Selina's heels clicked against the marble floor like the ticking of a countdown. Each step was sharp, cold, deliberate-like the woman herself. Her dress was a shade of red that matched danger perfectly, and her eyes, outlined in thick kohl, swept across the room with territorial precision.
Aurora felt her entire body stiffen.
Damien's presence shifted immediately-he straightened, composed himself, the warmth that had filled the air seconds ago evaporating like mist under the sun.
"Aurora," Selina said, her voice dipped in sugar but laced with steel. "Still working? My, my... such dedication."
Aurora swallowed, bowing her head respectfully. "Good evening, Miss Selina."
"Evening," she replied, her gaze lingering a little too long. Then she turned her focus to Damien. "Baby, I've been calling you. You didn't pick up."
Baby.
The word scratched something inside Aurora she didn't want to acknowledge. It wasn't jealousy-no, she had no right to feel that. It was more like... discomfort. A reminder of the line she could not cross.
Damien's jaw twitched subtly, the only sign of his irritation.
"My phone was on silent," he said, voice low.
Selina brushed past Aurora and wrapped her arm around Damien's, leaning close-even closer than necessary-as if staking a claim. Aurora stepped back to give them space, but her chest tightened painfully.
Damien didn't lean into Selina's touch.
He didn't hold her.
He didn't even react.
Selina noticed.
She always noticed.
"And what are you still doing in the office this late?" Selina asked loudly, directing the question toward Aurora this time.
"I was finishing the quarterly files Mr. Kane requested," Aurora replied gently. "I didn't realize how late it was."
"Hm." Selina's lips curled. "Is that so?"
Damien's voice cut in, smooth but edged with warning. "Aurora works harder than anyone else here. She's efficient. Reliable."
Selina's head snapped toward him, surprise flickering in her expression.
Damien didn't compliment employees.
He barely acknowledged them.
But Aurora... Aurora was different.
He didn't realize how differently he spoke of her until Selina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Well," Selina said, smoothing her expression back into sweetness. "Since the two of you were... working late, why don't I take Damien home? You can finish up and lock the office."
Damien tensed. "I already told Aurora I would drive her home."
Selina froze.
Aurora froze too.
Oh no.
The words hung in the air like smoke.
Selina turned slowly, eyes sharp. "You... what?"
Damien didn't flinch. "It's late. I don't want her going home alone."
The silence was a blade.
Aurora felt her lungs tighten, panic creeping through her veins. She shook her head quickly. "No, no-it's fine! I can go on my own. Really."
Damien looked at her, and the intensity in his eyes nearly stole her breath again. "I said I'll drive you."
Selina's lips parted in disbelief. No man had ever defied her like that-especially not in front of someone she considered beneath her.
"You're serious?" Selina whispered, voice trembling with controlled anger.
"I'm not discussing this here," Damien said calmly. "Let's talk tomorrow."
"No," Selina snapped. "We'll talk now."
She grabbed his arm, but Damien didn't budge. His gaze was on Aurora. Only her.
"Aurora," he said softly. "Get your things. I'll meet you at the elevator."
Aurora nodded slowly, unable to speak.
Selina's outrage echoed down the hallway as Damien gently but firmly guided her away toward his office.
Aurora stood still for a moment, her knees weak.
What... just happened?
She took a shaky breath, grabbing her handbag with trembling fingers. Her mind raced, heart pounding at everything she had felt, heard, witnessed.
Damien Kane, the richest man in the world, had just defended her.
Protected her.
Chosen her.
She shouldn't read too much into it.
She shouldn't let hope bloom.
She shouldn't want more.
But her heart was foolish, traitorous.
And it was beating too loudly.
---
Selina's voice burst from Damien's office the moment the door shut.
"You're acting strange, Damien! Ever since that girl came-yes, THAT girl-you've been on edge. Distracted. Distant."
Damien remained silent, unbothered, unshaken.
"Do you like her?" Selina demanded. "Tell me the truth."
Damien didn't answer.
Not because he was hiding anything...
...but because he didn't know what the truth was.
All he knew was that Aurora's presence had become a gravitational pull. She drew him in without trying. Without speaking. Without even knowing.
Selina continued, voice cracking with frustration, "Am I not enough for you?"
Something inside him snapped-not with anger, but with exhaustion.
He didn't want to have this conversation.
Not now.
Not with Aurora waiting.
"Selina," he said quietly, "I need you to leave."
Her eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
"We'll talk tomorrow."
"You're choosing her," Selina hissed. "Over me."
Damien didn't respond.
And his silence said everything.
---
Aurora stood near the elevator, clutching her bag, her heart beating so loudly she was sure the whole building could hear it. She didn't want to be the reason for any argument. She didn't want trouble. She didn't want-
The door clicked open.
Damien stepped out.
His expression was unreadable-hard, calm, but beneath the surface... conflicted.
"Aurora," he said softly. "Let's go."
She nodded silently and walked beside him toward the elevator. When the doors closed behind them, trapping them in the cool, quiet space, neither of them spoke.
But the silence wasn't empty.
It was full-heavy-alive.
Aurora stared at the glowing floor numbers while Damien stared at her reflection in the metal walls.
She felt it.
She felt him looking.
Her cheeks warmed.
At the 12th floor, the elevator jerked slightly.
Aurora stumbled.
Damien caught her instantly, one hand supporting her waist, the other steadying her arm.
Their bodies collided-warm, close, too close.
Aurora gasped.
Damien froze.
Their eyes met.
And the moment stretched.
Longer.
Deeper.
Dangerous.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, voice barely a whisper.
"No," she breathed. "I'm okay."
His hands didn't move.
Neither did she.
The tension wrapped around them like heat, thickening the air, drawing them closer without permission.
He exhaled slowly. "Aurora..."
She swallowed, her voice unsteady. "Yes?"
He didn't speak for a moment. His thumb brushed her waist-barely a touch, barely a breath-but she felt it everywhere.
"You make me..." He stopped, jaw clenching. "Forget myself."
Aurora's breath hitched.
He was too close.
She was too warm.
And the world outside the elevator no longer existed.
The doors slid open.
They both stepped apart instantly, breathing hard, pretending nothing had happened.
Thunder rolled in the sky beyond the glass windows, as if the night itself felt their storm.
Damien cleared his throat. "Let's get you home."
Aurora nodded, her heart still racing.
But neither of them knew...
...their lives had already crossed a line that neither of them could ever walk back from.
