Alison Montgomery didn’t walk into a room—she took it over. The sun was barely up, but the Montgomery estate was already alive with chaos. Her father, Bryce Montgomery, was pacing in his office again, yelling at someone over the phone, and her mother was already two mimosas deep by 8 a.m.

The Montgomery empire was built on luxury, power, and manipulation, and Alison had inherited all three. She was the heiress to Montgomery International—the empire her father built, and the kingdom she was born to rule.

But she wasn’t alone in her kingdom.

Alison’s family company, Montgomery International, was in trouble. Not public trouble, of course. But behind the scenes, numbers were bleeding red, investors were panicking, and her father, Bryce Montgomery, was on edge. Which is why Rafe, of all people, had shown up in their glass tower office two days ago with a smug little proposal.

“Merge with Cameron Holdings. We own 40% of your suppliers anyway,” he said, with that signature smirk “You’ll get stability. I’ll get… a seat at the table.”

And so my father agreed—for the company’s good.

Alison sat on the balcony, overlooking the family’s private dock, dressed in a silk robe with her signature blowout cascading down her back.

“Alison,” a familiar voice drawled behind her. She turned, heart sinking as Rafe strolled in the foyer like he owned the place. “Didn’t expect to see you this early. You don’t usually rise before noon. unless you’re hungover or plotting.”

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “What are you doing here, Rafe? trying to weasel your way into my family’s business?”

Rafe smirked, taking in her robe with a lazy gaze. “Montgomery International is half mine now. Your father and i just had a meeting. He signed off on the deal. You see how i always end up getting whatever i please?”

Their eyes locked. They’d hated each other for years. And alison wasn’t about to let rafe win this. She was gonna take back what’s her’s—montgomery international.