Chapter 17: The Return to Fire
Auri stepped out of Dante's car with her heartbeat still thundering in her ears. The taste of his forceful kiss lingered on her lips—a reminder she hated herself for craving even in the slightest. Her palms were trembling, her breath uneven, and her mind was a chaotic mess of anger, confusion, and something darker.
She steadied herself on the pavement, refusing to look back at the man still sitting in the black luxury car, his gaze burning into her as she walked away. She lifted her chin, adjusted the strap of her bag, and marched toward the entrance of Sterling Enterprises with every ounce of dignity she could gather.
From the outside she looked composed.
Inside?
She was a wildfire.
As soon as she pushed open the glass doors, the atmosphere shifted.
Heads turned.
Conversations halted.
Employees paused mid-step, mid-sentence, mid-breath.
Every pair of eyes seemed to lock on her like she was the main attraction of a scandalous show.
And she knew exactly why.
She had left during lunch with two CEOs nearly fighting over her. Then had been dragged out by one of them—Dante Moretti, the billionaire who walked with storms behind his shoulders—and now she was alone, returning with her hair slightly tousled, her lips a little swollen, and her expression tightly guarded.
The look on her colleagues' faces was a mix of shock, curiosity, envy, and nosy excitement.
Fantastic.
Just what she needed.
Auri kept walking, ignoring the whispering that followed her through the hall.
"Isn't that the girl both CEOs were—"
"I swear I saw Mr. Moretti grab her—"
"Is she dating them? Both of them?"
"Lucky bitch—"
"No, risky bitch—"
"She looked pissed… or kissed… I can't tell—"
Auri's jaw tightened. She wanted to sink into the floor.
Or set the whole building on fire. Either option was fine.
She reached her desk and sat down quietly, pretending nothing had happened.
Adrian arrives
The moment she turned on her computer, Adrian stepped out of his office like he had been pacing in circles waiting for her return.
He looked… furious.
Not his usual composed, charming fury.
But a cold, protective, territorial anger that sent chills through the air.
"Aurienne," he said, voice sharp and low.
She froze.
He only used her full name when he was either extremely impressed with her work… or extremely pissed.
She looked up slowly. "Yes, sir?"
"Inside. Now."
For the first time since she met him, Auri hesitated. She followed him quietly into his glass-walled office, and he closed the blinds with a quick, angry swipe.
Then he turned to her.
"What the hell happened?"
Auri flinched. "Adrian, I don't—"
"He DRAGGED you." Adrian's voice cracked with fury. "In front of everyone. Without your permission. What was that? What did he think he was doing?"
Auri swallowed. "It wasn't—"
"It was," Adrian snapped. "I saw you, Auri. You looked scared."
He stepped closer, not touching her, but close enough to feel the tension between them.
"Are you okay?"
The question softened him—just a little. Enough to break something inside her chest.
"I'm fine," she whispered.
Adrian's jaw tightened. "You shouldn't have been put in that position. Not by him. Not by anyone."
Auri looked away. "It's… complicated."
"Complicated?" Adrian laughed humorlessly. "It looked nothing like complicated. It looked like possession."
Auri tensed, immediately bristling. "I'm not an object to be possessed."
He inhaled slowly, nostrils flaring. "You're my secretary," he said quietly, but firmly. "And I own you in that regard."
Auri's head snapped up.
"What?"
"In the workplace," Adrian added sharply. "You represent me. You're under my protection. Under my name. What he did crossed a line—MY line."
She folded her arms. "Nobody owns me, Adrian. Not you. Not Dante."
He froze at that, staring at her with a kind of realization—like he'd said more than he meant to.
But then, something shifted in his eyes.
A softness.
A glaze.
A confession.
"I know," he murmured. "Believe me, Auri, I know. But I can't just watch another man put his hands on you."
Auri's heart stuttered.
"Why?" she asked quietly.
Adrian didn't answer immediately. He exhaled long and slow, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Because I care about you," he finally said, voice thick with something almost vulnerable. "Probably far more than I should."
Auri's breath caught.
This—THIS—was not what she needed.
Not from her boss.
Not today.
Not when Dante's kiss was still burning on her lips.
Not when the world felt like it was spinning out of control.
"Adrian…" she whispered.
He stepped closer again. "Don't brush it off. Don't pretend you didn't feel it. I'm not blind, Auri. I know you feel something too."
She stepped back that time.
"No," she said firmly. "You're my boss. I can't… I won't cross that line."
Adrian's jaw clenched. "You crossed that line with him."
The words hit her like a slap.
Sharp.
Unfair.
And completely off-limits.
"That's different," she hissed.
"How?" he demanded.
"Because he's engaged, Adrian!" Auri snapped. "Because I shouldn't have anything to do with him! Because I shouldn't feel anything for him! And because you—" her voice trembled "—you're my boss. So I can't take anything you say seriously."
Silence fell between them.
Heavy.
Hurtful.
Unspoken.
Adrian swallowed, looking torn between anger and disappointment. "So you're going to avoid both of us now?"
Auri nodded.
"Yes," she whispered. "I have to."
Adrian exhaled slowly. "Then go back to your desk. Before I say something I shouldn't."
She didn't need to be told twice. She slipped out of the office, closing the door behind her.
Back to the battlefield
Every pair of eyes was still locked on her as she returned to her desk—this time with new looks:
Some were sympathetic.
Some jealous.
Some thrilled.
Some judgmental.
And some were simply hungry for gossip.
Auri sat down, cheeks burning, and placed her hands on her keyboard to pretend she was working even though she couldn't see the screen clearly.
She inhaled.
Then exhaled.
Then whispered to herself:
"No more Dante. No more Adrian. No more complications."
But deep inside…
She knew the story wasn't done.
Not even close.
Because she could still feel Dante's kiss on her lips.
And Adrian's confession in her ears.
And her own heart refusing to choose—refusing to settle—refusing to be tamed.