Chapter 15: Collision of Worlds
The morning was bright, the sun spilling over the city skyline, as Auri walked into Sterling Enterprises with her usual efficiency. Her heels clicked confidently against the marble floor as she checked her schedule for the day.
"Adrian has a meeting with the first top company in the world today," she reminded herself, scanning the documents Adrian had shared for the week. She was excited to assist with such a prestigious meeting, unaware that this particular venture would change everything.
Adrian entered the office moments later, checking his phone. "Auri, can you make sure all the reports and projections are ready for the meeting? I want everything flawless."
"Of course, Adrian," Auri replied with her calm professionalism, neatly arranging the folders and double-checking the data.
The ride to the client's office was smooth, yet Auri couldn't shake the strange flutter in her stomach. Meetings like these were high-stakes, but there was something about the day—something she couldn't pinpoint.
As they approached the sleek glass skyscraper of the top company, Auri followed Adrian inside, carrying the essential documents. The lobby gleamed with minimalistic elegance, and Auri felt the familiar thrill of walking into a room filled with power, influence, and ambition.
They were escorted to a boardroom with a panoramic view of the city. Adrian checked his watch, a confident smile on his face. "They should be here any minute," he said.
Auri nodded, arranging the folders on the table neatly. Her heart quickened slightly, though she tried to focus on professionalism.
Then the door opened.
Dante Moretti stepped into the room, calm, commanding, and impossibly magnetic. He was dressed in a tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and the dangerous confidence in his posture. His eyes immediately locked on Auri.
Her body froze. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound escaped. Dante's gaze was sharp, almost furious, as if he were silently scolding her for some invisible crime. Her pulse raced, the air suddenly thick with tension.
Adrian, oblivious to the underlying history, greeted him warmly. "Mr. Moretti, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Adrian Sterling."
Dante's lips curved into a small, knowing smirk. "Mr. Sterling. The pleasure is mine." His eyes lingered on Auri for a heartbeat longer, unspoken messages flashing in the glance: surprise, longing, and a flicker of mischief.
Auri's hands trembled slightly as she placed the documents on the table, trying to compose herself. Stay professional. Don't react. Don't even think about him.
The meeting began formally. Numbers, projections, and strategic plans were discussed. Adrian presented eloquently, highlighting his company's strengths. Dante responded with sharp insight, offering counterpoints with precision. Yet, despite the business formality, every few moments, their attention wandered—or rather, returned—to Auri.
Dante's eyes would flicker to her, catching her glancing back briefly, and both would hide a smirk or subtle reaction. She caught him leaning slightly forward during discussions, a faint sparkle of amusement in his gaze. Adrian, meanwhile, was completely unaware of the silent tension threading through the room.
At one point, Dante interjected, his voice calm but authoritative. "Your projections are impressive, Mr. Sterling, but there are potential weaknesses here…" His gaze shifted slightly, catching Auri off guard as if he was daring her to comment, teasing without words.
Auri's mind raced, heart fluttering. Flirtation in the middle of a boardroom? Is this normal for billionaires?
Adrian responded, confident as always, while Auri subtly observed the silent interplay. Dante's glances were playful yet dangerous, a mixture of challenge and desire. She felt the heat in her cheeks, forcing herself to focus on the reports in front of her, though her mind was flooded with memories of their previous encounters.
Auri noticed small, almost imperceptible movements from Dante. The way he leaned slightly back in his chair, the small tilt of his head as he studied her, the faint smirk that appeared when she met his gaze accidentally. Each moment was like a spark, igniting something she struggled to control.
This is maddening, she thought, trying to concentrate. Yet she found herself smiling faintly at one of his glances, almost daring him to notice. And he did.
Minutes stretched, the air thick with unspoken tension. Adrian discussed logistics and potential collaborations, but Auri felt like a silent player in a game Dante was expertly orchestrating without saying a word. At one point, she caught him subtly raising an eyebrow as if to say, Remember me? Still untamed.
Auri's pulse quickened. She fought to remain composed, jotting down notes and adjusting projections, but every glance from Dante was a mixture of challenge, flirtation, and warning.
Finally, the meeting drew to a close. Adrian concluded his presentation confidently, unaware of the undercurrent simmering between the two other parties. Dante leaned back, folding his hands, and spoke in his deep, measured tone.
"Mr. Sterling, your proposal is promising. I look forward to exploring this further."
Adrian nodded, shaking Dante's hand firmly. "Likewise. Thank you for your time."
Then Dante turned, briefly making eye contact with Auri. For a moment, the room seemed smaller, quieter. His smirk was subtle but unmistakable—a silent acknowledgment that he remembered everything, that he knew exactly how she felt without a word spoken.
Auri's stomach fluttered, but she maintained her professional composure, offering a polite nod. Untamed, yes… but controlled.
Once the meeting concluded, Adrian and Auri returned to Sterling Enterprises. The drive back was filled with casual conversation, but Auri's mind replayed the glances, the playful smirk, and the tension that had crackled throughout the boardroom.
How can someone make me feel flustered and untamed just by looking at me? she wondered, both frustrated and secretly exhilarated.
She tried to focus on Adrian, exchanging casual remarks about the documents, the meeting, and the follow-ups. But in the back of her mind, Dante's presence lingered—a dangerous, magnetic pull she couldn't ignore.
That evening, Auri sat at her desk, reviewing the notes from the meeting. Her pulse still raced from the lingering tension, and a faint smile played on her lips. The boardroom collision with Dante had been unexpected, intense, and—admittedly—thrilling.
Vacation? Forgotten. Freedom? Challenged. Untamed? Definitely.
Auri leaned back in her chair, fingers tapping lightly against the folder, imagining the smirk he had given her—the playful, flirty, teasing look that promised trouble, desire, and a game she didn't know she wanted to play.
Tomorrow, she thought, I'll be professional. Controlled. But I know… he's already watching me.