Chapter 3: After the Fire

Elena awoke tangled in the silk sheets of her penthouse bed, her body sore and still humming from the night before. For a second, she thought it had been a dream—the heated, broken kiss, the rough hands that knew her body too well, the war of lust and betrayal that had exploded between them.

But it wasn't a dream.

Grayson's scent still lingered on the pillow beside her. His watch was on the nightstand. The storm between them had quieted only long enough for their bodies to speak the pain their mouths couldn't.

And now, she regretted it.

The bathroom door opened, and Grayson emerged with a towel around his waist. His hair was damp, his body glistening. Elena sat up, pulling the covers to her chest.

"Leave." Her voice was hoarse, firm.

He met her gaze, unbothered. "You didn't say that last night."

She narrowed her eyes. "Last night was a mistake."

He walked to her side of the bed, his eyes sharp and unreadable. "Funny how you didn't sound like it was a mistake when you were screaming my name."

She slapped him.

Again.

This time, he caught her wrist and held it.

"Still so fiery," he murmured, his voice dark and dangerous. "You think you can pretend last night didn't happen?"

"I know it didn't change anything," she said. "I still hate you, Grayson."

His jaw ticked. "No, you don't. You want to hate me. But you never could."

Elena yanked her hand free and stood, dragging the sheet around her.

"You had a fiancée when you slept with me. You walked away from me. From our child. And now you want to act like it was just a misunderstanding?"

He stood, stepping closer, his voice low. "I didn't know about the baby, Elena. You should have told me."

She stared at him, eyes burning. "Would it have changed anything?"

He was silent.

"That's what I thought," she said coldly. "This doesn't change my plan."

"You're planning to ruin me."

She tilted her chin defiantly. "You already ruined me. And now it's my turn."

He reached out again, but she stepped back. "Go. Before I say something I can't take back."

Grayson stared at her, his jaw tight, his eyes unreadable. Then he nodded once, picked up his clothes, and walked out.

The moment the door shut, Elena collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in her hands.

Last night had been a mistake. A big mistake.

But it had reminded her of one dangerous truth:

She still wanted him.

Later That Day at Monroe Holdings...

Elena walked into the executive suite of her own empire like a queen returning to her throne. Nico Russo, her business partner and closest confidante, was already waiting with a file in hand and a knowing look in his eye.

"You didn't come home last night," he said without looking up.

"Don't start, Nico."

"I wasn't going to. But your lipstick is smudged and you're wearing yesterday's shoes." He accused.

She gave him a sharp look.

He smirked. "So, how was seeing the devil again?"

"Hot. Infuriating. Dangerous," she muttered. "Exactly what I should've stayed away from."

Nico handed her a manila envelope. "We've got something. An internal leak in Wolfe Enterprises. One of the VPs is laundering funds through a shell company. If we play this right, we can blackmail our way into a controlling share."

Elena took the file, flipping through it.

"This could take him down," she whispered.

"And give you his throne," Nico added.

But even as she stared at the evidence, her thoughts drifted back to last night—his hands, his mouth, and the way her body betrayed her.

She snapped the folder shut.

"Let's proceed."

Wolfe Enterprises – Grayson's Office...

Grayson sat behind his desk, staring at the report on his screen. He hadn't slept. He couldn't. The way Elena had looked at him… like she hated him and wanted him all at once.

He wasn't sure which was worse.

Ava Harrington walked in without knocking. Still beautiful, still polished, still the woman he had chosen for convenience.

"Your new investor is a threat," she said, dropping a file on his desk.

"I know."

"She's not just after a seat at the table, Grayson. She's here to bury you."

He looked up at her. "Is that jealousy I hear?"

Ava scoffed. "Please... We may have ended our engagement, but your enemies are still my concern. If you go down, so does my father's investment."

Grayson leaned back. "Elena won't win."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "That confidence is what got you into trouble the first time."

He clenched his fists.

She smirked and walked out, leaving only tension in her wake.

Grayson turned to the window. The city stretched out before him. And somewhere in that city was the woman he had wronged—the mother of his child.

He couldn't let her win.

But he couldn't stop thinking about her, either.

Evening – Elena's Penthouse...

Sophie sat on the floor coloring while Elena sipped tea and stared out the window. Her daughter looked so much like him. The same gray eyes, the same stubborn pout.

Elena's phone buzzed.

It was a message from an unknown number:

"You can hate me all you want. But don't keep her from me."

-Grayson.

Elena's fingers trembled.

She walked into Sophie's room, watched her for a moment, then closed the door quietly.

Back in the living room, she sat down and typed back:

"You lost the right to be her father the moment you chose your empire over us."

He replied instantly:

"I didn't know, Elena. You can't keep her from me forever."

"Watch me." She texted back.

Her heart ached with every word. But she couldn't let him back in. Not now.

Not when the revenge she'd worked so hard for was within reach.

Still, her fingers hovered over the keys.

Then she deleted the chat, turned off her phone, and poured herself a glass of wine.

Letting him in last night had been weakness.

And weakness was something she couldn't afford.

The Next Morning – Media Frenzy...

Elena entered the Monroe Holdings lobby to flashing cameras and paparazzi.

"Ms. Monroe! Are the rumors true?"

"Are you dating Grayson Wolfe?"

"Did you spend the night at his penthouse?"

Nico rushed to her side. "Don't answer. Just keep walking."

They pushed through the chaos and into the safety of the building.

Inside the elevator, Elena's expression was steel.

"Leak it," she said.

Nico blinked. "Leak what?"

"The evidence. The laundering. Let the press eat him alive."

He nodded. "With pleasure."

As the elevator doors closed, Elena stared at her reflection.

Her lips curved into a cruel, beautiful smile.

Grayson had gotten her heart once.

But this time, she'd take his world.