From the start, Jacob''s expression was sour. "Mr. Stone, ra''s over you. Have some dignity, would you?"


    No sooner had the wordse out than Stone kicked Jacob''s chair, sending him sprawling to the floor.


    Jacob hit the ground with a thud, still tangled in the chair. The Stone family was powerful, and even though Stone wasn''t the heir, he had enough clout to do as he pleased in the city. When had a minor celebrity ever dared to challenge him?


    Jacob was fuming, his scalp tingling with rage, his lips trembling. "No wonder ra''s not into you, Mr. Stone."


    Stone just smirked, pulling ra into his arms with a cocky tilt of his chin. "Look in the mirror before you talk. You''re nothing but a stand-in."


    Jacob felt the sting of humiliation. He''d thought he had ra wrapped around his finger, but there she was,pletely unfazed by his plight.


    In a fit of anger, he forgot all of Greysen''s warnings and stormed out, tossing a threat over his shoulder. "ra, if you want to be with me, deal with your boy toy first."


    He acted like she couldn''t survive without him. But once he drove away, the more he stewed over it, the angrier he got. So he headed to meet some friends, only to find them gossiping about ra.


    "Just the other day, I was in North Ashford for a project. Didn''t expect ra to be such a big deal there."


    "Who''s ra?"


    "Johnny''s daughter, Mr. Stone''s sidekick. She''s stunning. Jacob should know her -his dad''s high up in the Bradford Group, right?"


    Eyes turned to Jacob. Despite not being at the top yet, these guys were all heirs to wealthy families.


    Jacob, still sore from Stone''s mockery, set his drink down hard. "Of course, I know her. She''s been chasing me, but I haven''t said yes."


    The room buzzed with interest. "Chasing you?"


    Jacob was handsome, which was part of why he''d shot to fame. As thetest heartthrob, he had plenty of admirers.


    A smug grin spread across his face. "Yeah, she asked me out tonight. I turned her down. Sure, she''s gorgeous, but once the lights are off, they''re all the same."


    The guys erupted inughter. "You got her into bed? She wouldn''t even nce my way."


    Jacob sneered, finally feeling like he''d regained some pride. "She''s not hard to get. She seemed a bit dazed when she saw me. A little push, and she agreed. Still thinking about taking it further."


    Compliments flew his way.


    Thinking of ra''s face, Jacob felt a mix of heat and annoyance. That woman had probably been with Stone countless times. Who was she fooling with her act? Once he had her, he''d show her.


    He was about to boast more when he felt a chill, like a predator was watching him.


    He looked up and locked eyes with a man on the second floor, hidden in shadows, a silver mask glinting coldly.


    A bad feeling crept over Jacob, making him quickly look away.


    After the gathering, as he headed to the parking lot alone, he didn''t even make it


    to his car before he was grabbed and dragged away.


    When he came to, he saw the man from the shadows, the mask still glinting ominously.


    Fear gripped him. "Who are you?!"


    The man said nothing, just stepped closer and lifted Jacob''s chin with a knife. "She looked dazed at you several times?"


    Jacob was confused until sharp pain on his cheek made his eyes go wide. His face was his career.


    "You''re insane! What do you want? Let me go!"


    But the masked man''s gaze was cold, like he had no emotions at all.


    After three cuts, Jacob finally pieced it together. "You mean ra?! Yeah, she looked at me like that. If you''re mad, take it out on her, not me. She''s just a—"


    His words were cut off by a knife plunging into his shoulder.


    Jacob''s face went pale, his survival instincts kicking in. This guy was probably another one of ra''s suitors, taking it out on him because he couldn''t have her.


    He cowered instantly. "ra doesn''t like me. I''ve never been with her. I was just joking. Maybe she saw me as a stand-in, asked if we''d met before. It''s our first time meeting. I might look like Stone. I don''t know anything!"


    His eyes were terrified, fearing the knife would cut his throat next.


    The man paused, wiping the blood from the de with a handkerchief.


    Jacob was near tears, watching as the man moved with calm, almost elegant precision. He felt like amb to the ughter.


    "I swear I''ll stay away from ra. Please, spare me. You and she are perfect together!"


    The man''s fingers hesitated, a small smile ying on his lips. "Is that so?"


    Having been around the entertainment block, Jacob knew what to say and fell to


    his knees. "Yes, yes, ra will love you. You two are perfect together."


    A tramp and a monster-weren''t they just made for each other?


    He had no idea what he''d done to deserve this, just that his boasting hadnded him in this mess.


    The man seemed pleased, tossing the knife aside. "We were meant to be."