Chapter 50

Aurelia's POV

He wore a charcoal suit with no tie, of course, because apparently ties are for lesser people. My breath was stuck in my throat before I could reel it back. He moved like the entire room had been built around him, like he was just visiting the planet for a quick meeting.

His eyes swept the investors looking very bored, and then, of course, landed right on me.

I froze with my pen mid-scribble, every nerve tingling. I wasn't even sure whether I was scared or nervous.

Don’t react. Don’t give him the win.

My heart, naturally, ignored the memo and started doing cardio.

Dr Yusuf greeted him with the sort of handshake that screamed “Please fund our dreams.”

“Gentlemen, this is Mr Killian Moretti, one of our key investors.”

Of course, he was a goddamn investor.

Killian gave a slow nod, his gaze flicking back to me like he already knew I’d be here. Like he’d read the schedule I didn’t even have access to.

Great. Just great.

I gripped the edge of my notebook so hard it should’ve filed a complaint and glued my eyes to the charts on the screen. Inside, every thought was a frantic race car.

When the meeting finally dissolved, the investors trickled out first, all quiet and polite. My boss followed with the Arab partners, already knee-deep in another deal. The door clicked shut.

And he stayed.

Of course, he stayed.

I crossed the table fast. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He didn’t even blink. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean,” I said, stopping a few feet away. “Why are you in my office?”

“I’m simply investing.” He slid his hands into his pockets, leaning against the wall like he owned not just the room but the building. The audacity had its own gravitational pull.

“That’s not funny,” I snapped. “You don’t belong here.”

“Apparently I do.” His eyes held mine with that calm, aggravating certainty. “It’s a free market. I put money where I want.”

I wanted to throw the projector remote at him. Instead, I said, “I don’t want you near me.” My voice came out sharper than planned, but whatever.

“Near you?” His eyebrow lifted like he was amused. “I’m here for business, not you.”

“Then pick another company,” I shot back. “There are a thousand.”

He tilted his head, the tiniest smirk playing traitor on his mouth. “But this one is interesting.”

I could practically hear my blood pressure rising. “I don’t care. Leave.”

“Or what?” His voice dropped low, almost a whisper. “You’ll hide again?”

My jaw tightened. “I’m not hiding. I’m telling you to stay away.”

“You can tell me off all you want,” he said, pushing off the wall, shoulders squared. “Doesn’t mean I’ll listen.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I hissed, taking a step back.

“You always say that,” he murmured, eyes never leaving mine. “Still saying it.”

“Because it’s still true.”

He stepped closer, just enough to mess with my breathing. “Maybe you like it when I make an effort to be around you."

“I don’t,” I fired back. “Not anymore.”

His smile stretched slowly, deliberately. “You sure?”

“Yes,” I said. “Go back to whatever city you crawled out of and stay there.”

“Not happening. We’ll see each other again. That’s how it works.”

The door behind me opened with a tiny squeak that felt deafening. I spun around, heart thundering. A staff member poked her head in, asking if I was done. I said yes, maybe too fast. When I turned back, Killian was already gone. Of course.

++++

I was glad when I finally shut down my laptop. My brain buzzed from a whole day of work. I stepped into the elevator, letting the doors slide closed before anyone else could wedge in.

“Hey, hold the door—” A voice called. I jabbed the button on reflex.

A guy slipped in, a little breathless, like he’d sprinted from the next galaxy. “Thanks,” he said, brushing his hand through dark hair. Pale blue shirt, sleeves rolled, easy grin—basically a LinkedIn ad comes to life.

“No problem,” I said, trying not to look like I’d just fought a mini war upstairs.

He glanced at my badge. “New intern?”

“Yeah. First day.”

“Nice,” he said with a grin that actually reached his eyes. “I’m Ethan. I started here last year after my own internship.”

I managed a smile. “So you survived.”

“Barely,” he laughed. “But they hired me, so I must’ve done something right.”

The elevator hummed softly. I tried not to stare at the way his shirt fit, and how confident he seemed. Refreshing, after… well, after Killian.

“How’s it been? Day one,” he asked.

“Long,” I admitted. “Meetings all morning.”

“With the bosses and investors?”

I nodded. “Pretty serious stuff for a first day.”

“That’s good though,” he said. “Means they trust you to pay attention.”

“Or they just needed someone to take notes,” I said, and he chuckled.

Or Killian had something to do with it. I would kill him if I found out that was the case.

The doors opened on the ground floor, but neither of us moved.

“You heading out?” he asked.

“Yeah. Waiting for my ride.”

“Cool. You’ll be fine here. Everyone’s nice if you ignore the pressure.”

“Good to know.”

He gave a small wave. “See you around, Aurelia.”

I blinked. “How—”

“Badge,” he said, pointing at the tag on my shirt with a wink. “See you.”

He stepped out before I could even think of something witty. I watched him for a second, then followed, pulling out my phone to text Audrey.

Me: Free tonight? Maybe dinner?

No reply from Audrey. Figures.

Next—Tasha.

Me: You around? Want to hang?

Three dots popped up, then vanished. Busy. Of course.

I sighed and scrolled to Leo wondering what went wrong with my friends.