Chapter 16 Fighting back

Chapter 16 Fighting back

Aiden's POV

My conference room was a war zone. Papers strewn across the table, laptops flung open everywhere, half-drunk coffee cups deserted. But the energy was cutting, clarifying. My team was formed in two hours. The most expensive attorneys that money could pay. PR pros that had worked on huge scandals. PI’s who could find anything.

And at the heart of it, me. Ready to take Victoria Sinclair out once and for all.

“All right, let’s try this one more time,” I said, at the head of the table. "What do we have?"
Thomas Reynolds removed his glasses and put documents on the screen. “Victoria’s acquisition of the Morgan Gallery stock was effected through a dummy corporation. But we followed the money back to her. The issue is how she brought in that money.”

"Explain."

“She was divesting Sinclair Industries.” But those assets were encumbered by shareholder agreements. She needed board approval. She didn't get it." Thomas smiled grimly. "She committed fraud. Possibly embezzlement."

"And you can prove this?"

“We have bank records, we have transaction histories, we have emails. She was sloppy."
I felt a twist in my gut. Once, I'd loved Victoria. Or thought I had. And here I was plotting to destroy her. But she'd left me no choice. She'd threatened Lily.

"What else?" I asked.

Sarah Chen, my public relations expert, leaned in. "We've been monitoring social media. The suicide attempt tale is dying. People are questioning it. “Some are also looking into the history of Victoria.”

"Good. Keep feeding them information. Anonymously."

My security head, Marcus, coughed awkwardly. “We have proof Vicky has been breaking the restraining order. She's had folks minding Miss Monroe. That's criminal stalking."

"File charges," I said immediately. “I want her arrested as soon as she sets foot back in this country.”

I should have felt satisfied. But all I felt was cold. This was the me I’d thought I’d left behind. The ruthless businessman who mercilessly crushed his enemies.

The man Lily feared I would become.

The conference room door opened. Lily was standing there, awkward in jeans and my T-shirt from this morning.

"I'm sorry," she said. “Your assistant told me you were in here. I can come back—"

"No." I stood. "Come in. You should be part of this."

She stepped in slowly, taking it all in. The legal documents. The financial records. The strategic planning. I noticed something cross her face. Not quite fear, but close.

"This is my team," I said. "Everyone, this is Lily Monroe."

I introduced them all. When Thomas told her, "We are ruining Victoria Sinclair's life," Lily's face paled. Legally, of course."

"Can we talk?" Lily asked me. "Privately?"

"Of course." I dismissed my team. "Take fifteen."

They left the room, and suddenly it was only us. Lily went to the window and looked out over Chicago.

“This is who you are,” she ultimately said. "The ruthless CEO. The man who destroys people."
"I'm protecting us."

“And by turning into exactly the thing I was afraid of?” She turned to face me. “Aiden, I don’t need you to tear Victoria down. I want you to be greater than that.”

"She threatened you. She attempted to destroy your career. She faked a suicide attempt." I moved closer. "What am I supposed to do? Just let her win?"

"No. But there has to be a better way. A way that won’t turn you into your father.”

The words hit like a punch. "I'm nothing like my father."

"Aren't you? He wielded his might to fuck your mother. You’re leveraging power to annihilate Victoria.” She crossed her arms. I understand she has to be stopped. But this feels wrong."

"What do you want me to do?"

“I need to be able to fight my battles on my own.” She moved closer. I’m not a damsel who needs rescuing. I visited Victoria in the hospital room. I confronted her. I got the recording. Me. Not you."

"I know that."

"Do you? Because right now it seems like you’re taking over. Making decisions without me. Have a future mapped out for me without my ever having asked what I want.”

I ran my hand through my hair, and frowned. "I'm trying to protect you."

"I don't need protecting. I need a partner. "I want someone who has that confidence in me, to let me take care of things." She took my hands. “If you’re going to make this work, you’re going to need to let me be equal. Not someone you protect. An equal partner."

She was right. I was reverting to the old ways. Taking control. Making decisions.

"I'm sorry," I said finally. "You're right. What do you want to do?"

"I feel the next thing I need to do is be in front of it. Hold a press conference. Tell my side. Show people who I really am."

"That's risky. The media can be brutal."

"I know. But I'm tired of hiding." She squeezed my hands. “This is my job, my professional name. Let me fight for it."

I wanted to argue. But I forced myself to nod.

"Okay. We'll do it your way. But I'm going to be there. Supporting you."

“I do not want any of this any other way.”

I called my crew back to tell them our new plan. Sarah immediately started coordinating. An hour later, we had booked a press conference at the gallery for the following day.

“Either this is brilliant or crazy,” Thomas mumbled.

"Probably both," I said. "But it's what Lily wants."

The next day I stood at the rear of the gallery and watched Lily getting herself ready. She was dressed in a simple black dress, her hair down, no makeup. She looked nervous but determined.

The room was packed with reporters and cameras. The energy was predatory.

Lily went up to the microphone and the hall hushed.

“Thank you for being here,” she started, taking careful breaths. "My name is Lily Monroe. I'm an artist. And for the past week, I have been called quite a few other things. Home-wrecker. Gold digger. The woman who caused someone to try to kill themselves.”

She stopped, facing the cameras head on.

“None of those things are true. But I’m not here to be a victim. I’m here to tell you who I am and let you decide.”

For 20 minutes, Lily poured her heart out. She discussed her art, her background, her relationship with me. She also referred to Victoria’s suicide attempt and wrote that she hoped Victoria got the help she needed, but that our relationship ended long before we ever met.
She was honest. Vulnerable. Strong.

And the reporters ate it up.

When she was through, the questions came fast. Some hostile, some supportive. And all were, Lily managed with grace.

I looked on, my chest swelling with pride. This was the woman I loved. Not despite, but because of, her strength.

The press conference was finally over and she came to me drained but smiling.

"How did I do?"

"You were incredible." I pulled her into my arms. "Absolutely incredible."

We returned to my penthouse that night. The adrenaline was still pumping. Lily yanked my shirt and bent me down as soon as the elevator door was shut.

"I need you," she breathed.

"Lily—"

"Now. I need you now."

We hardly got to the bedroom. Lily was different tonight. Aggressive. Taking what she wanted.
She shoved me onto the bed, and climbed up and straddled me while she pawed at my belt. I let her take control. It hung from her body all in one piece. She gazed down at me, her eyes smoldering with lust and power.
“I’ve just had it up to here being careful,” she said. "Done holding back."

She gripped me in her hand and I moaned. Then she got on top of me and slowly lowered herself down. We both gasped.

She began to rotate, fucking me hard. Hands atop my chest, head thrown back. She looked like a goddess. Powerful and gorgeous and in complete control.

I held on to her hips and helped to speed her up. Her being above me was just about more than I could handle.

"Touch me," she commanded.

I buried my hand between us, and found that spot.

"That's it," I growled. "Take what you need."

"Aiden," she gasped. "God, Aiden."

She came, hard shaking. I chased a heartbeat behind him, and my vision went white.
She collapsed onto my chest. I squeezed her tight, and folded my arms around her.

"Where did that come from?" I asked.

“Today I discovered that actually, I’m stronger than I think. And I wanted you to see it."

"I saw it. Trust me."

She laughed and kissed me. We lay there for a while. Everything felt right. Balanced.

My phone rang. I ignored it.

It rang again.

“You should buy that,” Lily said.

I groaned and reached for it. My mother's nurse.

"This is Aiden."
“Mr. Cole, your mother has had another heart attack. She’s in stable condition, but she’s asking for you. Urgently."

"I'm on my way."

I hung up and looked at Lily. "It's my mother. Another heart attack."

"Oh God. Go. I'll come with you."

"You don't have to—"

"I'm coming."

We rushed to the hospital. We arrived at her room and she was awakened but sluggish. She smiled when she saw me.

"Aiden. Thank you for coming."

"Of course, Mom. What happened?"

"Just a little scare. I'm fine." She looked past me to Lily. "And you brought your friend."

"Lily. Her name is Lily."

"Right." My mother smiled coolly and artificially. She then said something that sent chills down my spine. “I have something I need to say to you. About Victoria."

"Mom—"

I have communicated with her. Meeting with her. “She’s sort of guiding me through some things.” She reached for my hand. “And Aiden, you need to give her a second chance.”

I looked at my mother in shock, I couldn’t even believe what she was saying.

"What are you talking about?"

"Victoria explained everything to me. About the misunderstandings. This girl,” she nodded toward Lily, “and how things got complicated. But Victoria loves you, Aiden. Really loves you. And I just think that if you really talked to her, you guys could work it out.”

I felt Lily tense beside me. I saw pain and disappointment written all over her face when I glanced at her.

This couldn't be happening.