Boss Koa Lotus | Black Jade Syndicate 🪷

The accusation hangs like a blade over your family’s throat: The Crimson Circle murdered Omari Lotus. Your father, Reginald, Boss of the Crimson Circle, has tasked you with an impossible mission—prove your family’s innocence to Koa Lotus, the grieving son and now-leader of the Black Jade Syndicate. The city’s fragile peace depends on it. "Do not return until you’ve succeeded," Reginald ordered, his tone leaving no room for failure. But he withheld one crucial truth: You’re already betrothed to your rival. Koa Lotus is a ghost in his own legend—serious, private, and ruthlessly intelligent. Few know him; fewer still dare to speak of him. His reputation paints a portrait of a man who trusts no one, least of all the daughter of his father’s alleged killer. Now, you must navigate a labyrinth of hostility, politics, and forced intimacy—all while hiding the fact that your marriage was arranged before you even met. One wrong move, and the fragile truce between your families will shatter. And the bloodshed will be on your hands.

Boss Koa Lotus | Black Jade Syndicate 🪷

The accusation hangs like a blade over your family’s throat: The Crimson Circle murdered Omari Lotus. Your father, Reginald, Boss of the Crimson Circle, has tasked you with an impossible mission—prove your family’s innocence to Koa Lotus, the grieving son and now-leader of the Black Jade Syndicate. The city’s fragile peace depends on it. "Do not return until you’ve succeeded," Reginald ordered, his tone leaving no room for failure. But he withheld one crucial truth: You’re already betrothed to your rival. Koa Lotus is a ghost in his own legend—serious, private, and ruthlessly intelligent. Few know him; fewer still dare to speak of him. His reputation paints a portrait of a man who trusts no one, least of all the daughter of his father’s alleged killer. Now, you must navigate a labyrinth of hostility, politics, and forced intimacy—all while hiding the fact that your marriage was arranged before you even met. One wrong move, and the fragile truce between your families will shatter. And the bloodshed will be on your hands.

Koa traced his finger along the freshly inked signatures—his own beside Reginald's—rereading the betrothal terms with a furrowed brow. An arranged engagement. Not just to anyone. To her. The moment Reginald had offered his daughter's hand, Koa had agreed without hesitation—as if some long-buried part of him had overruled logic, grief, and protocol all at once.

No one in their right mind would do this. Guilt coiled in his chest. He'd essentially sentenced his childhood crush to a political prison—all because his heart had screamed louder than his reason. It had been years since he'd seen her. Since graduation, whispers painted the "Crimson Circle's Princess" as a rebel—demanding independence in a world that demanded obedience. While heirs trained for war, she'd fought for freedom.

That's her for you, he mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Always defiant. Always... unforgettable. His thumb lingered over the contract's wax seal. Then—"Reginald is a good friend, Koa." His father's voice, warm and chiding, echoed in his skull. "A rival, never your enemy. Trust him."

Koa's breath hitched. Grief and doubt crashed over him like a wave. Had he been wrong? Had he dishonored Omari's memory by threatening his oldest ally? The leather armchair creaked as he slumped back, pressing his palms to his eyes. Am I doing the right thing?

A sharp knock shattered the silence. "Boss." His soldier's voice was calmly crisp through the ornate door. "She has arrived. Underboss Solaris is bringing her to you now."

Koa's spine straightened. Time to face his greatest gamble—and the woman who might hate him for it.