CHAPTER TWO: THE SILENT PHOENIX
FIVE YEARS LATER:
"Hey mom, why do you look so serious when you're on your computer?"
Aria looked up from her tablet. Luca was on the floor building something with blocks. He was making a spaceship or a fort. His grey eyes were on her. Those eyes always made her chest feel tight.
"I don't look serious."
"Yes you do. Your face looks like you're mad."
"What face?"
Luca made a face. "The one that says someone is in trouble."
Aria tried not to smile. "Go back to your blocks."
"It's a fort and a spaceship. They're different."
"Sorry."
Her assistant called through the intercom. "Ms. Morriston, Ashcroft Partnership wants an answer. They need it by today."
Luca looked up. "Are they the people?"
"Luca—"
"You said their name yesterday and then you said a bad word."
"I didn't say that."
"You did. I have ears."
Aria closed her tablet. "Why don't you go to the lounge with Maya? She'll get you lunch."
"Can I have—"
"Not ice cream."
"You didn't let me finish."
"Luca."
He. Gathered his blocks. He walked to the door. He stopped. "Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"If they're bad why are you talking to them?"
"Sometimes you have to talk to people to make them go away."
He thought about it. "Okay.. If they make you sad I'll tell them they're not invited to my birthday."
"Noted."
He left. The door closed.
Aria opened the partnership request. It was twenty-three pages long. Julians signature was at the bottom. It looked bold and confident. Like he had no idea who he was dealing with.
She looked at the financials. That's when she saw it.
* Primary Creditor: Voss Capital International.
* Authorized Representative: Dominic Voss.
The name hit her like water. She hadn't heard it in five years. She picked up her phone. Called her head of security.
"Confirmed " he said. "Voss Capital owns seventy percent of Ashcrofts debt. They're one missed payment from foreclosure."
"When did this happen?"
"Eighteen months ago. It was an acquisition."
". Voss is the representative."
"Yes. Hes not usually involved in -tier accounts."
Arias calendar alert went off. **Luca. Parent Observation Day. 3:00 PM.** She had two hours. She had to decide what to do with Julian.
The intercom buzzed. Her assistants voice was different. "Ms. Morriston we have a problem."
"What's the problem?"
"There's a motorcade in the garage. They bypassed security."
Aria stood. "Who is it?"
"I'm trying to find out. They're in the elevator."
The elevator chimed.
Arias office was on the forty-second floor. The private elevator had security. No one came up without her permission.
The doors opened.
Dominic Voss stepped out.
He looked the same. The scar was still there. His dark hair and sharp jawline looked the same. He carried himself like a man who owned the room.
He looked at her.
She looked back.
Five years passed in five seconds.
"You're hard to find " he said.
"I didn't want to be found."
"I noticed."
Her assistants voice came through the intercom. "Ms. Morriston should I call—"
"It's fine " Aria said. "Hold my calls."
The intercom went silent.
Dominic walked into the office. He looked around. He stopped in front of her desk.
"Morriston Modeling Tech " he said. "You've built an empire."
"I built a company."
"An empire " he said. "You control eighty percent of the industrys backend infrastructure."
"I could collapse the fashion economy with one change.. I won't."
"Because you're smart."
His mouth moved. Not quite a smile. "You disappeared."
"Yes."
"For five years."
"Yes."
"You didn't leave a note.. A number."
"That was the agreement."
"One night. No names. No questions. No tomorrow." He quoted her. "That's what I said."
". I agreed."
". Then you vanished."
"I didn't exist."
He stepped closer. "What happened that night?"
"You know what happened."
"I know you walked into a bar. I know you left before I woke up. I don't know why."
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
The word hung in the air.
Aria tried not to react. **You're here about Ashcroft**.
"Among things."
"They owe you money."
"A lot of it."
". You want me to bail them out."
"No. I want you to destroy them. Slowly. Thoroughly.. I want to watch."
That surprised her.
"Why?"
"Julian Ashcroft is a parasite. He built his agency on someone Talent. Then he discarded her."
Dominics voice was calm. Too calm. "I've done my research. I know what he did to you."
"You know my name."
"I've known your name for three weeks."
"How—"
"Because I've been looking for you for five years.. I'm very good at finding things I want."
Her heart was pounding. She kept her voice level. "What do you want?"
"Right now? I want to know why you left."
"I didn't leave. I just went."
"At five, in the morning. Without a word."
"That was the deal."
"The deal " he repeated. He moved closer. "The deal was one night. It wasn't supposed to feel like—"
He stopped.
"Like what?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
The office door burst open.
Luca stood in the doorway. He was clutching his tablet. His grey eyes were wide.
"Mommy Maya said I have to eat vegetables.. I already ate three carrots. That should count."
He stopped.
He looked at Dominic.
Dominic looked at him.
The room became very quiet.
Lucas head turned to the side. "You have my eyes."
Aria felt her blood get really cold.
Dominic didn't. Say a word. He just kept staring at the child in the doorway with a face she couldn't understand.
Luca walked further into the room. He seemed curious. Not scared at all. "Who are you?"
"Luca " Aria said. Her voice sounded away. "Go back to Maya."
". "
"Now."
Something about her tone made him stop. He looked at her at Dominic then back at her.
"Okay " he said softly. ". You look scary again."
He left the room.
The door closed.
Dominic turned to Aria.
"How old is he?"
She didn't say anything.
"Aria. How old is your son?"
"Five."
The word dropped like an object.
Dominics face didn't change.. Something, behind his eyes seemed to change. It looked like everything was shifting.
"Is he mine?"
Aria looked back at him. She kept looking.
"Yes."