CHAPTER 4

Anya’s POV

He looked right through me, like I was invisible. Like I was nothing but air to him.

My stomach twisted painfully. The man who had broken me five years ago—the man I once thought I’d spend forever with—was standing right there. And now he wasn’t just anyone. He was Orion Nikandros, the billionaire who’d come to save my husband’s company.

The moment he stepped into the boardroom, the air shifted. It grew tense, thick enough to choke on. Everyone seemed to sit up a little straighter, like his presence demanded it. He moved with quiet confidence, every step measured, controlled. He wasn’t the same man I’d known back then—the one who used to kiss my forehead and whisper that he loved. No, this version of him was colder. Harder. Powerful in a way that scared me a little.

He wore a dark suit that probably cost more than my car. The fabric clung perfectly to his tall frame, every button in place, his black hair neatly slicked back. His jaw looked sharper now, his face older, more defined. But his eyes—those grey eyes—were what made my chest tighten. Once, they had been soft and full of light. Now they were distant, empty, like every trace of the man I loved had been erased.

Kennedy, my husband, stood as Orion walked in. His fake charm switched on immediately. He smiled that polished, insincere smile he always wore for investors. “Mr. Nikandros, it’s an honor to finally meet you,” he said, stepping forward and offering his hand.

Orion didn’t take it. He barely glanced at him, his gaze cool and uninterested. Then, without saying a word, he brushed past him and walked straight to the head of the table.

Kennedy froze for a second, caught off guard. His hand dropped awkwardly to his side. The entire room went silent. Even the hum of the air conditioner seemed to fade as Orion sat down—right in Kennedy’s chair—like it already belonged to him.

Kennedy’s smile faltered, but he forced it back quickly and stood beside him, trying to play it off. I could see the frustration flicker in his eyes, though. No one treated Kennedy that way. No one but Orion.

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling slightly in my lap. My heart was beating so fast it hurt. I hadn’t seen Orion in years, hadn’t even said his name out loud since the day he left. But now he was sitting just a few feet away, and every part of me felt like it was spiraling.

Then his eyes found me.

It was only for a second—but that second stretched forever.

His gaze hit me like a physical blow. I could feel the old memories flooding back—the laughter, the tears, the nights we spent tangled up in each other, the promises he made right before he walked away and left me broken.

There was nothing in his eyes now. No warmth. No sign he even remembered who I was.

Just cold, sharp recognition. And maybe, just maybe, a flicker of something darker.

He leaned back slightly, his voice calm and deep when he finally spoke. “Before I consider investing in your company,” he said, his eyes still on mine, “I have a few conditions.”

The words made my blood run cold. I didn’t know what he wanted, but I could feel it—it wasn’t just business. This was personal. Very personal.

Kennedy cleared his throat nervously, his voice trembling slightly. “Of course, Mr. Nikandros. What kind of conditions?”

Orion didn’t answer immediately. He turned his head toward me, and my stomach dropped. His expression gave nothing away as he said, “I want someone who knows this company well to work directly under me. Someone I can rely on.”

Kennedy nodded quickly, eager to please. “Yes, of course. Whoever you want, we’ll make it happen.”

Orion’s eyes stayed locked on mine. “Her,” he said finally, pointing straight at me. “I want her as my assistant.”

The room went quiet.

For a heartbeat, I didn’t understand. Then my pulse began to race. “Me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Orion’s expression didn’t change. “Yes, you, Mrs. Davenport.”

Hearing my married name from his lips made something twist painfully in my chest. I could feel Kennedy’s eyes burning into me, his expression darkening.

“I—I don’t think that’s—” I began, but Kennedy’s hand shot out and grabbed my thigh under the table. His grip was hard, punishing. I flinched.

He leaned close and whispered in my ear, his voice low enough for only me to hear, “Don’t you dare embarrass me.”

My throat felt dry. I wanted to scream that I couldn’t work for Chase, that it would destroy me all over again—but I knew what would happen if I said no. So I nodded weakly, forcing out the words, “I’ll do it.”

Orion’s mouth lifted in the faintest, coldest hint of a smile. “Good,” he said, his tone businesslike. “My lawyers will contact you about the paperwork.”

He stood, straightening his jacket. His confidence was effortless, like he ruled every room he walked into. When he reached the door, he stopped and turned slightly, his gaze landing on me again.

“I expect you at my office by seven a.m. sharp tomorrow,” he said. “Don’t be late.”

Then he walked out, leaving a heavy silence behind him.

I sat there frozen, my heart still racing, trying to make sense of what had just happened. My husband had just forced me to work for the man who once held my heart and destroyed it in the same breath. And now, I was trapped between the two of them—the husband who hurt my body and the man who broke my soul.