The door closed behind them with a firm click.
The sound was small, controlled, final.
Aurelia stood just inside the threshold of the executive suite that was to serve as her temporary office, one hand still near the handle like she might change her mind and walk straight back out. The hum of voices from the corridor faded. Footsteps moved away. The building adjusted.
This was not her father's office.
She had refused it.
The space had been prepared overnight. Clean lines. Neutral walls. A long desk that had never held anyone's nameplate. A seating area by the window instead of a power chair behind glass. No portraits. No history pressing in from every corner.
Spencer Corporation had given her a room that did not belong to anyone yet.
Dominic Blackwood stood a few feet away, near the window, his back half turned toward her. The city stretched behind him, sharp and distant, the skyline cut into pieces by the glass.
He did not rush to fill the silence. Aurelia hated how calm he looked. Not relaxed exactly, but contained, like nothing in the room could knock him off balance. It was irritating, and worse, distracting in a way she refused to examine.
She turned fully toward him, keeping her expression steady.
"You wanted a moment," she said. "You have it."
Dominic glanced at her, then back at the city. "Yes."
Aurelia waited.
He let the pause stretch, like he was testing how long she could stand without speaking. She did not give him the satisfaction.
After a beat, he reached into his jacket and placed his phone face down on the desk. Then he lifted his gaze to the ceiling corner.
Aurelia followed it.
A small camera sat there. Unobtrusive. Watching.
Dominic spoke calmly. "This room records video. Not audio."
Aurelia's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
She crossed her arms. "You seem very confident about what this building does and does not hear."
Dominic's mouth moved like he almost smiled. He did not. "You should learn it quickly."
Aurelia took two steps forward, stopping near the desk but not sitting.
"You asked me here," she said. "Talk."
Dominic turned away from the window and leaned lightly against the edge of the desk, leaving space between them. Not crowding her. Not retreating either.
"You handled the board," he said.
Aurelia did not blink. "That is not why I am here."
Dominic nodded once. "No."
She felt her jaw tighten. "Stop saying no like it closes the conversation."
"All right," he said evenly.
She waited again.
Dominic's gaze moved briefly around the room, like he was clocking exits, corners, angles. Then it settled back on her.
"You think today was the test," he said.
Aurelia answered without hesitation. "Today was the opening round."
His eyes sharpened slightly. "Good."
She did not like that response. "You sound pleased."
"I sound relieved," Dominic said. "There is a difference."
Aurelia leaned her hands on the desk, palms flat. "Then stop circling and say what you came to say."
Dominic straightened. "You are not the board's biggest concern."
Aurelia's lips pressed together. "They spent two hours trying to make me flinch."
"Yes," Dominic said. "Because flinching is visible. The real problem is quieter."
Aurelia exhaled slowly. "You talk like you are warning me."
"I am."
"About what?"
He did not answer immediately.
Her voice sharpened. "Do not pull me into a private room and then go silent."
Dominic met her gaze. "You do not like waiting."
"I do not like being managed," Aurelia said.
"No one does."
She pulled the chair back and sat, not because he had claimed the space, but because she had. She crossed one leg over the other and looked up at him.
"Talk," she said again.
Dominic watched her closely. Not the tension. Not the anger. The control beneath it. The way she held the room without reaching for comfort or approval. That part mattered.
"You have been away," he said.
"I am aware."
"You came back fast."
"For my father."
"And now the company is yours."
Aurelia's eyes hardened. "You're saying that like it won't stay that way."
His gaze held. "Not today."
Her stomach tightened. "That is not reassuring."
"It is not meant to be."
She leaned forward. "Then say what you mean."
He did not raise his voice. "Your father built protections you have not seen yet."
Aurelia felt her spine stiffen. "You are talking about the will."
"I am talking about what comes after it."
"If there is something hidden, my lawyer will find it."
"Your lawyer works for the estate," Dominic said.
"He works for my family."
"He works for the estate's interests," Dominic said. "Not yours."
The words landed harder than she expected.
She did not argue. She waited.
"You think this ends with you sitting in that chair and answering questions," Dominic continued.
"It does not," Aurelia said quietly.
"No."
Her eyes narrowed. "You agree with me too much."
"I agree with reality," he replied.
"Then be clear."
"All right," Dominic said. "Clear."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Someone is going to try to take this company."
Aurelia did not react. "That is always true."
"Soon."
Her fingers pressed into the armrest. "Define soon."
"Days. Possibly less."
Her throat tightened. "How do you know?"
"Because I can see it."
"That is not an answer."
"It is the only one you get without paying for it."
She stared at him. "So this is business."
"Yes."
"Then say the names."
"Not in this room."
Aurelia leaned in. "You just told me this room does not record audio."
"And walls carry sound," Dominic said evenly. "Names travel."
She sat back, jaw tight. "You are enjoying this."
"No," he said. "I am watching you."
"Why?"
"Because you are going to pretend you are not scared."
"I am not scared."
He did not argue.
She broke eye contact first and stood, walking toward the window. The city looked unreal from this height. Small. Controlled. Clean.
"What do you want from me?" she asked without turning.
"I want you to read."
She turned slowly. "Read what?"
Dominic reached into his jacket and pulled out a thin folder.
Aurelia's eyes locked on it.
He placed it on the desk, gently.
She did not touch it.
"What is that?"
"Your father's final contract package."
"I have lawyers."
"And yet," Dominic said, "you have not read this."
"I read what was presented."
"You heard what was presented."
Her chest tightened.
"You have this," she said. "Why?"
"Because your father gave it to me."
The room went very still.
"That makes no sense," Aurelia said.
"It makes perfect sense," Dominic replied. "He knew you would not open it until you were forced."
"And you are forcing me?"
"I am giving you time."
She laughed softly. "Time."
"Yes."
She stared at him. "You are very sure of yourself."
"I am sure of the risk."
She leaned closer to the desk. "So you are telling me my father trusted you more than his own people."
"He trusted outcomes," Dominic said. "Not comfort."
That hurt more than she wanted it to.
"Open it," he said quietly.
"Do not tell me what to do."
"Then do it because you are smart."
She reached for the folder.
The paper slid softly across the desk.
She did not open it yet.
"If I open this," she said, "what am I supposed to see?"
"The safeguard clause."
Her fingers froze.
"The lawyer never mentioned that."
"Because it was not time."
"Not time for who?"
"For you."
Her jaw tightened. "You talk like you know me."
"I know what you do when you are hurt," Dominic said. "You shut doors. You leave."
"Do not talk about Monaco."
"You will want to go back."
"That is not your business."
"It becomes my business if the company collapses while you run."
She stared at him. "So you think I will run."
"I think you will try."
She opened the folder.
Her breathing slowed.
Then stopped.
She sat back.
"You found it," Dominic said.
"This says the board can declare instability."
"Yes."
"And that shifts authority."
"Yes."
"To who?"
Silence.
She slammed the folder shut.
"So my father left a lock."
"A lock on the company."
"And on me."
"For now."
Her voice went low. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because your father asked me to."
That stopped her.
"What?"
"He asked me to make sure you read it."
Her throat tightened. "Did he ask you to protect me?"
"He asked me to protect the company."
She laughed once, sharply. "So I am part of the company now."
"Dominic's tone stayed even. "Right now, yes."
Aurelia stared at him.
She wanted to hate him cleanly. It would have been easier if he looked cruel when he said these things.
He did not.
He looked like someone dealing with a fire before it spread.
Aurelia swallowed. "Naomi will want to see this."
Dominic's eyes narrowed slightly. "Show her. She will understand the legal risk."
Aurelia looked at him sharply. "You do not mind."
Dominic's answer was flat. "I prefer you have a lawyer who does not blink."
Aurelia's mouth tightened. "You are calling her brave."
Dominic's gaze stayed steady. "I am calling her useful."
Aurelia almost laughed, but the sound did not come.
She thought of Naomi's face. That focus. That refusal to be charmed.
She thought of Serena's stubborn warmth.
Aurelia's voice softened just a fraction. "My friends are not tools."
Dominic's tone stayed calm. "In this world, everyone is a tool to someone."
Aurelia glared. "Not to me."
Dominic did not argue. "Good."
Aurelia shook her head, frustrated. "You talk like you are above it."
Dominic's eyes stayed fixed. "I am not above anything. I am just honest about it."
Aurelia's voice went low. "And what are you to me?"
Dominic held her gaze for a long beat.
Then he said, "A problem. And a solution."
Aurelia's chest tightened. "That makes no sense."
Dominic's voice stayed steady. "It will."
Aurelia looked away for a second, then back.
"If the board declares me unstable," she said, "this clause can shift power?"
Dominic nodded.
"And that can happen before any vote?"
"Yes."
"And someone is pushing them?"
"Yes."
Aurelia felt the air feel thinner.
She forced herself to speak clearly. "So what do I do today?"
Dominic answered, "You act normal."
Aurelia stared at him. "Normal."
Dominic's tone stayed calm. "You go back out. You speak to no one you do not trust. You do not show fear. You do not show anger. You do not let them see you shaken."
Aurelia's voice went flat. "You want me to wear a mask?"
Dominic replied, "You already wear one."
Aurelia's eyes flashed. "You do not know me."
Dominic's voice stayed low. "I know enough to say this. The board is not your friend. The press is not your friend. The market is not your friend."
Aurelia's mouth tightened. "And you are?"
Dominic's gaze held. "I am not your friend."
Aurelia's pulse jumped.
Dominic continued, calm, "I am the person in the room who will not pretend this is safe."
Aurelia stared at him.
She hated how that landed.
She hated how a part of her believed him.
Aurelia spoke quietly. "You said you would not give names?"
Dominic nodded.
Aurelia's voice turned sharp again. "Then give me a sign. One sign that lets me know when the hit starts."
Dominic's gaze stayed steady. "You will see it in the stock."
Aurelia's stomach tightened. "That is vague."
Dominic's voice stayed low. "You will see a drop that makes no sense."
Aurelia stared. "And then what?"
Dominic answered, "Then you will know you are not dealing with fear. You are dealing with sabotage."
Aurelia swallowed hard.
She looked down at the folder again, then back up.
"You want me to read this?" she said.
Dominic replied, "Yes."
"And if I do not?"
Dominic's voice was calm, but it carried weight. "Then you will walk into tomorrow blind."
Aurelia's hands tightened around the folder.
Aurelia straightened. "I will read it."
Dominic's gaze stayed on her. "All of it."
Aurelia nodded once. "All of it."
Dominic stood.
Aurelia stayed seated.
Dominic walked toward the door, then stopped.
He did not open it yet.
He turned his head slightly, eyes on her.
"One more thing," Dominic said.
Aurelia's chest tightened. "What?"
Dominic's voice stayed low. "Do not trust the quiet."
Aurelia frowned. "What does that mean?"
Dominic looked at the camera in the corner again, then back at her.
"It means," he said, "when everything looks calm, that is when the deal is already moving."
Aurelia's throat went tight. "So it has already started."
Aurelia stared at him, heart pounding.
Dominic opened the door.
The hallway noise returned, soft footsteps, distant voices.
Naomi stood there, eyes sharp, waiting.
Serena stood a step behind her, phone in hand, face tense.
Naomi looked from Dominic to Aurelia. "Are you okay?"
Aurelia held the folder tighter. "Yes."
Serena's eyes went to the folder. "What is that?"
Aurelia kept her voice calm. "Something my father left."
Naomi's gaze sharpened. "And he gave it to you?"
Dominic's voice came smoothly. "Read it."
Naomi's eyes stayed on Dominic. "We will."
Dominic nodded once, then walked away down the hall like he had not just dropped a weight into Aurelia's hands.
Serena moved closer to Aurelia. "What did he say?"
Aurelia looked at Serena, then at Naomi.
She tried to speak.
Her mouth went dry.
She managed, "He said I need to read the final contract package tonight."
Naomi's face went still. "Tonight."
Aurelia nodded.
Naomi reached for the folder. "Let me see."
Aurelia handed it over.
Naomi opened it right there, flipping fast, eyes scanning like she was built for this.
Serena leaned in. "Is it bad?"
Naomi did not answer right away.
Her eyes stopped on a page.
Her breathing changed.
Aurelia watched Naomi's face tighten.
Naomi looked up at Aurelia, voice low.
"This is worse than I thought," Naomi said.
And before Aurelia could ask what Naomi meant, an alert flashed on Naomi's phone screen, bright and sudden, like the day had just turned its head.
Serena whispered, "What is that?"
Naomi stared at the alert for one second too long.
Then she said, very quietly, "The stock just dropped."