Forbidden Attraction E-Book

Jeff Miller

• Herausgeber: Jeff Miller
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

When Elena Dawson, a struggling artist, finds herself entangled in a dangerous romance with the notorious and enigmatic billionaire Lucas Valtieri, she’s faced with a choice between her morals and a burning passion that defies all logic. As secrets from Lucas’s dark past start to surface, Elena must decide whether to trust her heart or protect herself from a man who’s as dangerous as he is irresistible.
 

Leseprobe

The city hummed with life outside Elena Dawson’s cramped studio apartment. The chaotic energy of New York City—cabs honking, street vendors hawking their goods, pedestrians weaving through each other like fish in a stream—contrasted starkly with the quiet stillness inside her space. The room was small, just large enough for a twin bed in the corner, a battered desk overflowing with art supplies, and canvases propped up against every available surface. The air smelled faintly of oil paint and turpentine, an aroma that had become as comforting to her as morning coffee.

Elena wiped her hands on her worn apron, smearing a streak of blue paint down its already colorful front. She stepped back to assess her latest work—a vivid piece filled with dark undertones, colors that clashed and bled into one another in a way that mirrored the turbulence in her own mind. It was a daring piece, one she hoped would capture someone’s attention. But capturing attention wasn’t the same as making a living. Lately, every piece she sold barely covered the rent for her tiny space.

She sighed and glanced at the stack of bills lying unopened on her desk. Another month’s rent due, and not nearly enough sales to pay it. Her stomach twisted with anxiety. What was she doing wrong? Her professors had once hailed her as a rising star, and she’d entered the art world filled with hope and ambition. But reality had a way of dulling dreams, and she was starting to wonder if she’d misjudged her own talent.

Before she could sink too deeply into self-pity, the buzz of her phone pulled her attention away. Wiping her hands, she reached for the device, frowning at the unknown number displayed on the screen.

“Hello?” she answered hesitantly.

“Ms. Dawson?” a smooth, female voice asked on the other end. “I’m calling on behalf of Mr. Lucas Valtieri. He wishes to extend a personal invitation to an exclusive art gala he’s hosting tomorrow evening.”

Elena blinked, her mind racing. Lucas Valtieri. The name alone was enough to send a ripple of shock through her. He was a man of legend in the art world—a billionaire with a passion for collecting rare and provocative pieces. He had a reputation for turning obscure artists into household names overnight with just a single purchase. She’d heard he had a taste for the controversial, the scandalous. The kinds of art that dared to explore humanity’s darker side.

“Wait—Mr. Valtieri?” she stammered, gripping her phone as if it might shatter. “Why would he invite me?”

The woman on the other end of the line didn’t hesitate. “Mr. Valtieri recently acquired several of your paintings through a private gallery sale. He’s very interested in your work and would like to meet you in person.”

Elena’s heart raced. She knew a few of her paintings had sold in the past few months, but she’d never known to whom. She’d always imagined they were scattered in small, independent collections or hanging in some anonymous corporate office. The idea that Lucas Valtieri, of all people, had been the buyer was surreal.

“Um… yes, I’d love to attend,” she managed to reply, her voice faint.

“Wonderful. A car will pick you up at seven tomorrow evening. Dress code is formal. I’ll send over the details shortly.”

The line clicked off before Elena could respond. She stood there, staring at the blank screen, a whirlwind of emotions churning inside her. Excitement. Fear. Curiosity. What could a man like Lucas Valtieri possibly want from someone like her? She’d never met him, had no connections in his world of high society and wealth. Yet he’d not only bought her paintings but now wanted to meet her personally.

She glanced back at her latest piece, the smears of blue and black swirling like a storm. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached out to touch the canvas. For the first time in a long while, hope flared in her chest, a tiny spark that had nearly been extinguished by doubt and disappointment. This could be her chance to finally break free of the suffocating weight of obscurity. To finally be seen.

But there was also a gnawing fear, a sense of foreboding she couldn’t quite shake. Lucas Valtieri’s name carried as much danger as it did promise. There were stories—whispered rumors of women who had been caught in his orbit and had come away forever changed. And not always for the better.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” she muttered to herself, shaking off the thoughts. “It’s just a gala. Just a chance to show off your work.”

Still, she knew deep down it was more than that. It had to be.

---

The following evening, a sleek black car pulled up outside her apartment building right at seven. Elena stepped out, dressed in the only formal gown she owned—a simple, flowing emerald-green dress that hugged her curves modestly. She’d tied her auburn hair up in a loose chignon, a few tendrils escaping to frame her delicate face. The nervous flutter in her stomach had grown into a full-blown tempest as the driver opened the door for her.

The drive to the Valtieri mansion was a blur. Elena barely registered the opulence of the car’s interior or the sprawling cityscape outside the tinted windows. Her mind was consumed with questions. What would she say? How should she act? She’d never been good at small talk, and the idea of mingling with the elite of the art world made her palms sweat.

When they finally pulled up to the estate, Elena’s breath caught in her throat. The Valtieri mansion was a work of art in itself, a grand, gothic-style manor that seemed almost otherworldly under the soft glow of strategically placed lights. The entrance was flanked by towering statues, their shadowed faces gazing down as if judging those who dared enter.

“Ms. Dawson, this way, please,” a butler greeted her, offering his arm.

Elena followed him through the grand foyer, her eyes wide as she took in the lavish décor. Rich tapestries adorned the walls, and the scent of roses filled the air. The sound of soft classical music floated from the ballroom, where dozens of elegantly dressed guests were already gathered, holding flutes of champagne and murmuring in hushed tones.

And then she saw him.

Lucas Valtieri stood at the far end of the room, surrounded by a small group of admirers. He was tall, with a commanding presence that made the rest of the crowd seem to fade into the background. His dark hair was slicked back, and he wore a tailored black suit that accentuated the broadness of his shoulders and the lean, powerful build of his body. But it was his eyes that struck her most—piercing gray eyes that seemed to look straight through people.

Elena felt a jolt of something—fear, attraction, she couldn’t tell—pulse through her as his gaze shifted and locked onto hers. The corners of his mouth curved into a faint, almost predatory smile, and he murmured something to the group around him before excusing himself and striding toward her.

“Ms. Dawson,” he greeted, his voice low and smooth. “I’m so glad you could join us.”

“Mr. Valtieri,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. Up close, he was even more striking, the sharp lines of his face softened only by the sensual curve of his lips. “Thank you for inviting me. I—I’m honored.”

“The honor is mine,” he said, his gaze lingering on her face as if he were memorizing every detail. “I’ve been following your work for some time now. You have a gift, Elena. One I’d very much like to help nurture.”