Aurora Lane knew how to walk into a room like she owned it. Today, she had no choice but to believe it.
Juliana's penthouse office in the East Tower gleamed with cold luxury. Glass, chrome, and ice-blue accents—just like the woman herself.
Aurora stepped out of the elevator wearing a slate-gray power suit and killer heels. Her hair was slicked back, red lips bold, and confidence dialed to a dangerous level.
Juliana was on the phone, perched behind a glass desk that overlooked the skyline. Her icy blue eyes flicked up as Aurora entered, but her voice remained calm and venomous.
"I don't care what the legal team says. Lane is bluffing," Juliana snapped. "Her threats mean nothing if she doesn't have the nerve to follow through."
Aurora smiled to herself.
Oh honey, you have no idea how much nerve I have.
When Juliana finally hung up, she arched a brow. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Lane? I thought you preferred stabbing people from a distance."
Aurora didn't flinch. "I figured face-to-face would be more satisfying this time."
Juliana leaned back. "Let me guess. You've come to beg for mercy?"
"No," Aurora said smoothly. "I've come to offer a deal."
That got her attention.
"A deal?" Juliana's voice dripped with disbelief. "You're finally ready to surrender?"
Aurora chuckled, setting a small leather folder on the desk. "Inside is a proposal. A merger between our sustainability divisions. Public-facing only. We each maintain ownership, but we appear united. It boosts both our stocks and silences the media frenzy."
Juliana opened the folder, scanning the proposal.
"And in return?"
"You back off my name, my brand, and Dominic."
Juliana's lip twitched.
"Dominic is your concern now?"
Aurora met her gaze evenly. "He always was."
The room went still.
Then Juliana laughed. "How the mighty have fallen."
Aurora tilted her head. "Fallen? No. I'm just done pretending I don't care."
Juliana narrowed her eyes. "You're not doing this out of goodwill."
"No," Aurora said, rising. "I'm doing it because you crossed a line. And because I'm the only one who can beat you at your own game."
She turned to leave, but paused at the door.
"Oh, and Juliana?"
"Yes?"
"Next time you want to plant a mole in my company, don't use someone allergic to pressure. My head of IT nearly broke after one threat."
And with that, she walked out.
---
Back at Lane Innovations – Later That Day
Dominic stood at the window of Aurora's office, watching her as she returned.
He turned as she closed the door.
"Well?"
"She bit."
"You're sure?"
"She actually smirked. That's when I knew she thought she was winning."
Dominic grinned. "You're dangerous when you're smug."
Aurora shrugged off her blazer. "You make me worse."
"Better," he corrected, stepping close. "I make you better."
She looked up at him. Too close. Too aware.
"You're doing it again," she said quietly.
"Doing what?"
"Looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like I'm not your enemy anymore."
Dominic's voice dipped low. "Maybe I never was."
She took a shaky breath. "You think you can just flirt your way back in?"
"I think I never left," he murmured, pressing his palm against her waist, pulling her gently against him.
Aurora closed her eyes.
"Dominic…"
But then—
BANG.
The office door slammed open.
Maya, her assistant, burst in, breathless. "You both need to see this. Now."
Aurora stepped back. "What is it?"
Maya held up a tablet.
Dominic took it—and his jaw clenched instantly.
The screen showed a breaking news report.
"EXPOSED: Dominic Raine's Secret Investment in Lane Innovations!"
The reporter's voice cut through:
"According to leaked financial records, Raine Enterprises has been quietly funding Aurora Lane's latest sustainability project, sparking questions of collusion, conflict of interest, and insider trading…"
Dominic looked up, fury flashing. "This wasn't me."
Aurora's expression was unreadable. "So you didn't invest in me?"
"I did. Months ago. Anonymously. Before we even... started again."
"You should've told me."
"I didn't want you to think I was controlling you."
Aurora crossed her arms. "You mean you didn't want me to know you were trying to fix my problems behind my back."
"This isn't fixing, Aurora. This was protection."
"And now the entire world thinks I've been sleeping with you for money."
Dominic's jaw locked. "I can fix this."
"No," she snapped, eyes stormy. "You already broke it."
And just like that, the distance between them felt infinite again.
---
Juliana's Office – That Night
Juliana stood in front of her window, a glass of wine in hand as her assistant spoke softly.
"The leak was successful. News outlets are running the insider trading angle hard. The board's panicking."
Juliana smiled.
"Good. Let them panic. By tomorrow, Dominic will be too busy saving his empire to protect Aurora's."
The assistant hesitated. "And the fallback plan?"
Juliana turned slowly.
"Oh, you mean the video?"
She walked to her desk and clicked a file.
Onscreen: Aurora and Dominic in a dark corner of a gala. Heated. Passionate. A stolen kiss. A secret moment.
Captured.
"Release it," Juliana said, her smile sharp. "Let's see how loyal they are after the world sees what kind of 'partnership' they really have."
---