The elevator climbed slowly, as if determined to stretch the discomfort. Liora crossed her arms, watching her own reflection in the mirrored walls. Her heels echoed against the metallic floor, each step marking the rhythm of the anxiety she insisted on hiding. Outside, Luxorvia thrived in its usual chaos, horns, traffic, rushing people but inside, everything felt suspended.
She didn't have to be there. She could have deleted the assistant's message and carried on with her life. Yet something pride, curiosity, or perhaps the desire to finally close this unresolved chapter had brought her to the heart of the D'Aubigné empire.
The doors slid open with a metallic click. The floor was silent, flawless, as if even dust dared not exist. The assistant, a thin man with a perpetually neutral expression, walked a few steps ahead.
"Mr. D'Aubigné is expecting you."
The words came out cold, automatic.
Liora merely nodded.
The corridor seemed endless: glass, steel, sharp lines that spoke of discipline and control. At the end, the dark double doors opened.
And he was there.
Caelan.
Standing before the windows that showcased all of Luxorvia in its grandeur. Dark suit, upright posture, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of whiskey that caught the gray morning light. With anyone else, he was steel. With her… a smile crossed his face, breaking the mogul's mask for a brief moment.
"Liora."
He spoke her name like an old musical note, saved just for himself.
"Caelan." Her voice was steady, though her heart had picked up speed. "What's the reason for this summons?"
He let out a low, unhurried chuckle, setting the glass down on the table.
"Summons. I like the word. Sounds… military."
"Sounds like what it is," she replied, unmoving. "You didn't ask. You commanded."
Caelan turned fully, walking toward her with calm but deliberate steps. Every gesture seemed calculated to assert dominance over the space.
"And yet, you came."
Liora lifted her chin. "I came because I want to close any loose ends. Not because you hold power over me."
He stopped a few feet away, his blue eyes locked on hers intense, yet strangely gentle.
"Do you really believe that?" he asked, almost a whisper.
For a moment, the room was filled only with the distant hum of the city.
Liora took a deep breath, forcing herself not to look away. "I'm not here to play your games, Caelan. If you have something to say, just say it."
He watched her for long seconds before letting slip another smile this time, more genuine, almost tender.
"You're the same. Direct, no patience for detours."
"And you're the same. Arrogant, used to everyone saying yes."
He tilted his head, not denying it. "Perhaps. But you never said yes." His voice softened even further. "That's why you're here."
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you trying to convince me of? That everything that happened in the past was part of some brilliant plan of yours? That now I should surrender because you have an office at the top of the city and money to buy half the country?"
"I don't want you to surrender," he interrupted, firm but not raising his voice. "I want you to understand."
"Understand what?" she countered, crossing her arms.
He took a step closer, close enough for her to catch his scent mingling with the woodiness of the room.
"That I don't play with you. Never have."
The words hung in the air, loaded with meaning that Liora refused to accept.
She drew a deep breath, seeking composure. "You've always had choices, Caelan. Power, influence, everything. If you wanted something with me, you could have done it simply." Her gaze cut like a blade. "But you chose to force me."
His eyes sparkled with something between pride and frustration.
"Because simple would never have been enough." The confession was low, as if he had ripped it from himself. "Not with you."
For a moment, Liora felt the armor wobble. There was truth in it, but not the kind that convinced her. It was the truth of someone accustomed to turning obsession into destiny.
She stepped back, breaking the tension. "If this is your speech, I've heard enough."
He didn't try to stop her. He simply watched, eyes following every movement.
But when she reached the door, his voice caught her before she could leave.
"You can fight me, Liora. You can hate me. You can even challenge me." His tone sharpened, almost cutting. "But you will not ignore me."
She paused for a second, not turning. Fingers gripping her bag, she drew in a deep breath and replied:
"Then learn one thing, Caelan: I'm not like the others. And if you think you can have me without facing the consequences, you're very mistaken."
The handle turned, and she walked out, leaving silence to reclaim the glass-and-steel room.
Caelan remained, a small, satisfied smile on his lips. Not because he had won, but because the battle had only just begun.