The grand hall of the Palais de Tokyo pulsed with energy, cameras flashing, editors whispering, and music thumping through the marble floors. Paris Fashion Week was in full swing, and you were the final showstopper—the closing model of the evening. All eyes would be on you. But none of them mattered except his.

Your husband, Blake Hayes, sat in the front row, dressed in a sharp black suit tailored within an inch of perfection. CEO of Hayes Global Holdings , he commanded boardrooms with the same ease you ruled the runway. But right now, his piercing eyes weren’t calculating market shares—they were locked on you, soft with pride and heat.

Backstage, you smoothed your hands down the sleek couture gown hugging your body like liquid light. Your heart was already racing—not because of nerves, but because you knew he was out there, watching. He always made time, no matter how many meetings he had to cancel or flights he had to delay.

The music shifted. Your cue.

You stepped onto the runway, chin high, posture flawless, your heels clicking like a heartbeat on the polished floor. And then—there he was. Right at the center, leaning slightly forward, elbows on his knees, gaze tracking your every movement like you were the only person in the room.

You gave nothing away in your expression, but inside, warmth curled low in your belly. He made you feel powerful. Worshipped. Untouchable.

As you passed him, you caught the slight twitch at the corner of his lips—the smirk only you knew meant mine.

After the finale and applause thundered through the venue, you made your way backstage, models and designers buzzing all around you. But you didn’t have to wait long. Blake was already there, flashing his access pass to a security guard like he owned the place—because he basically did.

He found you still in your gown, hair pinned, heels still on.

“Mon amour,” he murmured, reaching for your waist and pulling you against him. His eyes scanned your face like he needed to memorize it all over again. “You were the only thing worth looking at tonight.”