Page 8

Lucien

The conference room is filled with hums from the sound of paper shuffling and laptops. The final details of the project are laid out. I sit back in my chair, feeling the eyes of people on me.Executives from every department sit at the long table, their faces a mix of skepticism and interest, all waiting for a decision, all waiting for me to push them in the direction I want.My eyes scan across the room, searching for Aurora. Then, my eyes fall on her. She sits poised across me, but there's a palpable wall between us now.

Ever since we landed at the airport, she has been treating me like some stranger. I try not to show it, but I can't ignore whatever it is. She's treating this like it's just another thing she does whenever she feels like, and I can't help feeling like she's slipping away from my grasp.

She's not like the others who are here. Not like the mindless sycophants who throw praise at me every time I speak. She is different. She doesn't fawn over me and doesn't care for my reputation or charm.Her eyes remain fixed on the projector, on the problem at hand, and not on me…it drives me crazy.

I clench my jaw tightly, adjusting my tie. All this feels so new to me. She is not the Aurora I remember.

Aurora has always looked at me and wants to see me. Even when she was angry, even in silence, she never ignored me. But now? All she does is act like I'm nothing but a business partner who brought her on a trip to further our project.I lean back in my chair, grasping my pen tightly and tapping it against the table. The financial team continues to talk about the risks and market variables, but my focus is just locked on her.

I don't care if she acts differently to me.

There is no hesitation in any movement she makes. Her voice is certain, and when she speaks, people listen. They were probably drawn by her aura.

I watch carefully how she flips through the reports, files, and documents, her brows furrowing, her lips pressing together like she has something to say, but she's holding back.

My eyes trail down the soft curve of her cheek and the slope of her neck as I swallow hard.

All I want right now is to touch her and tame whatever composure she builds for me and make her stare at me the way she has always done in the past.

She hasn't done that in a while, not once since we came in contact again.

A sharp voice cuts through my thoughts, echoing. "Lucien, do you have anything to add?"

I haven't even been listening to whatever they are talking about, so what could I possibly have to add? But then, I need to add something.

I blink, scanning the faces of the executives in the conference room, then clear my throat.Aurora's gaze darts to me for the first time in the meeting. I catch her gaze, but then she looks away.

I hate that she did that.

"We've all been given the points and numbers. I have a new plan, and I'm suggesting that it will take us to the next level. It's hectic, but it's the only way forward." My voice calms as I get everyone's attention. "If we want to dominate the market, we need to take risks. I propose that we double the initial investment. We need to move fast and hard, take the competitors by surprise before they even get the chance to adjust."

Silent whispers fill the conference room as some executives nod in agreement and others frown at it.

I stare at Aurora to see her reaction, but she stays quiet. Her expression is unreadable as her fingers skim the edge of the report in her hand.

Just when I conclude that she has nothing to say, she lifts her head, meeting my gaze.

"I disagree," she spat, her voice calm but challenging.

The executives turn to her. I was surprised by how instantly her words caught the attention of the other members.

Even if I made a wrong suggestion, no one dared to disagree, but Aurora…she's a different breed entirely.

Trying to put off the irritation in my mind, I ask, "You disagree?""You want to double the investment?" Her eyes lock with mine, unwavering.

I hold her stare, feeling thrown off. "Yes."

She shakes her head and sighs, flipping a page on the report. "What's your risk mitigation plan?"

I cock my head and ignore her question. "Aurora, we don't win by playing safe."She hums, then, she takes a deep breath and pushes the reports towards me. "We also don't win by being reckless."

My lips twitch, as I hold back words. There she is…Aurora. She's a woman I once let go of because I thought she was fragile.

"Why not talk to us about your plan…" I pause and scan the room. "or you don't have any?"

Aurora straightens her back, "I don't speak without having a plan of my own." She shot back at me and stood, walking to the projector and turning her attention to the room. "Mr. Ravenclaw, your plan is very aggressive. The market now isn't stable enough for a bold move like this. If we rush in, and it backfires, we'll lose millions."

She points at the market chart displayed by the projector.

Some executives nod, murmuring their agreement. I watch her as she disagrees with every point I make.

She continues, flipping to another page in the report. "A better approach is a staggered investment. We need to test the water first, then push forward when we have a stronger footing. We build dominance bit by bit. We don't get it by chasing it blindly."

That fire in her—it burns in her voice as she speaks. Now, she stares at me, probably wanting to know my opinion or to have my approval.

Despite that, she now owns the conference room, and I can't lie about that.

A member of the senior executives clears his throat. "Ms. St Claire, you made a valid point." We all applaud her as he turns his attention to everyone in the room. "Her plan minimizes losses while still making sure we are growing in the game."

Another executive nods. "I agree. It's a smarter option than the first."

Their votes start rolling in, and one by one, they all side with her. I'm upset because I just realize what I have lost. I lost her. I follow her eyes as she scans the room as it settles into an agreement.

I watch her in silence, but something twists inside me. It is a mixture of pride and admiration, but deep down, it's regret. How didn't I see this before?How did I let her go without realizing how smart she is?

I was wrong all along, and I lost her to my ignorance.

The meeting wraps up, and the executives shake hands. Soon afterward, the conference room empties out.Lingering by the table, I pretend to go over some reviews and documents. But no, that wasn't why I was there. I watch her as she stands a few feet away from me, packing up her things.Aurora stands by the end of the table, gathering her documents and acting completely unbothered—like she didn't notice I was a couple of chairs away from her."Good job, Aurora."

She doesn't look up to face me. Instead, she trains her eyes on her phone, tapping away. "Thanks," she replies, her tone very distant.

I lean forward, my voice echoing throughout the room. "You enjoyed that."

She pauses, glancing up. Her lips tilt into something that is not quite a smirk but close. "Enjoyed what?"

I narrow my eyes and cross my arms. "Proving me wrong."

She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "It wasn't about proving you wrong, Lucien. All I did was what would best serve the company."

I know she lied because the look of satisfaction on her face said otherwise. One thing about Aurora is that she always knows exactly what she's doing.

Tucking her phone away, she plops her hips on the edge of the table. At least I've got her attention now. "You should be very grateful to me. I just saved your ass from making a reckless mistake that would have spoiled your name on so many grounds." I stand, pushing my chair back, closing the distance between us. "Did you say grateful?" I muttered. "What are we here for?"

She tilts her head, her eyes boring into mine. "Yes. Grateful, and we are here for business."

I reach out, my fingers grazing her wrist. I could feel her shiver under my touch, no matter how hard she tried to resist it. "Is that all it really is to you?"

She takes a deep breath, eyes glittering, but she doesn't move away or say a word. "Isn't it?"

"You've changed, Aurora," I lean closer to her, so close that she could feel the heat of my words in her ear.

She presses her lips together. "Things happen, and it changes people."

My grip tightens around her wrist as I hover over her. "You changed overnight."

Her eyes stayed on me for a long time, like she was searching for the words to say. Then, she forcefully pulls her wrist free.

"Some of us don't have a choice," she cussed and walked away.

Leaving me standing there. I stare at her as she slams the door behind her, and I drown in everything I never realized I wanted. Not until now.

I am such a dickhead.

Her words cut deep and felt like a blow to my chest. Again, I'm left watching as she increases the distance between us. When I ran into her at the restaurant on that fateful day, I swear my world came to a startling halt.Finding her with a date sent a level of anger through me that I knew I had no business feeling. I was tempted to pull her away from him and shake her till she came to her senses, but something in her eyes told me she wouldn't appreciate it. So, I took the high road, opting for an apology. That didn't work either. So here I am, forcing my way into her life the only way I know how until she finally sees that I'm the one for her.Bet that's why she keeps running from you, the stupid voice in my head taunts, but I pay it no heed. I know I royally fucked up. I feel the guilt eating away at my ankles every time my feet strike the ground. I have the absence of my wolf to prove how desperate I've been without her. But I'm here now, aren't I?My phone buzzes, and I quickly pull it out of my pocket, hoping for a text from Aurora. After a few taps, my inbox reveals a text from Selene asking about my trip, and disappointment washes over me like a cold shower. I send her a quick reply and tuck the device back into my pocket.Aurora hasn't said anything about Selene or asked about my status. Either she doesn't care, or she would prefer to be oblivious to that aspect of my life. I prayed it would be latter because that would mean she still feels something for me.I know it'll eventually come up, but by then, I'll be better prepared to deal with it. For now, I am more concerned with getting that look of nonchalance out of her eyes whenever she looks at me.With that in mind, I pull out my phone and shoot her a quick text.

Aurora, you did well today.

I hit the send button, still staring at the message as it delivers. She comes online and reads the message.

One second, two seconds…no response from her. I force myself not to regret sending the text. If I can't have her undivided attention, I'll find ways to keep me in her mind.

A bitter smile escapes my lips. I never thought there would come a day when I'd be scheming and plotting to get Aurora's attention. I always had her staring starry-eyed at me, her hazel orbs dripping with love and admiration, but now, the best I get is a fleeting glance.

I rub my forehead to ease my stress and put my phone into my pocket. I have important things to do, but all I can do is think about her…her smile…her words… how she spoke up today.Later at night, I lie awake, staring at the ceiling. I've never missed her this much. Every time I close my eyes to sleep, all I see is her face. But she is no longer the girl I used to know, and I have no idea how to say goodbye. Scratch that. I don't want to say goodbye.

—————

The following morning, with dark circles under my eyes, I find myself walking through the building housing the conference. I have dealt with several tough businesswomen in my life, but with Aurora, everything is just different.

I walk into the conference room where the team is gathering for another follow-up meeting. As I enter, I see Aurora, sitting in the second chair to the front, flipping through some reports.Somehow, she looks up as I enter, her expression unreadable. I nod at the rest of the team members, take my seat, and glance at her once more, but she already returned her attention to the papers in front of her.The meeting made progress, but my attention keeps going back to her, and I'm painfully aware of every movement she makes and every glance she casts at the projector. I wonder how she's so focused.As the meeting wraps up, I stand and walk toward her. We must have a conversation whether she wants it or not. I brought her for this trip, and now, she's ignoring me.

Her eyes are glued to the documents in front of her as she packs up her things.

"Aurora," my voice is calm, though inside, my thoughts are a mess.

She looks up, her face emotionless, and her eyebrow quirks up. "Yes?"

I pause, not sure of what to say to her. I want to tell her that I have been thinking about her and that I regret the way things turned out between us, but I don't do that.

"I will see you around later, alright?"

She props her lips, tilting her head, glaring at me. "Why?"

One thing is that I know better than to think she doesn't feel anything. She is suddenly good at hiding her emotions, but I am not blind, and I can see how her fingers clench the pen on the table.

"We came here together, and ever since, you've been avoiding—"

"I'm busy," she cuts me off. "I don't have time for this."

"Sit," I say, nodding toward the chair beside her.She sits, her back straight, but refuses to look at me."What do you want, Lucien?" she asks, like she doesn't know why I want to talk to her.

"You know why we are here. I'm not just for business. You know that." I hate that I am saying this, but I have to let it off my chest.

She glares at me, her eyes narrowing in irritation. "This again?" Her voice is strained, the kind of strain that comes from months of built-up frustration. "Lucien, I told you before, we are here for business. You've made it clear what you think of me, and I'm not about to let that affect our work."

I swallow hard, and my throat clenches. I want to tell her that she is wrong, but I can't.Aurora stands up and doesn't look at me as she walks past with her handbag hanging over her shoulder, heading for the door. The door clicks shut behind her, and I'm alone again.I wish I could go back to her. I wish she would forgive me and we could do it all over again. But now, I know it's not that simple. I've hurt her, and now, she's left for good.

I hope not because I'd keep trying.

I am slowly growing tired of being hit with her back every time I try.