Julian Thorne had built his empire on one rule — control everything, trust no one.
For years, that rule had never failed him.Until now.
Something about Elara was… different.Her eyes no longer carried that quiet ache when he spoke. Her tone, once soft and yielding, now struck with precision. Even her silences had become sharp — too sharp.
He noticed it in the way she handled the last board presentation.She anticipated his every question. Redirected every objection.And when the directors praised her for her composure, she smiled — that same calm, poised smile that used to belong only to his wife.
Except now, it didn't belong to him anymore.
That evening, he called her into his office. The city glowed behind him, a kingdom he'd conquered with bare hands.
"Close the door," he said.
Elara did — quietly, without fear. "You wanted to see me?"
Julian studied her, his jaw tense. "You've been… efficient lately."
"That sounds dangerously close to a compliment," she replied lightly.
He didn't smile. "I'm not sure yet."
Silence stretched between them — the kind thick enough to cut.
Julian leaned back in his chair, watching her every movement. "You've always been loyal, Elara. Even when you left, I knew you weren't the type to bite the hand that fed you."
Her gaze lifted, steady and cold. "You mistake survival for loyalty."
The air froze.
Julian tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Careful, darling. I've seen what happens to people who forget who they're dealing with."
Elara's voice didn't waver. "So have I."
He laughed quietly — but it didn't reach his eyes.When she turned to leave, his voice followed her like a blade:
"Tell me, Elara… if you were planning something — would I know?"
She stopped at the door, her hand on the handle.Then she looked back, her smile soft, almost pitying.
"No, Julian," she said. "That's exactly why it would work."
After she left, Julian sat motionless, the echo of her words sinking into the silence. For the first time in years, uncertainty slid beneath his skin.
He opened his laptop and typed a quick message to his assistant:
Julian: "Find out who Elara's been meeting with outside company hours."
If she thought she could outplay him, she was wrong.
At least… that's what he kept telling himself.