The penthouse suite at the Four Seasons was a statement of power. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a dizzying view of the city, the afternoon light turning the glass tables and steel fixtures into shimmering reflections. The setting was luxurious, cold, and utterly private.
Jax Ryland stood by the window, hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored suit pants. He wasn't wearing Gucci today; he was dressed in the minimalist, expensive armor of a high-stakes executive. He felt the tension thrumming beneath his skin—a mix of tactical anticipation and the raw, electric memory of their first night.
He thought: This is not a date. This is an interrogation. I need to know her weakness, and I need to control this variable before she burns down my company.
He was ready. His Business Affairs and Legal Department Staff had prepped him extensively on the Phoenix Catalog rights. He was the CEO of Zenith Publishing for this negotiation, and he would be ruthless.
The door opened precisely at 3:00 PM. Aria Vance walked in, accompanied only by Elias Vance, who took a seat discreetly in the corner.
Aria looked different today. Her hair was down, and she wore a deep emerald dress that made her dark eyes startlingly bright. She was beautiful, but the beauty was hard-edged, like polished obsidian. Every line of her body, every measured step, screamed discipline.
Jax watched her cross the room, remembering the way she had moved out of the booth that night—pure, lethal competence. He offered a polite, professional smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Ms. Vance, Jax greeted her, his voice low and formal. Thank you for making time. We need to settle the ownership of the Phoenix Catalog before the Eclipse Tour launches. Delays are expensive.
Aria returned his gaze, offering a cool nod that acknowledged neither their past nor his status. Mr. Ryland. Vance Global is always efficient. Let's not waste time. We believe the language in the original acquisition contract clearly grants us majority rights to the licensing and publishing fees in perpetuity. We are prepared to litigate.
She sat down at the table, folding her hands neatly in front of her. She was direct, confident, and entirely professional. The woman from the nightclub, driven by raw passion, was nowhere to be seen.
She thought: He is testing me. He thinks I am just a hostile investor. I must keep the emotion locked down. Focus on the facts. The Phoenix Catalog is the key to locking him down.
Jax sat opposite her. Litigation is messy. It creates noise. You, Ms. Vance, seem to be someone who prefers control and quiet efficiency, much like your sudden, aggressive restructuring of the Thorne Company. He paused, letting the implication hang. I prefer to solve problems quickly. So, let's discuss what you really want from Zenith Records.
Aria met his intensity without flinching. I want what is owed to Vance Global. Nothing more. But I sense that you want more than a legal settlement, Mr. Ryland. You want information.
"I want stability," Jax corrected smoothly. You appeared one night, executed a hostile takeover the next day, and now you're legally tied to my company through music publishing rights. From where I stand, you are a calculated risk. And I don't manage risk; I eliminate it.
He thought: Watch her eyes. Look for the hesitation when I push on the personal. Why the orphanage? Why the sudden power?
"I assure you, I am not a risk," Aria stated, leaning back slightly, creating a tiny, subtle distance. I am an opportunity. Vance Global intends to revolutionize the industry. We are not interested in destroying art; we are interested in dominating the business behind it.
Jax opened the file in the Phoenix Catalog. They spent the next hour locked in a complex negotiation that was less about music rights and more about dominance. Aria's knowledge of contract law and financial valuation was extraordinary. She argued every clause with the precision of a lawyer and the cold ruthlessness of a seasoned general.
"Your counter-proposal is acceptable only if you concede the European licensing rights for the next five years," Aria concluded. "If not, the litigation proceeds, and we will crush your launch schedule."
Jax knew he had been beaten at that point. Her team had anticipated every legal maneuver. But he wasn't done with the interrogation.
"Fine. We consider the European licensing, Jax said, watching her closely. A simple business agreement. Yet, when we first met, you weren't talking about business. You were seeking oblivion. You moved like someone escaping a war zone.
The sudden shift in topic was jarring. Elias, across the room, shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Aria's expression didn't change, but her stillness intensified. She thought: Trap. Redirect. Use his ego against him. He wants the passionate fighter back.
"I was on vacation, Mr. Ryland," Aria replied, her voice drying, becoming almost bored. Everyone seeks oblivion sometimes. It was a one-night distraction from a deeply complicated professional life. Nothing more. Do you usually dwell on past mistakes, or do you focus on the next quarter's profits?
Jax ignored the question. He remembered her hands gripping his hair, the absolute ferocity in her kiss. I don't forget fire. And I don't forget the scars.
The word scars hit her like a physical blow, even though he meant emotional ones. Aria felt a brief, paralyzing flash of the faint, white lines on her stomach, the real, physical evidence of her past life that she always hid. She fought to keep her eyes steady.
"Scars are merely history," Aria dismissed, recovering instantly. Yours are visible on every platinum record. Mine are private. If you have no further business concerning the Phoenix Catalog, I believe this meeting has been adjourned.
Jax stood up, towering over the table. He leaned in, his voice dropping to the low, gravelly tenor that had destroyed her control that night. It is adjourned, Ms. Vance. But I want to introduce you to a part of my business that you'll be seeing a lot of: my social media presence.
He quickly pulled up a large screen in the suite, displaying the massive Aether Army trending data.
"You specialize in secrecy and control," Jax said, his voice challenging her. I specialize in global exposure and noise. You need quiet for your operations. I need the entire world watching. We have nine million fans. They will be watching every move Zenith Records makes. Every headline. Every legal battle. If you cause us trouble, they will notice.
He thought: This is the real threat. She can't operate in the spotlight. I am forcing her into the open.
Aria studied the screen. The sheer scale of the fan engagement was overwhelming. She thought: The spotlight is a lethal weapon against an operator. He knows my vulnerability, even if he doesn't know the truth. I must use his fame as my shield.
A faint, sharp smile curved her lips a completely different smile from the cold one she had shown Elias. It was a genuine challenge.
"That is interesting, Mr. Ryland," Aria conceded. You and your fans are a hurricane of chaos. And I, as the new shareholder, must ensure that chaos is profitable. Perhaps I need to understand your business better. You are preparing for the Eclipse Tour and launching the Gucci collaboration. I'm sure my expertise in global logistics and supply chain management could be useful.
She stood up, mirroring his dominance. I will not be ignored, Mr. Ryland. You wanted to negotiate my stability; I will negotiate my involvement. If you try to force me out, you will have a lawsuit, a hostile shareholder, and nine million angry fans focused on the drama. But if you work with me, I will ensure your Eclipse Tour is the most secure, profitable, and successful event in music history.
Aria had turned his threat into an irresistible offer. She was injecting herself directly into his life, using his massive public platform to hide her dark reality.
Jax stared at her, a muscle ticking in his jaw. She had countered his control move perfectly. She was smart, dangerous, and absolutely captivating. He saw the fire again—the soldier who craved a fight.
"You want a seat at the table," Jax stated, his voice now rough with frustration and attraction.
"No, Mr. Ryland," Aria corrected, her eyes locked onto his. I already own a table. I just need to decide where to place my chair. Expect a call from Elias tomorrow to coordinate my involvement with your tour managers and promoters.
She gave him a brief, curt nod, then walked toward the door.
"Aria," Jax called out, using her first name, a deliberate, unprofessional breach of the wall between them.
She paused, but didn't turn around.
You're wrong. You're not just history. You're unfinished business.
Aria walked out, leaving Jax alone in the sterile, powerful suite, consumed by the desire to unravel the soldier hidden beneath the suit.
Meanwhile, in a large, chaotic office building across town, Talia Hayes was in the middle of a screaming match with her Marketing Executive team.
"Our phone launch is supposed to be the biggest news this week!" Talia exclaimed, slamming her hand onto a table covered in strategy documents. "How are we being beaten by a five-second drum fill and a Gucci leather jacket?"
A young marketing intern pointed weakly at the trending screen. The Aether Army is viral, Ms. Hayes. They've launched a massive #AetherVsBigTech challenge. They literally consider us the enemy, and their fans are mobilizing to destroy our launch momentum just for fun.
Talia threw her hands up in exasperation. She loved the band, but this was professional sabotage.
"Okay, fine!" Talia snapped. We need to play their game. We need to counter-challenge them with something they can't ignore. Find the leader of this chaos! I need to talk to the person in charge of this ridiculous challenge!
Later that afternoon, Rhys Vance was at a photo studio for an unscheduled Gucci shoot. He was adjusting the collar of a high-end velvet jacket when his phone buzzed. It was a formal, yet aggressively competitive message from Talia Hayes, the marketing director he was supposed to meet at a networking event later that week.
Talia Hayes: Mr. Vance, I accept your band's absurd challenge. But I refuse to let nine million fanboys beat my entire company. Let's make a real competition. I'll see you at the industry reception tonight. Bring your best challenge, but leave the leather jackets at home.
Rhys grinned. The tension of the last 48 hours of the acquisition, the media blitz, had been exhausting. This was fun. This was the playful chaos that defined his life.
He thought: This is better than a boring industry reception. Talia Hayes is feisty, and she's not intimidated by the Army. I like that.
He immediately texted back a flirtatious, confident reply, setting the stage for their immediate, chaotic, and very public collision.