The Set-up.

‎Aurora stood in the elevator holding a paper bag of sandwiches she had no business buying.‎She had been in a meeting with Maya when her phone rang. Lucian's text was short. "Hey, skipped lunch, I am very much buried in contracts." She had stared at it for five minutes. Then she had walked three blocks to the deli he liked and ordered his usual. Turkey and swiss, with no mustard and pickles on the side.‎She told herself it was playing the part as it is normal for a fiancée to bring her man food. But the truth sat lower, in the part of her chest that had softened when he cooked and burnt the pancakes for Eleanor. The part that had flushed and blushed when he texted her this morning asking if she had slept well.‎The elevator opened on the forty-ninth floor. Vanessa's desk was empty. A half-empty coffee cup sat beside a blinking phone, the chair pushed back like she had left in a hurry. Aurora walked past without slowing, the paper bag was held firm in her hand.‎She pushed open Lucia

Dinner & Secrets

Aurora stood in front of the mirror wearing a dress the color of night. It was silk, simple, and cut to her knees with a neckline that dipped to show the top of her breast. Lucian had sent the stylist again, but this time he had added a note in his own handwriting that read; "Wear your hair down. I like it down."She left it down, It fell past her shoulders in dark waves that made her look softer than she felt. Lucian appeared in the doorway. He wore a dark suit with no tie, and his collar open. He looked like a man who had already decided the evening would end badly."You look beautiful," he said."You're not looking at the dress.""I'm looking at you." He moved behind her, his hands settling on her hips. His eyes met hers in the mirror. "My uncle will be there tonight, He's on the board, He's a difficult man.""I can handle difficult.""He's more than difficult, He's the reason I learned to be ruthless." His fingers tightened. "If he says something cruel, ignore it. If he provokes y

New

Aurora arrived at Vale Industries wearing a gray dress, severe and plain, buttoned to her throat. She had chosen it deliberately, wanting to feel like a woman who handled business instead of a woman who woke up in Lucian Vale's bed with his mouth on her neck and his hand between her legs. The penthouse was becoming too comfortable. The guest room felt less like a guest room every night. She needed to remember who she was outside of silk sheets and midnight moans she was getting too used to, she needed to remember she was still at war. But the Tanaka merger required her presence, she wondered how long she can continue to tell herself that. Lucian had texted that morning, it was as usual a short and direct text; " Meeting at two at the East wing. Yuki Tanaka wants to discuss your timeline."Aurora had read it three times, searching for subtext. There was none. It was just business. He was only the contract that had brought them together before the lies had tangled them into something nei

A step closer to the truth

‎Aurora woke in the penthouse with a plan and three hours. Lucian was gone, there was a note on the counter said "Gone to the Gym. Back by nine." She showered fast, dressed in black jeans and a gray sweater, and walked to his study.‎The filing cabinet was locked. She found a paperclip in his desk drawer, bent it straight, and worked the lock until it clicked. She pulled out the drawer labeled PERSONNEL.‎Vanessa Holt's file was thin. She had a standard contract, benefits but at the back, a letter of recommendation. Signed by Victor Hale. I was dated two years ago. Before Lucian claimed he had hired her himself.‎Aurora's chest tightened. She flipped through more. Expense reports. Vanessa had traveled to Boston three times last year. The same dates Victor had attended a board retreat there.‎She pulled out another folder. Victor Hale the board correspondence. A memo from six months ago, Victor suggesting Vanessa be promoted to Executive Liaison. A role that gave her access to every fl

All Chapters of The Billionaire I Was Meant To Hate: Chapter 11 - Chapter 14

The Set-up.

Dinner & Secrets

New

A step closer to the truth