The door to Arthur's office closed with a heavy thud, leaving the rest of the world outside. Melissa stood by his mahogany desk, her confidence beginning to fray at the edges like a worn silk ribbon.
"Arthur, darling, I was just trying to point out—"
"Get out," Arthur interrupted, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. He didn't even look at her; he was staring at the hand-drawn sketches Alicia had left on the whiteboard through the glass wall.
"What?" Melissa gasped.
"You heard me. You tried to sabotage a company project to satisfy a petty grudge. If you weren't the daughter of a shareholder, I would have you escorted out by security. As of now, you are off the Everglow project. If you even breathe in Alicia's direction again, I will make sure your family's shares are liquidated before the market closes."
Melissa turned pale, her eyes filled with a mixture of rage and fear. She opened her mouth to argue, but the look in Arthur's eyes silenced her. She stormed out, the click of her heels sounding like a retreat.
Alicia was in the breakroom, her hands shaking as she tried to pour a glass of water. The adrenaline was fading, leaving her exhausted.
"You were brilliant today."
She turned to see Arthur leaning against the doorframe. The harsh CEO light was gone; he looked at her with a raw, unfiltered admiration.
"I was terrified," Alicia admitted, a small laugh escaping her lips. "I thought I was going to lose everything."
Arthur walked toward her, stopping just inches away. He reached out, his thumb gently brushing a smudge of dry-erase marker from her cheek. The touch was light, but it sent a surge of warmth through her. "I wouldn't let that happen. Not to you."
He took a deep breath, as if making a monumental decision. "My parents want to meet you officially. Not in an archive room, but at dinner. Tonight. I know it's sudden, and I know you have Léo to think about, but... I've arranged for a private nurse to stay with him. I want you there, Alicia. By my side."
Alicia looked into his gray eyes, seeing the man behind the glass tower. She saw his fragments, his scars, and the hope he was trying so hard to hide.
"I'll go," she whispered. "But only if you promise one thing."
"Anything," Arthur replied instantly.
"Promise me that no matter what Melissa or anyone else says... we're building something real here."
Arthur took her hand, his fingers interlacing with hers, mirroring the dream she had of the beach. "I promise, Alicia. This isn't a blueprint. It's a foundation."