The Cruel Anatomy of Love

"He ruined me. And I helped."

I was never supposed to be at the Meridian gala. I'm a grant writer for a struggling nonprofit, not a socialite in a borrowed dress. But the moment I saw Damien Voss, the air in the room changed. He didn't just look at me; he decided on me.

Damien is the king of private equity—a man who moves capital like a predator moves through tall grass. He's dangerous, controlled, and holds the world at arm's length. He doesn't do love; he does compartments.

I told myse...