Aurora woke up to the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs below Xavier's estate. For a moment, she forgot where she was, but the opulent silk sheets and the minimalist, high-tech decor quickly reminded her. She was no longer a prisoner of the state, but she was now a guest—or perhaps a prize—of Xavier Black.
She dressed in a sharp, ivory power suit, determined to maintain her professional edge. When she descended to the dining hall, Xavier was already there, reading a digital newspaper. He looked effortlessly powerful in a casual black sweater, a contrast to her formal attire.
"You're late, Aurora," Xavier said without looking up. "In my world, a minute is worth a billion."
"I don't work for you yet, Xavier," Aurora countered, sitting across from him. "And I don't follow your schedule."
Xavier finally looked up, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips. "Fair enough. But today, we start our first project. There is a man named Silas Vane. He was one of Richard's secret partners. He's holding onto a piece of hardware that belongs to Phoenix Holdings, and he refuses to let go."
Aurora's eyes sharpened. Silas Vane was a notorious underworld financier. "Silas is dangerous. Richard always feared him."
"Which is why you are going to handle him," Xavier said, leaning forward. "He's hosting a high-stakes poker game tonight at his private casino. You will go there as my representative. Retrieve the hardware, and I'll consider ten million of your debt cleared."
Aurora felt a rush of adrenaline. This was the game she loved. "And if I fail?"
Xavier's gaze turned dark and intense. "You don't fail, Aurora. Not when my name is attached to yours. My men will be outside, but inside that room, you are on your own. Show Silas why you are the woman who took down Vance Industries."