The night sky over Paris glittered with city lights, but Elena barely noticed as she paced across the suite's living room. Her chest tightened at the thought of Laurent's request. Alone. A private meeting. The words replayed in her head like a siren.
Adrian leaned against the window, his tie gone, sleeves rolled up. He looked every inch the powerful mogul, but for once, there was no trace of his usual arrogance. His jaw was set, his gaze fixed on her with a sharp edge.
"You're not going to him," he said firmly.
Elena stopped pacing. "If I don't, the deal collapses. And wasn't that the entire point of dragging me here?"
"I'll handle him," Adrian said, voice low but unyielding.
Her hands curled into fists. "That's not how it works. You can't control everything. If Laurent thinks I'm leverage, maybe I can turn that against him."
Adrian pushed away from the window, crossing the room until he stood just inches from her. His voice softened, though the steel never left. "You don't understand men like him. He doesn't see you as a negotiator, Elena. He sees you as a prize. Once you step into his world, it won't be business anymore."
Her stomach twisted, but she refused to let him see fear. "I've dealt with worse."
"No," Adrian said sharply, eyes narrowing. "You've dealt with incompetence. Weak men. Boys who thought power was a suit and a smile. Laurent is different. He's ruthless. He'll smile while breaking you."
For a flicker of a second, Elena thought she heard genuine concern. But she shut it out. She couldn't afford to believe him—not when every word from his mouth was designed to manipulate.
"Then you'll have to trust me," she said, lifting her chin.
Adrian's expression darkened. "Trust? That's not something you've earned."
Her chest tightened. "Funny. Because you haven't earned mine either."
The words hung heavy between them.
Finally, Adrian exhaled through his nose, controlled but tense. "Fine. If you're determined to meet him, you're not going alone. I'll be there. Hidden, watching. One wrong move from him, and I'll end this."
Elena wanted to argue, but she saw the fire in his eyes and realized he wouldn't bend. "Fine," she said. "But if you try to interfere too soon, you'll ruin everything."
The following evening, Laurent's private penthouse was everything Elena expected: opulent, decadent, designed to impress. Gold chandeliers dripped from the ceiling, and the scent of expensive cigars clung to the air.
Laurent greeted her with a smile too polished to be genuine. "Mademoiselle Carter," he said, brushing his lips against her hand. "So radiant tonight."
Elena forced a polite smile, steadying her nerves. "Thank you for meeting me."
She glanced around quickly, discreetly. Somewhere in the shadows, Adrian was watching. She couldn't see him, but she felt his presence like a silent guardian—or a predator, waiting for a reason to strike.
Laurent gestured for her to sit. He poured two glasses of wine and slid one toward her. "Business can be tedious. Tonight, let us speak frankly. No papers. No lawyers. Just truth."
Elena kept her expression neutral. "Truth is useful. But so is clarity. Why cancel the deal? Blackwood Enterprises is offering you everything you demanded."
Laurent's smile widened. "Because, my dear, I discovered something far more valuable than numbers. You."
Elena's stomach tightened, but she didn't flinch. "I'm not a bargaining chip."
He leaned closer, eyes gleaming. "You are more than that. I have seen many partnerships fail because men like Adrian Blackwood refuse to share. But if you were by my side, Elena, imagine what we could build. A partnership beyond contracts. You'd never be his shadow. You'd stand equal with me."
Her pulse quickened, but she kept her voice calm. "You assume I want to be equal with you. What if I want more?"
Laurent paused, intrigued. "More?"
Elena leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "Adrian doesn't own me. And neither will you. But if you want this deal, if you want me at the table, then you'll have to prove you're not just another man trying to use me."
For the first time, Laurent's smile faltered. His eyes studied her, calculating. "Interesting," he murmured. "You are not what I expected."
She forced a small smirk. "Disappointed?"
His laugh was low, amused. "On the contrary. I am fascinated."
From his hidden vantage point, Adrian's fists clenched. He'd prepared himself for Laurent's arrogance, for his predatory charm. But watching Elena play along, seeing her hold her ground with such precision—it unsettled him.
She wasn't afraid. She was dangerous. And Adrian couldn't decide if that made him proud… or furious.
The conversation stretched on, circling around deals and promises, until finally Laurent leaned back. "Perhaps we can finalize this partnership after all. But only if you convince Adrian to loosen his grip. He is too controlling. Too protective."
Elena's lips curved slightly. "I'll see what I can do."
Laurent raised his glass in a toast. "To new beginnings."
Elena lifted hers, forcing the clink of crystal. But inside, her stomach churned.
The meeting ended, and Laurent escorted her to the elevator. His hand lingered on hers just a moment too long. "Think carefully, Elena. With me, you'd have freedom. With Adrian… only chains."
She pulled her hand back smoothly. "Freedom isn't given. It's taken."
Back at the hotel suite, Elena collapsed onto the couch, the tension finally spilling out.
Adrian emerged from the shadows near the door, his expression unreadable. "You took risks tonight."
She shot him a look. "You wanted me to fail."
His jaw tightened. "I wanted you safe. Laurent isn't finished with you."
Her chest ached with frustration. "You don't get to decide that. I can handle him."
Adrian stepped closer, his voice low but fierce. "You think this is a game? He wants you. Not for business. For himself. Do you have any idea what kind of man he is?"
Her breath caught. "Then tell me. Stop speaking in riddles and tell me."
For a long moment, silence stretched between them. Then Adrian's eyes shifted, hard and cold.
"Laurent has destroyed women before. Partnerships that ended in scandal, in silence. He uses them, then buries them. Do you want to be next?"
Elena's throat tightened, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "No. Which is why I'll never let him think he owns me. Just like I'll never let you think the same."
The words struck deeper than she intended. Adrian's eyes darkened, not with anger—but something else she couldn't read.
He moved closer, too close. "Careful, Elena. You're playing with fire."
Her pulse raced, but she stood her ground. "So are you."
For a heartbeat, neither moved. The city lights from the window framed them, shadows and tension tangling in the air.
Then—Adrian stepped back abruptly, his composure snapping back into place. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we finish this."
He turned away, leaving Elena alone with her racing thoughts.
But as she lay awake later, staring at the ceiling, she realized something had shifted.
Adrian's warnings weren't just about control. For the first time, she saw a crack in his armor. A sliver of truth.
And it terrified her more than Laurent ever could.