One more thing

Olivia's pov

My hand froze in mid-air, the leather folder slipping an inch against my palm as his words hung heavy in the silent room.

Ethan— Ethan—

No. That was impossible. The sharp, uncompromising jawline, the broad shoulders, the piercing gray eyes that had haunted every single one of my nightmares for seven long years... it was Ethan.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Olivia," he said smoothly, leaning forward and extending a hand across the polished mahogany desk. His voice was lower than I remembered, deeper, but the underlying danger in his tone remained unchanged.

A wave of icy panic rushed through my veins, but seven years of building an empire from nothing had taught me how to wear a mask. I forced my fingers to stop trembling, swallowed the lump in my throat, and stepped forward.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Rothwell," I replied, taking his hand.

His grip was firm, warm, and sent a sudden, unwelcome shock straight up my arm. I withdrew my hand as quickly as politeness allowed and took a seat in the velvet armchair opposite him, placing my portfolio firmly on my lap like a shield.

Ruin you.

The ghost of his last threat echoed in my mind. Seven years ago, standing in that dimly lit hallway after his father found out I slept with him, he had sworn he would destroy me if I ever crossed his path again. Now, here I was, stepping directly into his lion's den.

Vincent, I thought instantly, my pulse hammering against my ribs. He can never find out Vincent exists. Never.

"Shall we begin?" I asked, keeping my tone as cold and professional as stone. "As you know, Aurelia Jewels is looking for an exclusive distribution partner for our upcoming autumn collection. We require full creative control, but V-Global's network across Europe—"

"I've already reviewed your proposal," Ethan interrupted, setting his hands flat on the desk. "Your designs are exceptional, Olivia. In fact, restricting this partnership to just one seasonal collection is a mistake."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Excuse me?"

"I want a full brand integration," he said calmly, leaning back in his leather chair. "Not just the autumn line. A long-term alliance across all future collections under V-Global."

My eyes narrowed. Suspicion instantly flared in my chest. Why would he offer me more? Seven years ago, he hated me. Now he was offering Aurelia Jewels, an unprecedented global expansion. It was a trap—it had to be. He wanted to tie my company so tightly to his that he could crush it from the inside whenever he pleased.

"No," I said firmly. "The current agreement is strictly for the autumn line. We test the waters first, Mr. Rothwell. I am not handing over long-term rights to my entire brand."

Ethan watched me, a faint, unreadable glint in his gray eyes. "Cautious," he noted softly. "Fine. The autumn line it is."

I held my breath, surprised by how easily he conceded.

He picked up a sleek white folder from the edge of his desk and opened it, flipping through a few pages. "So... Spain. Is this where you ran off to, right?

The sudden shift made my posture stiff. "Mr. Rothwell, we are here strictly to discuss business."

"Strictly business," he repeated, his mouth twitching slightly. He closed the folder with a quiet thud

and rested his chin on his steepled fingers. His gaze dragged slowly over my face, assessing the tailored blazer, the styled hair, the dark circles under my eyes that even makeup couldn't fully hide.

The weight of his gaze was suffocating. My skin prickled with discomfort.

"If we are finished reviewing the preliminary terms," I said, rising from my seat, "I'll have my legal team send over the revised draft."

"We aren't finished," Ethan said softly.

I stopped. "Is there a problem with the contract?"

"The contract is fine," he said, tapping the white folder. "What isn't here is any background information on you. I like to know who I am doing business with, Olivia. Tell me... are you married?"

My hands clenched into tight fists at my sides. My eyes instinctively dropped to his left hand—no ring, just the bare skin of his long fingers.

"No," I answered flatly. "I am not married."

A slow, deliberate smirk curved the corner of his lips. The sight of it sent a flash of anger straight through my chest.

"Good to know," Ethan murmured. "How have you been, Olivia? Really?"

"That is none of your business," I snapped, dropping the polite facade entirely. "I told you, our relationship is strictly professional. I don't care about your personal life, and you have no right to ask about mine."

"Fair enough," he said smoothly, unbothered by my sharp tone. "Then let me clarify one thing for your peace of mind. V-Global is entirely mine. I cut ties with the Blackwood empire years ago and built this from the ground up. That is why I took my mother's maiden name, Rothwell. Our partnership has nothing to do with my father or Kelvin."

I held his gaze, my heart hammering. "I didn't ask."

"I know," he said, a dangerous, amused light gleaming in his eyes. "But I wanted you to know that you're dealing with me now. Just me."

I swallowed hard, refusing to let him see how much his presence was shaking me. I adjusted the strap of my bag over my shoulder and took a step toward the heavy doors.

"Is there anything else, Mr. Rothwell?" I asked, my hand hovering over the door handle.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes locked onto mine. "No. That will be all for today, Ms. Olivia."

I paused for a fraction of a second, looking back over my shoulder.

"Actually," I said, keeping my voice entirely steady, "there is one more thing you should know."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I have a son.”