The gentle clashing of topperware and the silent buzz of chatter filled the sun touched rooftop terrace of the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris.
The air was dry, the sky a perfect canvas of pale blue, and every detail of the setting had been perfectly planned, right down to the freshly cut roses that adorned each table.
Nova Lin sat at the head of the long marbled table, She had the picture of grace and gave off quiet command.
Her tailored white suit flowed down her figure, her blonde hair swept elegantly to one side, all the guests surrounding her were the kind of people who could move any markets with a single phone call, they had the power, the Influence and the Money.
And she had every last one of them hanging on her very word.
She smiled gently as she put down her glass, her voice smooth as silk as she casually dropped the news that would shift the balance of all the power halfway across the world.
"We are pleased to announce that the acquisition of the Beaufort-Tech has been finalized," she said, "Our expansion into the European markets has officially begun and By the end of the quarter, we anticipate a thirty percent increase in the shareholders value."
All around the table, rippled polite murmurs of admiration, Deals of this magnitude are to be shouted across headlines, and she had done it with just a little more than strategy and determination.
Her assistant placed a folder beside her, she opened it, signing the final page before sliding it aside.
When she lifted her eyes once again, her eyes caught the gaze of one of the investors, an older gentleman who leaned forward with utmost respect.
"Impressive," he murmured, "I heard Reyes Corporation was eyeing the exact same deal."
Nova's lips curved as she smiled faintly, "Yes, I believe they were."
She didn't say anything else, She didn't need to, her message was loud enough.
The rest of brunch unfolded smoothly, with laughter, and champagne, and the closing of additional partnerships that only strengthened the growth of her empire, But beneath her calm exterior, a restless energy arose and She knew the ripples of this morning's move would reach Los Angeles before the ink even dried.
The thought of that warmed her more than the sun ever could.
By the time Dominic Reyes got wind of the news, the mood in his office was filled with tension, The report came in less than an hour ago, and the phones were already buzzing with questions, and speculation.
Dominic stood by the windows of his office, his expression ever so stoic, his green eyes fixed on the city skyline.
"Pulled out?" he exclaimed sharply,
"Y-Yes, sir," his assistant stammered, "Mr. Falcone's team informed us that they have decided to move forward with Lin Holdings instead, Effective immediately."
Dominic clenched his jaw, He already knew it happened, He did not need the details, the only name that mattered to him in this moment was hers.
Nova
And without another word, he grabbed his suit jacket and went quickly toward the elevator, his strides were long and purposeful.
He ignored the shocked glances from his staff as he passed through the glass corridors, He just didn't reallyreslly
Just a few minutes later, he was standing outside the doors of Lin Holdings, his pulse beating with rhythm, equal parts anger and something far more unsettling.
The receptionist barely had time to speak before he pushed his way through.
"Mr. Reyes—" she uttered,
He didn't stop.
The office was as classy and modern as he remembered, but now it was filled with so much life, filled with energy and overflowing with success, and at the heart of it sat Nova, reviewing the documents with the exact same calm detachment that used to drive him crazy.
Her gaze lifted the second he entered the office and She didn't look a bit surprised.
"Dominic," she said smoothly, as if they were old friends meeting for coffee, "What a pleasant surprise."
He did not smile, and he did not sit
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" His voice was low and controlled,
Nova closed the file, folding her hands decisively on the desk, Her blue eyes sparkled with something dangerous, something that was "Expanding, Growing, and Thriving."
His fingers twitched down at his sides at his sides, "You stole Falcone."
"I didn't steal anyone," she replied, her voice soft but stern, "I offered better terms and he chose."
There was a tone of silence that stretched between them, sound with unspoken history.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, "If you're looking for sympathy, you're in the wrong office."
For just a split second, something flickered all across Dominic's face, something that was uncertain, but something he quickly buried.
"Be careful now, Nova," he warned softly, "You're crossing lines you can not uncross."
She answered with a cold smile, "That's the thing about lines, Dominic, once you cross them, you start to realize that they were never really there to begin with."
And for the first time ever, Dominic found himself hesitating.
The tension between them was so electric, it was thick enough for someone to choke on, For a long and weighted moment, neither of them said a word, Dominic's breath became slow and steady, but his sharp green eyes never left hers.
Nova did not flinch either, She would not give him the satisfaction.
"You still have not answered my question," Dominic uttered at last, his voice dropping even lower, "Why go after me? You have already built your empire, You could have any deal you wanted, So why go after me?"
Nova's gaze hardened.
"Why not you?" she murmured with her soft, "Why should I avoid the very person who once thought I was disposable? Why should I pass up the chance to win when you never gave me a second thought before casting me out?"
Her words hit him like a hammer, but Dominic didn't waver, he didn't look away, he let out a deep exhale from his nose.
"I made a decision," he said tightly, "A mistake?, most likely, But business is business, and people get fired every day."
Nova just leaned forward, her fingers anchored beneath her chin, "That's where you're wrong, You did not fire me for business reasons, You fired me because someone framed me, and you didn't even bother to find out the truth, instead you took their word over mine, You just didn't think I was worth the effort."
She did not raise her voice, she did not need to, The weight behind her words hit harder than any loud accusation.
Dominic's expression flickered, just for a moment, and something unreadable flipped through his stern eyes.
Before anyone could say anything, the office door creaked open slowly.
Victor walked in, casually tossing his car keys onto the table at the side, He paused suddenly when he saw Dominic standing there, there was tension vibrating off him and Nova.
"Well, well, well," Victor teased, raising an eyebrow just so slightly, "this looks cozy."
Nova didn't move, she just muttered, "not now Victor."
But Victor, in his typical fashion, only grinned wider and leaned forward, "I was just coming to confirm on our lunch plans, but it seems i have walked into the second round of your unresolved drama."
Dominic's stern eyes shifted to Victor, narrowing slightly as if sizing him up, The air in the room remained heavy, but Victor's easygoing demeanor eased up the tension.
"Victor Owen," Victor said cheerfully, offering his hand with a gentlemanly politeness, "I don't think we've had the pleasure."
Dominic didn't take his hands, He only gave off a curt nod in response, "Reyes."
Victor dropped his hand with a slight shrug, then gave Nova a playful glance, "Is this the part where I call security?, Or do I just stand here and ignore the smouldering sexual tension?"
Nova groaned, pressing her fingers on to the side of her head, "Seriously Victor?."
But the corner of her mouth twitched despite herself, Almost leetting out a shallow smile
Dominic, however, was not in anyway amused by this, His expression got even more cold as Victor reached out and casually rested his hand on Nova's shoulder, it was a relaxed gesture but odly seeemed possesive.
An expression flashed in Dominic's eyes, but he held his tongue.
"This conversation is over," he said finally,.
Nova raised an eyebrow. "That's not your call to make anymore."
He hesitated for a moment, there was something about her tone, something that seemed to shimmer in her eyes, then without saying another word, he turned and left the office, the door swung shut behind him with a soft click at the lock
Victor waited until the sound of footsteps faded away before sitting opposite her, "So," he said lightly, "that went well."
Nova let out a shaky breath as she sinked into her chair, closing her eyes for a little moment.
"I don't know why he gets under my skin like this," she murmured,
Victor smirked, "Maybe it's because you still care."
She glared at him, as if to warn him, but he laughed and lifted his hands in surrender, "Hey, I'm just saying, but be careful, Nova, You're not the same woman you were back then, But neither is he, And from what I can see… the two of you are on very thin ice."
She couldnt say a word,
The weight of the past pressed heavy on her, And as much as she tried to ignore it, something inside of her, something that has always been fragile, trembled.
The office fell into silence after Dominic had left, although the tension still lingered in the air, Nova sat there motionless for a moment, her finger sliding across the smooth surface of her desk.
Victor watched her from his chair opposite her, his usual cheerfulness replaced with concern.
"Nova, are you sure you are okay?" he asked after a moment with a calm voice,
Nova let out a shallow exhale, her eyes were fixed on the door Dominic had just walked out from, "Yeah," she murmured, "I'm Okay."
Victor raised an eyebrow in concern, "You don't look fine."
She smiled a little smile, "I don't know what it is about him," she admitted, "I should feel nothing but anger, I should be thrilled watching him fall apart, But…"
Her voice faded away, She didn't finish the thought because she didn't understand it herself.
Victor gave off a look that was full of amusement and worry, "Nova," he said, "revenge is fun until it isn't, it's a dangerous game you're playing And the more you let him affect you, the more you risk losing sight of your goal."
She looked away, her eyes drifting to the windows that framed the city skyline, but her mind was somewhere else entirely.
"You think I'm wrong?" she asked him softly,
Victor shrugged, "I think you're right to want justice, I think you're right to show him you're not the same girl he fired, But I also think… sometimes the people who hurt us the most are the ones who haunt us the longest."
Nova didn't want to hear that, Not from him, Not from anyone at all.
She sat up, gathering the papers on her desk as if tidying could somehow settle the mess in her head, "I'm not haunted," she said finally, "I'm focused, and I'm not letting anyone derail that."
Victor didn't push further, He simply nodded as if in agreement, but his eyes told her he wasn't convinced.
"I've got your back," he said gently, "Always, Just don't lose yourself in this, You are not the same person you were five years ago, Don't let him pull you back there."
Nova smiled, touched by his loyalty. "Thank you," she whispered.
They both sat for a moment longer before Victor finally stood, brushing dust from his jacket, "I'll let you get back to work, call me if you change your mind about lunch, There's a new spot by the river everyone's talking about."
"I will," she responded with a real smile
Alone once again, Nova layed her fingers gently on her desk, She caught her reflection in the glass wall, The woman she saw was polished, poised, and powerful.
And yet… somewhere deep beneath that perfect smile, was something fragile, Something she thought she had buried a long time ago.
She shrugged the thought away,
She had no room for hesitation, there was no room for regret.
This was only the beginning.