The ballroom was still buzzing when Elena stepped into the powder room, her reflection catching in the mirror lips parted, eyes blazing.
"Because I still want you."
His words clung to her like the heat of his hand on her lower back. The audacity of it.
She splashed cold water on her face and met her own gaze.
"You're not that girl anymore," she whispered. "You don't melt for him. You make him bleed."
Her phone vibrated in her clutch.
Unknown number
You walk away so well. But I remember how you used to stay.
—A.W.
She stared at the message, pulse spiking. He never texted like that before. Never flirted. Never chased.
But now?
Now he was hunting her.
And part of her traitorous, hungry wanted to be caught.
Meanwhile — Back at the Gala
Alexander stood at the edge of the ballroom, swirling a glass of whiskey he hadn't touched.
"Bold move," came a voice beside him.
He didn't have to look to know it was Victor Langston, his oldest friend and chief legal advisor.
"I danced. That's not illegal."
Victor snorted. "You don't dance, Alex. You dominate. And that little waltz? It wasn't just a PR stunt. You want her."
Alexander finally looked at him.
"I want to neutralize her."
Victor gave him a dry look. "By seducing her?"
"By getting under her skin. If she starts feeling, she makes mistakes."
"And what if you're the one who slips?"
Alexander drained his glass.
"Then I burn with her."
The Next Morning — Elena's Penthouse
Elena stood at the balcony, robe fluttering, coffee in hand. New York pulsed below like a restless beast.
Her assistant, Kira, entered quietly. "Your eight o'clock is confirmed. And Wolfe Enterprises just sent another merger counteroffer."
"Shred it," Elena said, eyes still on the skyline. "Send them a gift basket with a Blackvale mug."
Kira smirked. "Brutal. I love it."
"Also," she added, "there's someone downstairs. Says he's here for Elias. He has Wolfe security clearance."
Elena's smile vanished.
She dropped her cup.
It shattered.
"What?"
Kira nodded, suddenly nervous. "Tall. Cold. Looks like a villain in a tailored suit. Wants to talk."
Her pulse thundered.
"I'll handle him."
In the Private Lobby
Alexander stood with hands in his pockets, calm as if he owned the building. His gaze swept the hallway until Elena emerged from the elevator like a storm wrapped in satin.
She didn't stop walking.
She slapped him.
Again.
His head barely turned, but his jaw ticked.
"You sent your men to my son?"
"I sent one man. To talk to you," he said. "I want to see him."
"You lost that right five years ago."
"I never gave it up," he growled. "You stole it."
She stepped closer, voice lethal. "You signed away everything—me, the marriage, the child like I was a burden. And now you're here, what? Playing father of the year?"
"I didn't know he existed."
"You didn't want to know," she hissed.
He said nothing. Because she wasn't wrong.
"I want visitation," he said at last.
She laughed. "You'll need a court order. And good luck explaining to the judge why you discarded your wife like a broken toy."
"I'm not playing, Elena."
"No," she said, stepping into him until her breath kissed his lips. "You're losing."
He stared at her mouth.
"You kissed me back."
"I was high on revenge."
"You moaned my name."
"I bit your lip, remember?"
He smirked. "I liked it."
Her nostrils flared. "Get out."
But he didn't move.
Instead, he leaned in, brushing his mouth by her ear.
"You're not afraid I'll take him. You're afraid I'll take you."
She shoved him hard, fury crackling in her eyes.
He let her go this time.
"I'll see you in court," he said, adjusting his cufflinks.
"And I'll see you crushed."
Later That Day — Wolfe Enterprises
Alexander stared at the wall of screens in his war room. Every feed, every chart, every report was about her.
"She's got eyes on our European partners," said his analyst. "If she pulls this off, your international supply chain will fracture."
"She won't get that far," he said.
"You sure? Because she's operating like she already knows your playbook."
Alexander narrowed his eyes.
Because she did.
She was the one who helped him write it.
"Call Langston. It's time to play dirty."
That Evening — Blackvale HQ
Elena stood in the glass conference room, going over tomorrow's presentation, when the lights flickered.
Then went black.
Kira gasped.
"Power cut?"
"No," Elena murmured. "Sabotage."
Her phone buzzed.
Alexander Wolfe
Checkmate starts early.
She cursed under her breath.
"Get IT to secure our firewall. And put the board on alert."
Kira hesitated. "Elena... how far are you willing to go?"
Elena turned, her voice razor-sharp.
"I walked away from him once. I won't crawl back."
An Hour Later — Her Private Office
The power was restored, but her thoughts weren't.
Elena paced her office, heels echoing like thunder.
And then the door opened.
She didn't have to turn to know it was him.
"You broke into my building," she said without facing him.
"You changed your locks," he replied.
"You had no right... "
"I have every right," he said, voice dark. "He's my son."
She finally turned, her voice breaking. "And you'll never use him as a weapon. I'll destroy you first."
"I'm not here to fight," he said softly.
Liar.
She saw the storm in his eyes.
He closed the distance, slowly, like approaching a wounded animal.
"Elena. I regret everything."
She laughed bitterly. "You regret losing control, not losing me."
His hand reached for her cheek but hovered.
"I remember the way you used to look at me," he whispered.
She trembled.
"I remember how you tasted when you trusted me."
Her breath hitched.
His hand finally touched her waist. "Do you remember?"
"I remember," she whispered, leaning in…
Then kneed him in the groin.
He gasped, bending over.
She leaned close to his ear.
"I also remember how to break you."
Then she walked out, heels clicking.