CHAPTER THREE: THE BOARDROOM HOSTAGE
Dominic didn't move. Not for ten seconds.
Aria counted every one.
When he finally spoke his voice was very controlled. It felt almost dangerous.
"You were pregnant " he said.
"Yes " Aria replied.
"When you left that morning " Dominic added.
"I didn't know yet " she said.
"But you found out " he pressed on.
"Six weeks later " Aria confirmed.
". You didn't think I had a right to know?" Dominics voice was low.
"I didn't know your name " she explained.
His jaw tightened. "You could have found me."
"How?" Aria kept her voice steady. "I didn't have your number. Your name. Anything. You were a stranger in a bar who offered me one night and nothing else."
"So you decided I wouldn't get anything?" Dominic asked.
"I decided I wasn't going to show up on a strangers doorstep and beg " Aria said.
"That's not what—" Dominic started to say. He stopped. Ran a hand through his hair. Turned away from her. "Jesus Christ, Aria."
"Don't " she said.
"Don't what?" Dominic turned back to her.
"Don't act like I owed you something " Aria said. "We had an agreement."
Dominic spun back toward her. "An agreement that didn't include a child."
"No. It didn't " Aria agreed. ". I made it work anyway."
"" Dominic said.
"Yes " Aria replied.
"For five years " he added.
"Yes " she confirmed.
"While I—" Dominic stopped again. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Do you have any idea what I would have—"
"What?" Aria took a step toward him. "What would you have done, Dominic? Would you have married me? Supported me? Built a life with a woman you spent one night with because she was easy and broken?"
"You weren't easy " Dominic said.
"Then what was I?" Aria asked.
The question hung between them.
He didn't answer.
"That's what I thought " Aria said quietly.
"You don't know what you were " Dominic said.
"Then tell me " Aria pressed.
"You were—" His voice dropped. "Unforgettable."
The word hit her harder than she wanted to admit.
"Dominic—"
"I looked for you " he said. "For months. I had investigators, private security every resource I own searching for the woman who walked out of my hotel room like she'd never existed. Do you know how bars I went back to? How security feeds I reviewed? You were a ghost."
"I had to be " Aria said.
"Why?" Dominic asked.
"Because Julian destroyed me " Aria said. The words came out sharper than she intended. "Because that night—the night I met you—was the night my entire life collapsed. My marriage. My career. My name. Everything. I had nothing. I *was* nothing.. Then I found out I was pregnant. I realized I had two choices: disappear and build something new or stay and let them finish the job."
"So you chose me as your exit strategy?" Dominic asked.
"No " Aria said. "I chose survival. You were—" She hesitated. "You were the real thing that happened to me that night."
He stared at her. ". You still left."
"Yes " Aria said.
"Because you didn't trust me " Dominic said.
"Because I didn't know you " Aria replied.
"You know me now " Dominic said.
"Do I?" Aria asked.
He closed the distance between them in two steps. She didn't back away. Couldn't. He was too close the air between them charged with five years of silence and want and the ghost of a night neither of them had forgotten.
"I have a son " he said quietly.
"Yes " Aria confirmed.
"And you kept him from me " Dominic said.
"Yes " she replied.
"Why?" Dominic asked.
"Because I was protecting him " Aria said.
"From me?" Dominic asked.
"From the world " Aria said. Her voice cracked. Just slightly. "From men who would see him as leverage or inconvenience or obligation. From a life where hes a secret or a scandal or a—"
"He's not a secret " Dominic said. "Not anymore."
"Dominic—"
"I want to know him " he said.
"It's not that simple " Aria said.
"Yes. It is " Dominic said.
"You can't " Aria started to say.
"I can " Dominic said. His thumb brushed her jaw. The touch was so light it almost wasn't there. It sent electricity down her spine. "I own half this city, Aria. I can do whatever I want.. I'm asking. I'm asking you to let me know my son."
She couldn't breathe. ". If I say no?"
His eyes darkened. "Then I'll make it very difficult for you to keep saying no."
"That sounds like a threat " Aria said.
"It's a promise " Dominic replied.
"You don't have any legal—"
"I have DNA " Dominic said. "I have resources. I have lawyers who could tie you up in court for years." He leaned closer his voice dropping to something that was a whisper. ". I don't want to do that. I don't want to fight you Aria. I want—"
"What?" Aria asked.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. "Everything I should have asked for five years ago."
Her heart was pounding. "This isn't about us."
"Isn't it?" Dominic asked.
"This is about Luca " Aria said.
"It's all of it " Dominic said. His hand slid to the back of her neck fingers tangling in her hair. "You. Me. Him. The fact that you walked out of my life and took the thing thats ever—"
He stopped.
"Ever what?" Aria whispered.
"Mattered " Dominic said.
The word broke something between them.
Aria knew she should step back. Should put distance between them. Should remember that this man was dangerous and powerful and currently holding a company she wanted to destroy hostage with his leverage.
She didn't move.
"We can't do this " Aria said.
"Why not?" Dominic asked.
"Because it's complicated " Aria said.
"I don't care " Dominic said.
"Because theres much—"
"I don't care " Dominic said. His other hand came to her waist pulling her against him. "I spent five years trying to forget you. It didn't work."
"Dominic—"
"Tell me you didn't think about that night " Dominic said.
She couldn't.
"Tell me you didn't wonder what would have happened if you'd stayed " Dominic pressed.
"It doesn't matter—"
"It's the thing that matters " Dominic said.
He kissed her.
It wasn't gentle. It wasn't tentative. It was five years of want and fury and the sharp edge of something that had never been resolved. She kissed him back—harder than she should have deeper than was safe—her hands fisting in his shirt like she was trying to hold onto something that was already slipping away.
The intercom buzzed.
They broke apart.
Rachels voice was tight. "Ms. Morriston I'm sorry to interrupt. Theres a situation."
Aria stepped back her breathing uneven. "What kind of situation?"
"Security just flagged activity on our network " Rachel said. "Someones trying to access your files."
"Who?" Aria asked.
"Unknown " Rachel replied. ". They're using legacy Ashcroft credentials."
Arias blood went cold. "Lock everything down. Now."
" in progress " Rachel said. ". There's something else."
"What?" Aria asked.
"You have a gala tonight " Rachel said. "The Orynthia Fashion Council awards. You're receiving the Visionary of the Year honor. You confirmed three weeks ago."
Aria had forgotten. Completely forgotten.
"Cancel it " she said.
"I can't " Rachel replied. "The press announcement already went out. If you don't show the speculation will—"
"I don't care about speculation " Aria said.
Dominics hand closed around her wrist. "Don't cancel."
She looked at him. "What?"
"You're going to that gala " Dominic said. ". I'm going with you."
"That's not—"
"It's perfect " Dominic said. His grip tightened slightly. "Julian will be there. Elena will be there. Every person who buried you five years ago will be there.. You're going to walk in on my arm and show them exactly who you've become."
"This isn't, about revenge—"
"Yes it is " Dominic said. His eyes were hard. ". I'm going to help you get it."
The limousine was too small.
Maybe it was just that Dominic took up too much space—sitting across from her in a tuxedo that made him look like controlled violence wrapped in expensive fabric.
Aria adjusted her dress for the third time. The black silk looked simple. It was really stunning. It was the kind of dress that didn't need decorations because the woman wearing it was already a statement.
"Stop fidgeting " Dominic said.
"I'm not fidgeting " Aria replied.
"You've touched that necklace four times in the minute " Dominic pointed out.
"I'm making sure it's secure " Aria said.
"The clasp is fine " Dominic said.
Aria dropped her hand. Looked out the window at the city going by.
"They're going to recognize you " she said quietly.
"I'm counting on it " Dominic said.
"Julian will know somethings wrong " Aria said.
"Good " Dominic replied.
"This is an idea " Aria said.
"This is the idea " Dominic said. He leaned forward. "Aria look at me."
She did.
"You built a business in secret for five years. Tonight you're going public.. When you do I want everyone to know you're not alone. That you're protected. That anyone who tries to hurt you will have to go through me."
"Why?" Aria asked.
"Because you're the mother of my son " Dominic said.
"Is that the reason?" Aria asked.
His jaw got tight. "No."
" what—"
The limousine stopped.
Outside the gala entrance was lit up like a stage. There was a carpet, cameras and a crowd of reporters.
Dominics head of security appeared at the window. Tapped twice.
"We're clear " Dominic said. He looked at Aria. "Ready?"
"No " Aria said.
"Good. Neither am I " Dominic said.
The door opened.
Dominic stepped out first. Turned to offer his hand. Aria took it.
The cameras started going crazy.
Aria hadn't been photographed in five years. She hadn't walked a carpet. She had been a ghost.
Now she was here with Dominic Voss, the powerful man in finance. He was on her arm.
The reporters started firing questions.
* "Ms. Morriston, are you the CEO of Morriston Tech?" *
* "Dominic are you in a relationship?" *
* "Aria, what happened five years ago?" *
* "Is this a business or personal partnership?" *
Dominics hand tightened on hers. He leaned close. Whispered, "Smile. Don't let them see you scared."
She smiled.
They kept walking.
Halfway down the carpet Aria saw Julian and Elena. They were standing near the entrance frozen.
Julians face went white.
Elenas mouth opened in a silent "oh".
Aria kept walking. She kept smiling. She kept her hand in Dominics.
They were at the entrance when Dominics earpiece buzzed.
His expression changed instantly.
He pulled her to the side into the shadow of a column. His body shielded hers.
"What—"
"Don't move " Dominic said.
His head of security appeared, talking rapidly on the phone in a language Aria didn't understand.
"Sir we need to move " he said.
"Whats happening?" Aria demanded.
Dominic looked at her. His face was hard. "There's a sniper on the roof."
Her blood ran cold. "What?"
"Someone spotted a gun. It has a signature. The sniper has a shot, at the entrance " Dominic said.
"Who—"
"I don't know. But we're leaving " Dominic said.
Aria stared at him. "Why would anyone—"
His phone buzzed. He looked at the screen.
His expression went cold.
"What?" Aria whispered.
He turned the phone toward her.
One message. From a number.
**Shes not supposed to survive tonight. Neither are you.**