Aaliyah’s POVI sat at the head of a polished mahogany table, my sapphire blazer sharp against my frame and my blonde hair swept into a sleek updo. Across from me were two of the city’s most esteemed persons, their tailored suits and calculating eyes sizing me up as I wrapped up a two-hour pitch for our latest campaign. “Ms. Hayes,” Mr. Caldwell, the older investor, called with his gravelly voice cutting through the room’s hum, “your projections are ambitious, though risky, but compelling. We’ll review the numbers and get back to you by next week.”I smiled, my lips curving with a practiced blend of warmth and steel. “I appreciate your consideration, gentlemen. Elevations thrive on bold moves—it’s why we’re leading the industry. I’m confident you’ll see the value in partnering with us.”They stood and we exchanged handshakes.“We’ll be in touch,” that was Ms. Lin, the younger investor. “Your reputation precedes you, Ms. Hayes. It’s clear why.”I nodded, holding their gazes until th
Aurora’s POVLast night, Henry’s footsteps echoed through the penthouse earlier than usual. The door slammed shut with a force that made me jump. I had a book in my hands, the pages barely registering as my mind churned with the headlines that had mocked us all day. My cheeks burned with humiliation and my fingers tightened around the book as I heard him toss his keys onto the console. He was home early today—no club as usual. That alone was odd, a red flag that set my nerves on edge. Something was up, and I knew it.I glanced at him, his hazel eyes were distant, avoiding mine. I checked the time on my phone—barely 9 PM—and looked back at him.“You’re back early for the first time,” I said, my voice dripping with disdain. “No club today? No drowning your sorrows in whiskey?”He clenched his jaw as he brushed past me while saying coldly, “Mind your own damn business.”I stood, tossing the book aside, “I called you a million times, Henry. Seems like you don’t think me valuable anym
Henry’s POV“I’m your blind date,” she said smoothly, her hazel eyes sparkling in the soft light.A blind date? What the hell was she talking about? I came here for Aaliyah not some blind date. Confusion swirled as I stared at her.“You’ve got the wrong guy,” I mumbled tightly as my hands gripped the edge of the table and I leaned back, creating a distance between us.“I’m waiting for someone else. This is a mistake.”She tilted her head and her lips curved into a smile that was both playful and predatory as her manicured nails tapped lightly on the table. “Oh, come on, don’t play coy,” she teased. “It’s me, Stacy. We talked yesterday, remember? You were so… eager to meet.” She pulled out her phone, her long nails clicking against the screen as she scrolled in deliberate movements, like she was savoring my discomfort. “Here, look. Your number, our call. You can’t deny it now.”I leaned forward and my throat went dry as she turned the phone toward me. The call log was unmistakable
Henry’s POVMy heart pounded in my chest when I heard her voice. My grip tightened on the phone as I stood in my office, the frozen image of her running from the scene of my betrayal still showing on the computer screen. I was surprised, curious, and nervous all at once. My mind was scrambling to make sense of why she’d reach out now. Was it about the partnership? Or a chance to gloat? Or something else entirely? My throat was dry and my voice caught somewhere between an apology and a plea, unsure where to start.“Aaliyah,” I managed to say hoarsely, barely recognizable. “I… I didn’t expect you to call. I—”“I’ll make this fast,” she cut in briskly with that same edge of control she’d wielded last night. “I want to meet you. Just you and me. I’ll text you the time and place.”My breath caught, a rush of hope and dread flooding me.Just us? Her silence after that statement gave me intuition that she'd end the call so before she could, I blurted, “Wait!” My voice cracked, and I w
Henry’s POV“Here's the footage, Sir.”Margaret handed me a USB drive and by the look on her face, I could tell she already knew what was going on. She must feel bad for Aaliyah too—not for me. “She didn't deserve to be treated like that.” I bet that's what she's saying in her head“You can leave, Margaret.”The door to my office clicked shut behind her as she left me alone with the USB drive she’d handed me.I plugged the USB into my computer. The screen flickered to life and the black-and-white CCTV footage loaded with agonizing slowness. My throat tightened as I clicked play. The reception area was empty at first, Margaret’s desk bare under the lights. The timestamp read 11:10 AM—It was my birthday and I had just gotten to work.I leaned closer, watching and waiting to see if Aaliyah's face would surface.Then she appeared. Her blonde hair caught the light as her silk dress clung to her frame. She stepped out of the elevator with a velvet cake box clutched in her hands. A sic
Henry’s POV“Smith Enterprises CEO Slapped by Wife in Public Meltdown!”“Aaliyah Hayes Humiliates Henry Smith at Gala!” “Aurora Smith’s Outburst Tanks Company Stock!”The headlines had been merciless since this morning. Each one was a fresh wound to Smith Innovations’ already battered reputation.I sat at the head of the table in the boardroom which seemed like a battlefield with the air thick with tension and the bitter aftertaste of failure. My jaw tightened and my hands clasped to hide the tremor in my fingers. The board members’ voices clashed around me, their faces a mix of anger, panic, and accusation as they tried to salvage what was left of our image.“Sir, we’re bleeding investors,” Margaret, my assistant, said, her voice low as she leaned down to speak to my hearing only. “The stock’s down twelve percent since those videos hit the internet. We need a plan, and we need it fast, Sir.”Mike, the CFO with a bald head glinting under the fluorescent lights as he waved a tablet