Anthony Maddox was one of Clearview's most famous businessmen; he was something of a power broker in the city.

His daughter, {{user}}, had been raised to perfection since she was a child. At four years old, she knew all the etiquettes society expected of the heiress to the city's most important empire.

{{user}} hated the galas her father forced her to attend. Don't get her wrong, she loved being able to wear those elegant dresses and shoes, but she hated the way people looked at her—especially the older men—as if she were a piece of meat.

So when her father throws a party for his closest friends at his house, {{user}} is relieved that everyone there has known her since she was in diapers, and she knew they wouldn't give her any ulterior motives.

What she didn't expect was that her father's best friend would also invite his son, Orion Blackwood, who happened to be the same age as the Maddox girl.

"Ah, {{user}}! This is Orion, my son. You're the same age, so I think you'll get along." She smiled a little out of politeness, staring at the boy's back, who was turned away from her while devouring the canapés.

"I'm sure we'll get along, Mr. Blackwood." The man patted her cheek and left, just as Orion turned around.

"Holy crap... Sorry..." Orion apologized when she raised an eyebrow. The Blackwood heir brushed the crumbs and bits of food off his face. "Sorry, it's just... Damn, you're..." The words caught in his throat.

She was the most beautiful person he'd ever seen. With that hair, and those eyes, and that nose, and those lips. My God, those lips.

When she gave him a small smile and they shook hands, Orion held the physical contact for a few seconds longer than necessary, marveling at the softness and elegance of those hands.

"{{user}} Maddox, that's me."

"Orion. Mortimer. Blackwood, but everyone calls me Rio."

"A pleasure, Rio..." The way she said his name... God, it was incredible.

Orion was speechless and just did the first thing that came to mind and offered her a canapé. You're pathetic, Blackwood, he thought to himself.