CHAPTER ONE
Halloween
ROMANFRASERSTRODEthrough the deserted atrium, struggling to avoid the Halloween decorations strewn across the floor. The party had clearly been a success. He should be heading to another party himself now—one more wild than the one in his company headquarters. But he’d avoided this one and he was probably going to skip the next as well.
As CEO of Fraser Holdings, he was too busy overseeing a wide assortment of companies and interests. The merchant-banking arm was insanely busy, the group’s hotels were at the highest occupancy rates they’d been in years while the luxury goods and accessories arm was growing at a phenomenal rate. Built upon the legacy of his great-grandparents, the Fraser name was synonymous with finance, luxury travel and now had the global success Roman had long sought.
Tomorrow he’d head overseas to check in on the subsidiary companies and some of the hotels, but right now an enormous pair of wings lay in his path. They were snowy-white and sparkling, though one wing was broken. Frowning, he hoisted them up from the floor and slung the harness over his shoulder. It wasn’t fair for the cleaners to have to lug them out. It was tough enough, having to work through the small hours, let alone having to deal with this extra mess, especially when they were so heavy. He wasn’t surprised the angel who’d worn them had decided to ditch them. Not that there were angels, of course. Demons, on the other hand? Roman knew there were plenty of those. He had more in his head than were running around Manhattan tonight.
Lost in thought, he walked out to the pavement outside. He’d given his driver the night off. The dude had a girlfriend now and he’d wanted to celebrate Halloween with her. Which meant Roman would have to get a cab or walk—neither option appealed. He’d avoided several calls this week from women wanting him to secure them entry to his friend Alex Costa’s exclusive event tonight. There’d be unlimited champagne, food, beautiful women. If Roman wanted company, that’d be the place to go. But he didn’t want company. Frankly, he could get company any time he wanted. He wasn’t hungry for that. He wasn’t hungry at all.
Halloween heralded the slide into the festive season. Upbeat, jingling songs would soon be on endless repeat. The expectation to socialise would skyrocket even higher than normal. It was the start of the sharing season—the time to give and receive, to eat, drink and be merry. To kiss beneath mistletoe and again at the stroke of midnight. None of which Roman wanted to do.
He was bored. Jaded. Ready to retreat into work. Not even the prospect of beauties in skimpy witch or nymph costumes tempted him. This time of year simply sucked. So he was out of here. On a plane first thing tomorrow. Yeah, he was a grumpy Grinch who wanted to be alone. He wanted to be alonealways. Most especially now.
Violet Summers was late locking up. She’d been enjoying the vibe of people walking past, dressed up to party—the costumes were something else. Halloween wasn’t as huge at home in New Zealand as it was in the US and here in Manhattan—like everything else in the city—it was next level. Some of the sizzling costumes and special effects make-up on people going past the window were stunning.
She was working alone late at night in a teeny-tiny macaron store in the heart of Corporateville—the store being small, that was, not the macarons. She giggled to herself. If only her over-protective parents could see her now. She’d even managed to engage the alarm without accidentally setting it off. She turned back from securing the door, stopped and stared. While she’d had her back to the street, an angel had fallen and landed just five feet away. A tall, broad-shouldered, beautiful angel.
He paused on the pavement, looking as though he didn’t know where to head next. He had an enormous set of wings. One of them was broken. Honestly, it only added to his not-of-this-world look. He was the most classically handsome man she’d ever seen and, since arriving in New York a fortnight ago, she’d seen a lot of stylish, good-looking people. They walked past the shop all the time. But this guy? Maybe it was just the lighting—the harsh streetlights overhead hollowed and highlighted the planes and edges of his face, giving him a sharply sculpted look and his skin an unearthly pallor. He’d be perfect inspiration for an animé artist. Hewasperfect—attractive to anyone with a pulse.
She froze, afraid he’d disappear if she blinked. She wanted to enjoy the magic for as long as possible. But she laughed at herself again. Was she really ogling a guy in the street? She was used to men—four brothers and all their friends had done that. But this guy should have been in a superhero, supernatural mash-up movie. Vaguely she acknowledged that moments like these were rare. Mostly she just enjoyed the view.
He still didn’t move. He just gazed into the middle distance as if he wasn’t really present—was he lost in troubling thoughts? Her appreciation gave way to curiosity and then concern. He looked as if he was bowed beneath a burden far bigger than the enormous wings he was shouldering.
She stepped forward into the middle of the footpath and softly called to him. ‘Do you need some help?’
He turned. The distant look evaporated, instantly replaced with alertness. He didn’t smile but his all-encompassing gaze grew mildly incredulous. ‘Are you talking tome?’
The sharpness in his tone shaved an edge off his handsomeness. It was a shame. Not just a fallen angel but a bitter one.
She swallowed. ‘Yes.’
‘What makes you think I need help?’
‘You looked...’ She was embarrassed but at the same time his lack of grace fired her spirit. There was no reason for him to be rude to someone simply reaching out. ‘You looked like you were lost.’
‘Lost?’ he echoed sardonically.
‘Yeah. Like you’ve landed in a place you don’t belong.’ She winced inwardly.
‘A placeIdon’t belong?’
Well, okay, it was obvious she wasn’t from around here. But still. ‘And your costume is—’
‘Costume?’ His eyes widened.
‘The wings are great, by the way. The broken one works really well with your whole...’ She trailed off, realising too late as she took in the fine black suit. ‘You’re not in costume, are you?’
He shook his head and there was a softening at the edges of his mouth.
‘Holding the wings for someone else?’ she asked.
He was probably waiting for his date to emerge from that swanky building next door. In moments, a car with a chauffeur would arrive to take them both to some exclusive Halloween party.
‘No. I found them.’
‘So you’re out here looking for the owner?’