Aurora stared into Xavier's stormy eyes, searching for a trap. She was a woman who had been betrayed by love, and she wasn't about to be enslaved by power.
"One year," she said, her voice steady. "But I remain the CEO of Phoenix Holdings. I work with you on specific projects, and I keep my autonomy. And at the end of the year, my debt is cleared, and you leave my company alone forever."
Xavier let out a low, appreciative whistle. "Negotiating with the devil while his hand is around your throat? I like your spirit. Fine. One year. But there's one more condition."
"What?"
"You must move into my estate," Xavier stated, his expression turning serious. "The people Richard Vance worked with are dangerous. They aren't happy that you've exposed their money-laundering schemes. Inside my walls, you are safe. Outside, you are a target."
Aurora hesitated. Moving into his home meant she would be under his watchful eye twenty-four hours a day. But she knew he was right. Richard's associates were far more dangerous than Richard himself.
"Fine," she agreed. "I'll move in. But don't expect me to be a quiet houseguest."
"I would be disappointed if you were," Xavier replied with a smirk.
The following evening, a fleet of black cars arrived to transport Aurora to Xavier's estate. It was a fortress of glass and steel perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Inside, the decor was minimalist and cold, much like the man himself.
As Aurora was shown to her suite—a room larger than her entire previous apartment—she realized she was entering a new kind of prison. But this time, she had the keys.
Late that night, she found Xavier in his private library, staring at a wall of monitors displaying global stock markets. He looked up as she entered, his gaze lingering on her silk robe.
"Settling in?" he asked, his voice softened by the amber glow of the room.
"Why me, Xavier?" Aurora asked, stepping into the room. "You could have any woman, any strategist. Why go through all this trouble for me?"
Xavier stood up and walked toward her, stopping only when their shadows merged. "Because, Aurora," he said, his voice a deep rumble that vibrated in her chest, "you are the only person in this city who isn't afraid to look me in the eye. And I've been waiting a long time for someone who can actually play the game."
He reached out, his hand resting on the small of her back, pulling her slightly closer. For a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There was only the fire in his eyes and the racing of her heart. The war with Richard was over, but a far more dangerous—and seductive—battle had just begun.