in a room of fat elites, Sterling commanded attention with his poised manner and handsome charm. Emilia watched as he painlessly worked the room, witching

 Each person with many words and a smile. What secrets lie beneath the polished veneer, she wondered. Only one way to find out. Steeling her jitters, Emilia made her way over and introduced herself. Sterling's pale blue eyes rated her with polite curiosity." Miss Carter. I do not believe we have had the pleasure." His deep voice held an interesting accentuation, meliorated yet carrying an edge of riddle. They made polite small talk, though Emilia tasted his alertness went deeper. There was an intensity to Sterling, as if he missed little. Her questions about the charity's charge were adroitly answered, revealing nothing of the inconsistencies puzzling her. All the while, she felt the charged energy between them, a pull that had nothing to do with business. Just also, a foamy laugh drew their attention. A statuesque golden draped herself on Sterling's arm possessively." Darling, you simply must introduce me to your fascinating friend." Emilia tasted history in the way they looked at one another, though it sounded simulated. Was there more beneath the face than met the eye? As Sterling made the prolusions, Emilia saw her occasion." It was lovely chatting, but duty calls. I hope to speak again soon." With a polite nod, she slipped back into the crowd, her mind now alive with further questions than answers. One thing was clear — the pieces of this mystification were far more privately connected than she ever could have imagined. How's this for the opening chapter? I aimed to set the stage with conspiracy, establish the main characters and their first hassle, hint at the implicit magnet and complications, all while leaving some secrets still innumerous. Please let me know if you would like me to modify or expand anything. I can also shoot drafts of fresh chapters as the story progresses. Emilia swirled the champagne in her glass, keeping a close watch on Sterling from across the chamber. The golden — presumably his current paramour — had possessed a group of benefactors, throwing her head back in lyrical horselaugh. Meanwhile, Sterling scrutinized the crowd with a rehearsed eye, percolating an royal charm. But beneath the polished persona, she tasted darkness, secrets yet innumerous. Drawing near, she eavesdropped the rearmost hot gossip — Sterling's high- profile rollicking, lavish parties, mysterious peregrination abroad. It sounded the man was oriented to court conspiracy. But Emilia knew better than to trust rumors at face value. Data were demanded, the kind that did not make the tabloid captions. Just also, she spotted her opening. The seductive golden had whisked Sterling onto the cotillion bottom, leaving a group of society dowagers in her wake. fleetly fitting herself into the discussion, Emilia schmoozed with rehearsed ease." awful event tonight. I must recommend Mr. Sterling for his fidelity to good causes." The women chortled like pixies." Oh, I suppose Sterling's fidelity lies away." One lowered her voice conspiratorially." Word has it his rearmost fling will not last long. You know his type noway do." While Emilia suspected more snide layers beneath Sterling's polished veneer, gossip would not foster her case." No doubt his focus remains on charitable workshop. Now, about those rearmost fundraiser figures." Her deft steering paid off, yielding useful fiscal perceptivity. But her mind returned to Sterling as the party wound down, further mystifications in need of working. maybe it was time for a more direct approach. The coming evening set up Emilia at Sterling's satiny town extension. Would she find the answers she sought, or simply further questions? Only one way to discover the secrets of Alexander Sterling. Emilia peered up at the luxurious extension, feeling both anxious and determined. She'd maneuvered this meeting by spinning tales of charitable cooperation ideas. Now was the time for verity. The metallic doors slid open to reveal Alexander Sterling in an perfectly acclimatized suit, his ever-present charm on full display." Miss Carter, what a affable surprise. Please, come in." The space was an elegant emulsion of ultramodern luxury and quaint majesty. Artworks by masters adorned the walls, priceless antique furnishings blended with satiny technology. Yet for all its substance, an air of loneliness dallied. " Thank you for seeing me on similar short notice, Mr. Sterling, " Emilia began, cutting to the chase. " I have come across some irregularities in your foundation's fiscal records. If you could exfoliate some light —" A brief flutter passed over Sterling's features, gone as snappily as it came." I assure you, all is in order. But please, feel free to check to your heart's content." His insouciance set Emilia further on edge." With respect, I do not suppose deception serves either of us. commodity is not adding up and I aim to find out what." Sterling rated her with keen interest, a trace of admiration mingling with computation. This was easily not the response he anticipated." veritably well. I meant only to cover the charity's character. Why do not we bandy over drinks?" As the evening wore on amid brandy and secrets unveiled, Emilia tasted Sterling's walls sluggishly worsening. further questions arose than answers, the mystifications heightening along with their charged connection. What deeper layers remained retired, and why? Only by unravelling the involved vestments would verity be set up. But at what cost? The hours sounded to dissolve as Emilia and Sterling spoke by the fluttering firelight, circercling near to the core of the matter. A compassionate man shone through the precisely constructed veneer, though murk dallied in his haunted aspect

 . At last, the secrets tumbled out- of shadowy deals, hidden provocations, and troubles that now hovered to gulf them both. Sterling had intended only to help the less fortunate, yet fell prey to the involved web of another's schemes. Now, it sounded, that web had drawn them both deep within its clutches. As the dears burned low, Emilia understood Sterling's plea for discretion held deeper meaning than image alone. Lives other than her own could be at stake if the full verity came to light. Dare she place her trust in this enigmatic foreigner, despite the warnings of her suspicion? A sense of participated pitfall had formed a fragile bond between them, yet peril remained each around. Would Sterling prove supporter or adversary in unravelling the falsehoods? Only time would tell. For now, she had picked enough vestments to begin picking at the seams of the lesser deception. The pounding at the extension door shattered the quiet of the late hour. Before Sterling could reply, fortified men burst into the moonlit room, assault rifles glinting in the darkness." Do not move!" snarled the leader, training his armament on Sterling." Alexander Black, you are coming with us." As Sterling stood frozen, another man dived at Emilia with a cloth soaked in chloroform. She plodded with all her might, knowledge fading, the last thing she saw was Sterling's agonized cry as she tumbled into darkness.