Todos os capítulos de Married To My Ex Husband Rival : Capítulo 31 - Capítulo 40

Aurora PovThe line went dead with a quiet click.I set the phone back on the counter. The cool glass screen reflected a face I barely recognized. My eyes were still rimmed red from fresh tears, but they were set with an icy, unwavering focus."You're in," Jasmine whispered, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. "Aurora, you're in!""The first step," I said softly, running a thumb over the polished edge of the kitchen counter. "Sterling Global is the only firm with enough leverage to crush Donald’s logistics empire before the end of the quarter. If I’m on the inside, I can make sure they target his weakest supply chains.""Two o'clock," Jasmine said, checking her watch and snapping into mission mode. "That’s executive level. You need to look like you belong in a corner office, not like someone who just had a breakdown on my couch."She grabbed my wrist, being careful of my freshly bandaged finger, and dragged me toward her bedroom closet. Within twenty minutes, Jasmine had

[ AURORA’S POV ]A choked, ragged sound escaped my throat before I could stop it. Hot tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over my eyelashes and burning hot tracks down my cheeks."No," I choked out, my voice cracking as I buried my trembling hands into my face. "No, please...""Aurora, please sit down," Mrs. Gable said, rushing over to my side, her hands hovering near my shoulders with genuine panic and concern."I really need this job, Mrs. Gable," I wept, lifting my eyes to meet hers, completely stripped of pride. "You don't understand. I really need this job. I have nothing left. I... I can't leave here empty handed."Victoria looked at me, her sharp, pale green eyes brimming with an intense, fierce warmth. From the moment she had watched me on the security camera standing up to Lily with quiet dignity, she had felt a strange, inexplicable pull toward me, a lightness she couldn't explain. Seeing me break down in front of her seemed to tear straight through her heart."Listen to me

[ AURORA’S POV ]Five minutes.I picked up the black keycard Julian handed me and headed down the long, quiet corridor toward the executive pantry. I kept my head high, focusing on the calm, composed posture I had spent the last three days practicing with Jasmine.When I opened the double glass doors to the pantry, my stomach dropped.The room was far from empty. Staff from the adjacent corporate departments filled the space, a long line snaking past the counters. Worse, a group of three women in sleek designer dresses stood right by the espresso machines, chatting and laughing softly among themselves while holding up the entire line.I walked up to the counter, keeping my tone polite and calm. "Excuse me, I need to prepare a fresh press for Mr. Sterling's office. May I quickly use the brass machine?"The tall blonde at the front of the group turned around slowly. Her eyes dragged down my tailored suit, taking in my figure. Even after three days of intense workouts and altered clothin

[ AURORA’S POV ]The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of focused, relentless efficiency.Every time my desk phone rang, I answered within two chimes. Every document Williams requested was delivered in digital format before he could even finish typing his request. I kept my head down, my posture flawless, and my voice completely neutral whenever Julian or Jasmine called down the line.By six o’clock, the heavy corporate traffic on the 50th floor had trickled down to a absolute standstill. The sun was setting over the city skyline, casting long, crimson shadows across the polished marble floor of the executive suite.The chime of my desk phone cut through the quiet room once more.I picked up the receiver instantly. "Executive Suite, Aurora speaking.""Miss Aurora," Julian’s calm, level voice sounded over the line. "Mr. Sterling is departing for the evening. You are cleared to wrap up your desk and head home.""Thank you, Julian," I replied smoothly. "Is there anything else requir

[ AURORA’S POV ]The elevator chime echoed through the silent hallway of the 50th floor like a judge's gavel.I stepped out onto the polished marble, wiping a stray tear from my cheek with the back of my trembling hand. My jaw was set tight, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs as I smoothed down the front of my gray suit. I walked past the glass partitions toward my desk, trying to draw in a deep, steadying breath.Before my heels even reached my workstation, the sharp, authoritative ring of my desk phone shattered the quiet.I froze. The digital clock on my desktop monitor blinked in bright white numbers: 7:41 AM.Eleven minutes late.I swallowed the lump of burning rage in my throat, walked over, and picked up the heavy receiver. "Executive Suite, Aurora speaking.""My office. Now."Williams’ dark baritone was ice cold, sharp enough to cut through glass. The line went completely dead before I could even open my mouth to respond.I set the receiver down on its cradle w