Chapter Five

Aurora made it halfway across the ballroom before her hands started shaking.

She’d done it. She’d actually done it. Stood in front of all those people and destroyed Piagel publicly. The look on his face—shock, horror, realization—would stay with her forever.

So why did she feel like she might throw up?

“Champagne?”

A server appeared with a tray. Aurora took a glass gratefully and downed half of it in one gulp.

“Easy,” Cody said, appearing at her elbow. “You’re supposed to sip that.”

“I just publicly destroyed my ex-husband’s company. I think I’ve earned the right to drink however I want.”

He grinned. “Fair point. You were incredible up there, by the way.”

“I was terrified.”

“No one could tell.” He clinked his glass against hers. “Dad’s proud. Mom’s proud. I’m proud.”

“Thanks.” She finished the champagne and set the glass down. “How long do we have to stay?”

“At least another hour. People want to meet you. Network. You’re the Thompson heir now—everyone wants a piece of you.”

Aurora groaned. “I hate networking.”

“Too bad. It’s part of the job.” Cody straightened suddenly. “Speaking of which, there’s someone coming this way. Big someone. Important someone.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know, but everyone’s staring.”

Aurora turned to see a man walking toward them. Tall, dressed in an immaculate dark suit, moving through the crowd like he owned the place. People stepped aside for him automatically.

As he got closer, Aurora’s breath caught.

Gray-green eyes. Sharp features. That face.

Oh no.

“Miss Thompson,” the man said, stopping in front of her. His voice was deep, familiar. The same voice that had asked if she was okay. If she was sure. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you properly.”

Aurora couldn’t breathe. “I—you—”

“I’m Kieran Miller.” He held out his hand. “CEO of Miller Group.”

Cody inhaled sharply. “The Millier Group?”

“The only one.” Kieran’s eyes never left Aurora’s face. “I’ve been hoping to speak with you, Miss Thompson. About a potential business partnership.”

Aurora stared at his outstretched hand. This was the stranger. The hotel room. The fifty dollars.

He was the richest man in Velloria.

And he was standing here, in front of her brother, pretending they’d never met.

She took his hand. His grip was firm, warm. “Mr. Miller . I’ve heard of you.”

“All good things, I hope.”

“You’re very private. There are no photos of you anywhere.”

“I prefer to keep my personal life separate from business.” His thumb brushed across her knuckles—so quick she almost missed it. “But I make exceptions for interesting people.”

“And I’m interesting?”

“Extremely.” He released her hand. “Would you be willing to discuss a potential collaboration? Perhaps over dinner?”

Cody cleared his throat. “I should probably be part of that conversation—”

“Actually,” Aurora interrupted, keeping her eyes on Kieran, “I can handle this myself.”

Kieran smiled. “Excellent. Shall we say tomorrow? Eight o’clock?”

“Fine.”

“I’ll send a car.” He pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “My personal number. In case you need to reach me before then.”

He nodded to Cody, then walked away, leaving Aurora standing there with her heart racing.

“Holy shit,” Cody breathed. “Kieran Miller just asked you to dinner.”

“It’s a business dinner.”

“Aurora, he’s the most powerful man in the country. He doesn’t do business dinners. He does hostile takeovers and billion-dollar acquisitions.” Cody looked at her. “What does he want with you?”

“I don’t know.” But she did know. She knew exactly what he wanted.

Or at least what he’d already gotten.

LATER THAT NIGHT - THOMPSON RESIDENCE

Aurora sat on her bed, staring at the business card in her hand.

She should call him. Explain. Apologize for the fifty dollars. For running out. For pretending she didn’t recognize him.

But what would she even say?

Her phone buzzed. A text from the number on the card: “You look beautiful tonight. Much better than the last time I saw you.”

Aurora’s face burned. She typed back: “We need to talk about that.”

“I know. That’s why I asked you to dinner. Business is just the excuse.”

“Why didn’t you say something? When you introduced yourself?”

“Because your brother was standing right there. And because you looked like you might pass out if I mentioned it in public.”

He had a point.

“For the record,”another text came through, “I don’t usually accept payment for sex. But I kept the fifty dollars. I’m considering it a down payment.”

“On what?”

“I haven’t decided yet. See you tomorrow, Aurora.”

She stared at her phone. He’d called her Aurora. Not Miss Thompson. Just her name.

And despite everything—despite the chaos of the auction, despite Piagel’s shocked face, despite the fact that she’d just publicly destroyed her ex-husband’s life—she smiled.

🪝🪝🪝🪝

BLYTHE RESIDENCE - SAME TIME

Piagel sat in his study, surrounded by papers. Contracts. Projections. Everything he’d built over the last five years.

All of it built on Aurora’s connections.

“Sir?” His lawyer knocked. “We need to discuss the X-City situation. Without the Thompson backing, the other investors are pulling out. We’re looking at losses in the millions.”

“I know.”

“And there’s another problem. Mrs. Thompson—Aurora—she owns partial rights to three of our biggest contracts. She helped secure them through her family connections. If she chooses to exercise those rights—”

“She’ll destroy us completely.” Piagel finished. He knew. He’d gone through everything tonight, tracing back every major deal.

Aurora’s fingerprints were on all of them.

She’d built his empire. And now she was going to tear it down.

“What do you want me to do?” the lawyer asked.

“I don’t know.” Piagel stood and walked to the window. Somewhere out there, Aurora was probably celebrating. Probably laughing at him.

He’d thrown away the most valuable thing he’d ever had.

And he’d done it for Emerald, who was currently downstairs crying about how embarrassed she was, how everyone at the auction had been talking, how this affected her reputation.

He’d chosen wrong.

And now he had to live with it.

🪝🪝🪝🪝

KIERAN’S PENTHOUSE

Kieran stood at the window of his penthouse, looking down at the city lights.

His assistant knocked. “Sir, the contracts are ready for tomorrow’s meeting with Miss Thompson.”

“Thank you. Leave them on my desk.”

After the assistant left, Kieran pulled out his wallet and removed the fifty-dollar bill Aurora had left in his hotel room.

He’d been planning to approach her for years. Build a relationship slowly. Earn her trust. Show her that not all men were like Piagel Blythe.

Instead, she’d stumbled drunk into his room, kissed him like the world was ending, and left money on the nightstand.

It wasn’t the plan.

But somehow, it was better.

Because now he knew something about Aurora Thompson that no one else knew: beneath all that control, all that perfection, all that careful image—she was reckless. Passionate. Real.

And he wanted more of that.

Tomorrow, he’d start showing her what she could have. What she deserved.

Not just his business empire. Not just his connections or his money.

Everything.

He’d give her everything.

And in return, he’d ask for just one thing: herself.

He put the fifty dollars back in his wallet and smiled.

This was going to be interesting.