Chloe’s POV

The city buzzed with activity as the afternoon sun bore down, casting long shadows across the pavement. I slipped on my sunglasses the moment I stepped out of the car, scanning the sleek glass structure of The Miller's Empire.

It was almost noon, and despite the heat, the air carried a crisp tension. I had overheard Orion on a call earlier this morning—something about a breach in their system.

A smirk tugged at my lips. If the board had any sense, they’d blame Ava and toss her out for good. But knowing Ava, she’d weasel her way out of trouble, as she always did. Wishful thinking, Chloe, I told myself.

I was about to head to the nearby café, waiting for the perfect moment to cross paths with Mason when I spotted him storming out of the building.

His face was a pool of fury and frustration—jaw clenched, eyes blazing, fists tight by his sides. A man scorned by love? Or maybe, just maybe, Orion had finally pushed him too far. Either way, this was my moment.

This could be easier than I thought.

Mason didn’t waste a second. He hailed a cab and got in, slamming the door behind him. Without hesitation, I flagged down another cab, sliding into the back seat.

“Follow that car,” I instructed the driver, leaning forward slightly. The driver shot me a curious glance but didn’t ask questions, pulling into traffic after Mason’s cab.

Minutes ticked by as we wound through the city streets. I used the time to rehearse my lines, fine-tune my performance. Mason wasn’t a fool, but with the right words, I could bend him to my will.

When the cab came to a stop, I peered out the window. A bar? In this heat? Interesting. What kind of trouble was Mason drowning himself in during the middle of the day? Whatever it was, I planned to exploit it.

I waited five minutes before getting out and stepping into the bar. The dim lighting offered a stark contrast to the bright day outside, the air thick with the scent of stale beer and cigarette smoke. My eyes adjusted quickly, scanning the room until they landed on him—sitting at the far end, phone pressed to his ear. His expression was tense, his voice low and agitated.

“What I’d give to know what’s going on in that head of his right now…” I muttered to myself.

I made my way to his table, each step measured, each breath deliberate. Sliding into the chair opposite him, I crossed my legs and leaned back, a picture of casual elegance. Mason glanced at me, his conversation abruptly ending as he muttered a quick excuse to whoever was on the other end.

He set his phone down, eyeing me with suspicion. “Did Orion send you to spy on me?” he asked, his tone sharp, distrust etched into every line of his face.

I laughed, the sound light and carefree. “Oh, please. You think I’d do Orion’s dirty work?” I leaned forward slightly, resting my chin on my hand, feigning offense. “Take a good look at me, Mason. Do I look like the kind of woman who plays second fiddle to anyone, least of all Orion?”

He didn’t seem entirely convinced, his gaze narrowing as he studied me. “You are his mistress…don't blame me for my calculated guess.”

“Listen,” I said, pausing as the waiter set down a glass of vodka in front of Mason. I waited until she walked away before continuing, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I want the same thing you do—Orion and Ava apart. Do you really think I’d help him get rid of you? I'm just his mistress like you said, but I want to be his wife!”

His posture relaxed slightly, but his eyes remained cautious. “What do you want from me?” he asked, taking a large gulp of his drink.

“Well,” I said with a mischievous smile, clasping my hands together, “an enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? I’m proposing a harmless alliance. You end up with Ava, and I get Orion. Simple.”

He swirled the vodka in his glass, skepticism written all over his face. “It’s not that simple, Miss…?”

“Chloe. Just Chloe,” I interjected, my smile widening. “And yes, it is that simple. All we have to do is make Ava see Orion as a selfish monster. Once she believes it, she won’t look back.”

He shook his head, setting the glass down with a soft clink. “You don’t know Orion. He’s relentless, and Ava… well, she loves him. She won’t leave him easily.”

I leaned forward, lowering my voice further. “Then we hit them from both sides. You make Ava see Orion as a heartless man, and I’ll make Orion see Ava as a lying, manipulative whore. Trust me, Orion’s ego won’t let him claim something he thinks another man has tainted.”

I paused for effect before delivering the final blow. “What if we stage a scene where you and Ava… you know, spend a night together? Think Orion would still want her if he walks in on something like that?”

Mason’s eyes lit up, intrigue flickering across his features. He set the glass down with a more deliberate clink, a slow grin spreading across his face. “That might actually work,” he admitted.

I reached across the table, wrapping my hands around his. “We can do this, Mason. You get what you want, I get what I want, and everyone lives happily ever after.”

He nodded slowly, his grip tightening around mine. And here I was, thinking it will take so much effort convincing him. Only one proposition and I had him. Too easy.

But just as I was savoring my victory, a piercing scream tore through the bar, shattering the tense atmosphere. Before I could react, a hand grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me out of my seat with such force that I yelped in pain.

“What the hell—” I started, but the words caught in my throat as I hit the floor hard, my sunglasses skittering across the tiled floor.

Pain shot through my scalp, but the adrenaline coursing through me sharpened my senses. I struggled to look up, heart racing as chaos erupted around me. Who the hell just attacked me? And why?