Orion

I stormed through the hallway, the pounding of my footsteps echoing like the drums of war. I had just left Chloe after listening to her explanation—a confession that only deepened my resolve.

Ava had to be dealt with, swiftly and ruthlessly. If I wanted to secure Chloe’s place in my life and sever the suffocating grip of her dangerous ex, Ava needed to know who held the power. There could be no loose threads, no unpredictable games.

As I approached Ava’s office, my jaw clenched when I spotted the same security guard from months ago—the annoying asshole who always seemed to have an annoying quip ready. He was back from his leave, and his smug expression nearly made me abandon all reason.

“Step aside,” I growled, not slowing my pace.

“Sorry, sir,” he replied, standing his ground. “Ms. Ava is not to be disturbed.”

I leaned in, my voice low and deadly. “I’m only going to say this once. Move, or lose your job.”

There was a beat of silence where he weighed his options, and then, with a flicker of fear in his eyes, he stepped back. Smart man. I pushed past him, my chest heaving with anger. No one would keep me from her.

Inside, Ava sat with Rose, both women bent over a stack of documents. Ava looked up, and for a moment, she seemed… serene. Almost like she’d just returned from a luxurious holiday or woken from the most restful sleep.

The sight made my blood boil. How dare she look so peaceful while I burned?

“Rose, leave us,” Ava said smoothly, as if she hadn’t just noticed the storm raging in me.

Rose hesitated but ultimately obeyed, slipping out without a word. As soon as the door clicked shut, I moved. I crossed the room in a heartbeat, grabbed Ava by the wrist, and yanked her to her feet, pressing her against the wall. My body trembled with fury, barely contained.

“Where the hell were you last night?” I demanded, my voice rough. “What kind of game are you playing, rejecting me in front of everyone?”

Ava’s lips curled into a smile—a cruel, mocking twist that made my grip tighten. “I don’t owe you an explanation, Orion,” she said lazily. “But I must admit, you look quite amusing when you’re this worked up.”

“Amusing?” I spat the word, feeling my pulse hammering at my temples. “You think this is a joke?”

“Oh, absolutely,” she said, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of defiance and amusement. “Why shouldn’t I? Watching you flail about, trying so desperately to take control, is quite the spectacle.”

I hated the way her words affected me. Hated the way her calm demeanor made me feel like I was the one on unstable ground. I leaned in closer, my breath hot against her ear. “You think you’re untouchable, don’t you? That you can walk all over me and I’ll just take it?”

Her gaze met mine, unflinching. “I don’t think it, Orion. I know it.”

“You’ll beg me to marry you,” I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “In front of the same people who saw you humiliate me. You’ll be on your knees, and I’ll turn you down. I’ll make you feel the way you made me feel.”

Ava’s laughter was soft but vicious. “I would have to be insane to beg you for anything.” She pushed back against me slightly, enough to show that she wasn’t afraid. “You seem to forget, darling, I have nothing to lose. If we don’t get married, all of it—your father’s precious fortune—goes to charity. I’ll walk away with nothing, and I’ll still sleep soundly. You, on the other hand… you’ll lose everything. His name. His legacy. And all because of your pride.”

Her words sliced deep, each one hitting where it hurt the most. I hated her for seeing through me. For knowing exactly where to twist the knife. I pressed her harder against the wall, feeling the heat of her body, the rise and fall of her chest. “You think you’ve won?”

“Not yet,” she whispered, her breath fanning against my cheek. “But I’m enjoying the game.”

The air between us shifted, charged with something I didn’t want to acknowledge. Ava tilted her head, her eyes locking onto mine with a mix of challenge and something else—something darker, more twisted. Her hand slid up my chest, a feather-light touch that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. I hated how my body reacted, how every nerve came alive under her touch.

“You’re shaking,” she murmured, her voice soft and taunting. “Is it anger, Orion? Or is it something else?”

I grabbed her wrist, trying to ignore the way my pulse raced. “Stop.”

“Make me,” she whispered, her lips dangerously close to mine. “Or are you afraid?”

Damn her. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to pull away, to regain control. But she leaned closer, her body pressed against mine in a way that was both infuriating and… intoxicating. I hated her. I wanted her. And I hated myself for that.

Her hand moved lower, tracing the line of my jaw. “You can threaten me all you want,” she said, her voice low and seductive. “But at the end of the day, we both know who’s really trapped.”

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. She was right—I was trapped, caged by her presence, her defiance, her touch. And I despised myself for it. I leaned in, intending to end this power struggle, to regain control, but she tilted her head back, exposing her neck in a silent challenge. It was enough to make me pause, to hate myself for hesitating.

“I'll make sure to break you.” I swore through gritted teeth.

“You’ll break before I do,” she whispered, a smile playing on her lips.

I pulled back, every muscle in my body screaming with tension. This wasn’t over—not by a long shot. But for now, she’d won this round. I stepped back, letting her go, but the heat of her touch lingered. “This isn’t over,” I growled, turning on my heel.

As I stormed out, her laughter followed me—soft, mocking, and maddeningly victorious. I would make her pay for this. One way or another.

And as I reached the end of the hallway, a sudden realization struck me—a plan, ruthless and devastating, already forming in my mind. She thought she could win this game. But I would be the one to set the rules.