Aaron's mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. He couldn't let Sarah start digging into his finances—not when it could expose the Eternal Bank and put both their lives at risk.
"I was the ten thousandth customer," he said, the lie coming smoothly. "They had some promotional event going on. Massive discount for reaching that milestone. I got lucky with the timing."
Sarah studied his face for a moment, then nodded slowly. It made sense, in a way. Aaron was poor—she knew that for certain. There was no other reasonable explanation for how he could afford such an expensive car with only fifty thousand dollars.
"You got incredibly lucky," she said finally. "That's actually a decent car. Take care of it, Aaron. An opportunity like that doesn't come twice."
"I will," Aaron promised, relief flooding through him.
The next morning, Jane arrived just as Sarah was preparing to leave for work. She spotted the Audi in the driveway and let out an impressed whistle.
"Is this your car?" Jane asked Sarah.
"No, it's Aaron's actually. He got incredibly lucky—he was the ten thousandth customer at the dealership and received a huge discount. Can you believe that? The universe finally threw him a bone."
Jane's smile became knowing, almost predatory. "How fortunate for him."
After Sarah drove away, Jane turned to Aaron with that same calculating smile. "That was a very convenient story."
Aaron's expression remained neutral. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, come on, Aaron. Why do you hide your wealth from your wife? That's the real question, isn't it?"
"That's none of your business," Aaron said coldly.
Jane stepped closer, her voice taking on a softer, more intimate tone. "You mustn't be like that with me. We're trying to repair our relationship, remember? Friends don't keep secrets from each other."
"You're trying to repair the relationship," Aaron corrected. "Not me."
"Then how will it work if I'm the only one putting in effort?" Jane pouted.
"I didn't want this arrangement in the first place. You pushed for it."
"But you agreed."
"Only because you won't leave me alone," Aaron replied bluntly.
Jane put on her best wounded expression, her eyes glistening with manufactured tears. "You're still holding a grudge. I understand—I have every right to be hostile toward me. I deserve it. But I will prove that I've changed, Aaron. Just give me time."
She left with that declaration, leaving Aaron watching her go with deep suspicion. He knew manipulation when he saw it, and Jane was playing a game he didn't fully understand yet.
Back at her modest apartment, Jane threw her purse onto the couch with frustration. She'd tried the remorseful friend approach, the shared history angle, the vulnerability play—nothing was working. Aaron remained as distant and suspicious as ever.
She paced her small living room, her mind working through various scenarios. She'd seen the way he looked at her—there was attraction there, buried beneath years of hurt and betrayal. All she needed to do was tap into that attraction and make him forget about his cold, distant wife.
Jane made a decision. Seduction. It was risky, especially given Aaron's obvious loyalty to Sarah despite their loveless marriage. But if she could just get him to cross that line once, she'd have leverage. And leverage was power.
Meanwhile, Aaron decided he couldn't leave his cars at the dealership any longer. The risk of someone accidentally discovering his massive purchase was too great. He made arrangements to have them moved—the three most expensive vehicles went into a private storage facility he rented under a shell company, while the rest were sent to Acadia Media Group.
He called Vivian with instructions. "I'm sending over some company vehicles. Distribute them to employees you believe deserve recognition for their work. Use your judgment."
Vivian was silent for a moment. "Aaron, how many vehicles are we talking about?"
"About fifteen."
"Fifteen luxury cars?"
"Consider it a morale booster. Reward good work, and people will continue to do good work."
After hanging up, Vivian stared at her phone in disbelief. Working for Aaron Turner was unlike anything she'd experienced in the corporate world.
Across town, Sarah sat in her office reviewing the latest financial reports for her company. The numbers were finally moving in the right direction—solidly in the green for the first time in months. The thirty-million-dollar infusion from her mysterious benefactor had saved the company, and her careful management was now building on that foundation.
She stared at the accounts screen, trying once again to puzzle out who had sent her that money. It couldn't be Marcus—she'd confirmed he was a fraud. It wasn't her family—they'd made it clear they wanted her to fail. The mystery gnawed at her.
Part of her wondered if it could somehow be connected to Aaron, but she dismissed the thought immediately. Aaron was poor—she knew that with certainty. The man could barely afford decent clothes until she gave him money. He was struggling to survive, just like he'd always been.
Still, the question remained: who was her benefactor, and what did they want from her?
At the Prescott estate, Lady Eleanor sat in her study, surrounded by financial reports that painted a troubling picture. The family's businesses were stagnant. They weren't losing money, but they weren't growing either. In the cutthroat world of high-level business, stagnation was just slow death.
They needed new opportunities, new partnerships, new ventures that would push them to the next level. But the problem was clear—her family had grown complacent, coasting on old successes and established relationships rather than aggressively pursuing expansion.
Eleanor made a decision. She picked up her phone and sent a message to every member of the family: "Emergency family meeting. Tonight at 7 PM. Attendance is mandatory."
That evening, the Prescott family gathered in the mansion's grand conference room. Sarah sat next to Aaron, who had reluctantly attended as always. James lounged in his chair with his usual arrogance, while various aunts, uncles, and cousins filled the remaining seats.
Lady Eleanor stood at the head of the table, her presence commanding immediate silence.
"We have a problem," she announced without preamble. "This family has become lazy. We're not growing. We're not expanding. We're sitting on our laurels while our competitors pass us by."
She paused, letting her words sink in.
"Therefore, I'm instituting a challenge. You all have six months to achieve a significant business accomplishment. And to be clear—this doesn't count your already existing projects or connections with established partners. I want something new, something that demonstrates initiative and capability."
James sat up straighter. "What does the winner get?"
"The winner will be named Director of Prescott Enterprises," Eleanor said. "Second in command, directly under me. They will have authority over all family business operations and will be my designated successor."
The room erupted in excited murmurs. This was the opportunity everyone had been waiting for—a clear path to power within the family hierarchy.
"What are the criteria for judging?" Sarah asked.
"I'll be looking at several factors: the value of the deal, the prestige of the partnership, the long-term potential, and the difficulty of the accomplishment. Show me that you have what it takes to lead this family into the future."
James's eyes gleamed with ambition. He'd been waiting for an opportunity like this. With Sarah distracted by the Crimson Valley project and the rest of the family lacking his drive, he was certain he could win.
Sarah felt a knot form in her stomach. She was already stretched thin with the Crimson Valley project. How could she possibly take on another major business initiative?
Aaron noticed her tension and reached under the table to squeeze her hand gently. For a moment, Sarah felt grateful for the gesture before remembering their recent conversation in the car.
As the meeting adjourned, the Prescott family members began plotting and scheming, each determined to prove themselves worthy of becoming Director.
The competition had begun, and it would change the family's dynamics forever.