Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

Nora's POV

I was just returning from my meeting with Adrian with a few files clutched to my chest when I saw her—Vivienne Laurent—standing by my desk like she owned the damn floor. She was dressed in sleek designer black, her heels clicking against the marble like a ticking bomb. Her eyes, sharp as glass, lifted the moment she saw me.

"There you are," she said smoothly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I was wondering if you were avoiding me."

I forced a polite smile and kept walking until I was beside her. "Is there something you need, Miss Laurent?"

She chuckled. "Oh, it's Vivienne, darling. No need to be so formal." Her eyes dropped to the files in my hand. "Hard at work, I see. Adrian must be… keeping you busy."

There was a beat of silence before she leaned closer, her tone dipping just enough to signal that this wasn’t going to be a friendly chat.

"Let’s talk privately."

Without waiting for my response, she turned and walked toward the empty conference room beside Adrian’s office. I hesitated. Every bone in my body screamed to turn away, to pretend I hadn’t heard her. But I knew better. Avoiding her would only feed her ego. And besides, if she wanted to play games, I could at least sit through the first round.

I followed her inside. She closed the door behind us and turned sharply, crossing her arms.

"I’ll make this simple," she said, her smile gone. "Stay away from Adrian."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," she snapped. "You’re a distraction—an amusing one, I’m sure—but he doesn’t need that right now. Especially not from someone like you."

I clenched my jaw. "I’m just doing my job."

"Exactly. And you’d do well to remember that." Her tone was low, threatening, and cold. "You think that event night changed something between you two? It didn’t. You were just the charity case in a pretty dress. And I’m sure it thrilled him to see how easily impressed you were."

Heat flushed through my cheeks, anger bubbling just beneath the surface, but Adrian’s voice echoed in my head.

“You work for me, Nora. Whatever happened last night—it won’t happen again.”

I swallowed hard and looked away, my fists tightening around the files.

Vivienne stepped closer. "You’re not special. He has responsibilities—real ones. You won’t ever be part of that world, no matter how many dances he gives you."

My mouth parted slightly, the sharp retort right there on the tip of my tongue. But I bit it back. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. Not now. Not when Adrian had already warned me.

She took my silence as victory.

"Smart girl," she whispered, brushing past me with the scent of expensive perfume trailing behind her. At the door, she paused. "Oh, and don’t take this personally. I’ve just always been good at protecting what’s mine."

Then she was gone, heels clicking back across the floor like the aftermath of a storm.

I stood alone in the cold conference room, heart pounding, anger simmering under my skin, and the bitter realization that this game I’d stepped into wasn’t just about me anymore.

Vivienne had declared war—and I wasn’t sure how long I could play by the rules Adrian wanted me to follow.