reminder of the life forming within her-a life conceived in hatred and power play. Sh

lan: secure Vane Industries against Kaius Kincaid's hostile takeove

y committed to executing Elara's "nuclear option"-a poison pill defense that would make Kincaid's 15% stake worthless if

ith meticulous care, masking the exhaustion and the faint, unsettling flush of early pregnancy. Her hair was pul

bypassing the layers of assistants an

ver his payment in person," she instr

obal. Every detail screamed unassailable power. A guard led her up to Kaius's penthouse of

indow, bathed in the sharp afternoon light. He looked utterly relaxed, a predator who had j

sy crying over the loss of your company," he drawled, not moving from

. She walked across the vast office space, her heels clicking

, metallic briefcase and pulled out the crisp, white K

ve mahogany desk. It landed

call that note and your pathetic little stack of bills a gesture? I c

intensity. "A mistake? Because I bought 15% of your falling stock? I as

imity was purely aggressive. "The mistake was assuming that th

rom her briefcase. It was made out to Ki

across the de

own. The amount

d, his voice losing some

last night. For forcing me to spend today cleaning up the mess your arroganc

atures darkened with genuine outrage. She had just insulted hi

his fist. "You think $50 million covers the loss of the Singa

he fact that last night, you thought you conquered me. You thought you bought my silence. Th

nergy was failing, the nausea threatening to betray

Protocol," she announced, watching the shock register in his eyes. "Your 15% stake? It just diluted i

analytical coldness. "You lied to your board? Yo

ithdraw your stake from Vane Industries and cease all aggressive corporate activities, or I will initiate a seri

mmediate maneuvers, but he

ght in front of her. His proximity was int

eyes piercing hers, searching for the crack in her armor. "But thre

cted. And I certainly do

humb, a gesture that was both possessive and threatening. Elara

able," she warned, her voice barely a whisper. "The only thing you achieved l

touch. "Enjoy your victory, Kincaid. Because y

leaving the crumpled check and the enraged billionaire behind her. She didn

highly discreet team hired this mornin

y texted Clara:

vate jet as it roared down the runway. She watched the New York skyline shrin

Elara felt a wave of dizziness so profound it forced her to close her eyes. The nausea w

afe. I

abdomen. She was leaving New York as a CEO in exile, but she was leaving Kaius Kincaid with

check still burning in his hand. No one had ever insulted him like that. No one h

is desk. $50 million for a night of se

ntrolling her both professionally and intimately. But she had played him. She had used his victory celebrat

f: "Find Elara Vane. Track her jet. I want to know where she

ne jet is airborne, but she filed a flight plan with a fake medical cover story. No clear

empty vacuum open in

ce where she had stood. Her scent-a sophisticated ble

ppear. She's mine. I

about the money or the company anymore. It was about possession, humiliation, and the sudde

hen I do, you will regret ever