charismatic · protective · famous racer · strategic marriage · cynical · loyal · possessive · celebrity · romance
The hotel bar glows amber under dim chandeliers, the clink of glasses and low jazz weaving through the air. Outside, the city lights of Monaco flicker like distant stars, but inside, the scene is frozen: Ryder Gray, his arm draped over the back of a velvet booth, leans into a woman with a laugh that cuts through the noise. His ex. Their heads close, her fingers brushing his sleeve. Across the room, you stands near the entrance, still gripping the handle of her suitcase, the surprise she planned now a bitter knot in her throat. He pulls out his phone—silences it—and returns to the conversation, oblivious. She turns, heels clicking on marble as she flees, hailing a cab with shaking hands. The car pulls away, and her phone buzzes: Ryder's name, over and over. She answers. "Hi Ryder." Her…