Chapter 7

Valerie continued inside, ignoring the voice that had paralyzed her moments ago. She walked through her penthouse, her back straight and rigid despite the storm raging within. The humiliation of Rick's rejection still burned, but it was nothing compared to the mere presence of yet another 'Calder.'

Aaron Calder. Her late husband's younger brother.

She could hear him following behind her, the sounds of his footsteps making her shiver - this time, from cold disgust.

"Quite rude to walk away when someone's talking to you, Val," Aaron called out, still diligently following behind her.

Valerie said nothing as she made her way to her bedroom, quickly grabbing a thick robe from her closet, and slipping it on to cover her revealing outfit. She tied it tightly around her waist before finally turning to face him.

Aaron stood in the doorway of her bedroom, leaning against the doorframe with an entitled ease that made her skin crawl. At forty, he was a decade younger than Dominic had been when she married him, but the family resemblance was striking - the same cold gray eyes, the same cruel smile that made her want to retch.

"How did you get past security?" Valerie asked, making a mental note to bring fresh batch of security. Her current security men were downright useless.

Aaron's smile widened. "The Calders still own half this building, sweetheart. Or did you forget that little detail?"

She hadn't forgotten. It was one of the many chains still binding her to the Calder name, despite all her efforts to break free.

"What do you want, Aaron?" She crossed her arms, trying to stand strong and defiant - every inch the Duchess that New York knew her to be.

"Same thing I've wanted since my dear brother's funeral." His eyes traveled over her body in a way that made her feel contaminated. "You."

Valerie's laughed, a sharp and humorless sound. "Never going to happen."

"No?" Aaron stepped into the room uninvited, and Valerie fought the urge to back away. "The rumors say otherwise. The infamous Duchess, taking a different man to bed each weekend... but never the same one twice." He moved closer. "Makes me wonder what my brother did to make you pick this up as a... habit."

Memories flashed through Valerie's mind - dark, painful memories she'd worked hard to bury, even though everyone kept trying to remind her of that life these days. Her marriage to Dominic hadn't just been loveless; it had been a prison of pain and torture.

"Your family's kinky tendencies are well-known," she said coldly. "It's rumored your wife didn't die of natural causes."

Something dangerous flashed in Aaron's eyes. "Careful, Val. That's a serious accusation."

"Is it an accusation if everyone knows it's true?" She lifted her chin. "The Calders have always had a taste for... wild entertainment. Dominic certainly did."

Aaron smiled, in a wicked and predatory way. "And yet you survived him. Isn't that impressive."

"I endured him," Valerie corrected, her voice dripping with ice. "And I have no intention of repeating the experience with you."

He chuckled, the sound sending a wave of revulsion through her. "You've changed since those early days. The frightened little girl from the trailer park has become quite the force to be reckoned with." He gestured around the luxurious bedroom. "All this power, all this wealth... and yet you still haven't escaped us completely, have you?"

"What do you really want, Aaron?" Valerie asked again, tired of his games. "Money? Is that it?"

"Don't insult me," he said, suddenly becoming serious. "The Calders have money. What we've always valued is... possession." He stepped closer. "My brother saw something in you worth owning. I see it too. And I want you."

Valerie held her ground, refusing to show fear. "I'm not property to be passed down the family line."

"No?" Aaron reached out suddenly, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. It took everything in her not to flinch. "The prenup Dominic made you sign says otherwise. Or did you forget that clause?"

She hadn't forgotten. The marriage contract had been designed by the Calder family lawyers to ensure she remained bound to them even after Dominic's death. She'd been fighting it in court for years.

"Your family's legal threats don't scare me anymore," she said evenly.

"They should." Aaron's voice dropped to a whisper. "The board meeting didn't go well yesterday, did it? Your expansion plans are stalling. The Calder connections could solve that problem overnight."

Valerie's eyes narrowed. "How did you know about the board meeting?"

"I make it my business to know everything about you, Val." His smile returned. "Just like my brother did."

She felt sick. All these years of building her empire, of crafting her Duchess persona, and she was still being watched, still being controlled in ways she couldn't see.

"Get out," she said quietly.

"Think about my offer," Aaron replied, unfazed by her dismissal. "A merger of our interests could be... mutually beneficial. And I promise to treat you better than he ever did. Show you new tricks you've never experienced before."

"There's nothing mutual about what you're proposing," Valerie said. "And I'd rather burn everything to the ground than let another Calder into my life, talk more of touching me."

Aaron studied her for a long moment, his expression darker than usual. "You know, my brother always said you'd grow out of your stubbornness. I'm beginning to think he was wrong."

"Dominic was wrong about many things," Valerie replied. "Including the belief that he could break me."

"But then you're still here," Aaron gestured around the room, "living in his penthouse, running his company, carrying his name. Seems like he won in the end, doesn't it?"

The truth of his words stung more than Valerie wanted to admit. Despite all her success, despite the fearsome reputation she'd built, she was still defined by her connection to Dominic Calder.

"Leave," she said, her voice dangerously soft. "Now."

To her surprise, Aaron nodded and turned toward the door. But he paused and glanced over his shoulder. "That mechanic who just left - he's quite a specimen. Not your usual type."

Valerie's blood ran cold. "You've been watching me."

"Always," Aaron confirmed with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "The Duchess may have her secrets, but the Calders always know what belongs to them."

"Well, you better grab a popcorn then, because that's all you're ever going to do. Watch!" She spat. But Aaron simply smiled sheepishly and walked off.