Two Days After the Gala
Selene stood barefoot on the cold marble floor of her penthouse terrace. A sleepless hush clung to the city below, the skyline painted in strokes of midnight gold and rain-washed silver. Her reflection shimmered in the glass behind her—flawless, poised, untouchable.
And yet, inside, she was fraying.
The audio leak had been expected. Controlled even. She'd planted worse rumors to divert media attention before. But the text message—the one that said, "You buried your heart with him, didn't you?"—unsettled her in a way she hadn't felt in years.
Someone knew about her father.
Someone was watching.
She turned away from the city lights and back into her darkened penthouse, each step echoing like a gavel on courtroom marble.
Time to take back control.
At the Firm – Valen & Co. Headquarters
The morning sun was defiant, warm where it shouldn't be. Selene arrived at the office alone—no assistant, no security detail, not even a driver. Just her heels, a white power suit that made her look carved from bone, and the silence of a woman done pretending to be polite.
Her arrival drew stares.
Marcus followed her into the executive boardroom, slamming the door shut behind him. "You're making everyone nervous."
"Good," she said, placing her tablet on the table. "They've gotten comfortable."
He folded his arms. "Camille's PR campaign is working. Half the board thinks you're emotionally unstable."
"I am," she said flatly. "But I'm also smarter than all of them combined."
He tilted his head, intrigued. "You have a plan?"
"I have leverage. And when I'm done, no one will remember Camille's name without spitting."
Marcus whistled low. "I forgot how dangerous you get when you're cornered."
"I'm not cornered," she said, her voice glacial. "I'm circling."
Julian's Apartment — Afternoon
Julian hadn't shaved in two days. His apartment smelled of old coffee and regret. He'd read Selene's text over a dozen times since the night before. Do you ever wonder what we could've been if we hadn't been so afraid?
It hurt more than he expected. Because he had wondered. Every day since she left him on that rainy rooftop six years ago, dressed in white and armed with silence.
He poured himself another coffee and paused mid-pour.
There was a knock at the door.
When he opened it, Selene stood there, black sunglasses hiding half her face, her hair pulled back into a tight bun.
No words.
Just the hum of unresolved history between them.
She finally spoke. "You said you still think about it."
"I do."
"Then prove it," she said, stepping inside without waiting for permission.
Their Confrontation
Julian followed her into the living room. "Why now?"
"Because someone's using our past to ruin my future."
"Camille?"
She shook her head. "Too obvious."
He narrowed his eyes. "You think it's someone else?"
She sat on the arm of his couch, posture perfect. "I think I've been too focused on the wrong enemies."
"And what do you want from me?"
"I want the truth," she said, eyes meeting his. "Why did you let me go?"
That stunned him.
He sat across from her. "You made it clear there was no room in your life for distractions."
"You weren't a distraction," she whispered. "You were the only real thing I ever had."
They sat in silence, the weight of unspoken forgiveness between them.
"I never stopped loving you," Julian finally said.
Selene's eyes shimmered, but she blinked it away. "Then help me fix this. Together."
He nodded once. "Whatever it takes."
Camille's Press Conference
Across the city, Camille stood before a sea of reporters.
She wore red—of course.
"Ms. Devereux," a reporter asked, "what do you make of the rumors that your rival CEO is mentally unfit to continue her leadership at Valen & Co.?"
Camille smiled like a cobra before a strike. "I don't deal in rumors. I deal in results. And I intend to take this company into the future—with transparency and trust."
More cameras flashed.
"And what about the accusation that you leaked confidential information about Ms. Valen's family?"
Camille's expression didn't falter. "Ms. Valen is a brilliant woman. I have nothing but respect for her. But brilliance doesn't always mean stability."
Evelyn and Vincent — Shadow Deal
Later that night, in a dim rooftop bar, Evelyn met Vincent again.
She slid a folder across the table. "These are Camille's offshore accounts. And evidence that she paid off two journalists."
Vincent raised an eyebrow. "Why are you giving me this?"
"Because I want Selene shaken—not destroyed."
He leaned back. "You really think Selene's going to thank you for this?"
"She won't," Evelyn said. "But she'll survive. And when she rises again, I'll be right there. Beside her. As I always have."
Vincent gave a slow, mocking nod. "You're colder than she is."
"And smarter," Evelyn replied. "That's why I'll win."
Flashback: Selene and Her Father
Alone in her study, Selene opened a box she hadn't touched in years.
Inside: an old pocket watch, a hand-written letter, and a single black-and-white photo—her father, smiling at her graduation.
The letter was brief:
Selene,You were always meant to lead. But don't let power be your only language. Learn how to love, too. Even if it terrifies you.– Dad
She held the watch against her chest and closed her eyes.
Tears slipped free.
Only this time, she didn't stop them.
Final Scene — Camille's Trap
Back in her penthouse, Camille received a single envelope.
No name. No seal.
Inside: a photo of her and Vincent—together. Laughing. Holding hands. And a note:
"Careful, darling. The higher the heels, the harder the fall."
Her heart stopped.
Someone had turned the game on her.