ELODIE’S POV~
While Director Quinn was distracted talking to one of his team mbers, Johnny leaned closer to .
"You hear about the Brown family?" His voice was low. Quiet enough that only I could hear.
I glanced at him. "What about them?"
"After that charity gala and then last week’s tech expo, they’ve been making moves. Building connections all over the capital." He paused. "I heard they’ve secured several major projects in the last few days alone."
My stomach tightened.
"Once those projects are done," Johnny continued, "the Brown family will be completely established here. Solid footing in the capital."
It was the kind of success most business families spent years working toward. Decades, even.
But with Dante’s backing, they’d done it in days.
Of course they had.
"Mm," I said.
That was all I could manage.
Johnny didn’t push. Just gave a look that said he understood, then turned his attention back to the conversation.
After lunch, we spent several more hours hamring out details. By the ti we left, Cole and Dante’s company had a preliminary agreent in place.
Progress. That’s what this was. Professional progress.
I repeated that to myself the whole drive back.
—
Two days later, Johnny and I went to Wilson Tech to finalize the contract.
Dante’s tech company. The one I’d never been allowed to visit when we were actually trying to make our marriage work.
And now here I was. Walking through the lobby. Taking the elevator up. All because of business.
The irony wasn’t lost on .
Director Quinn t us in the lobby, along with another executive by na, Mr. Kim. He was an older guy, in a sharp grey suit.
"Apologies for running late," Mr. Kim said as we headed toward the conference room. "I was just in a eting upstairs with President Wilson."
Dante was here.
In this building.
Probably just a few floors above us.
My pulse kicked up, but I kept my face neutrally.
"No problem at all," Johnny said smoothly.
We settled into the conference room that had a sleek glass table, and leather chairs, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. The kind of space designed to impress.
And ... It worked.
Mr. Kim pulled out his laptop and started going through the contract line by line. All the technical specifications. Tiline. Paynt structures.
I tried to focus. Tried to pay attention.
But my mind kept drifting upward. To whatever floor Dante was on. Wondering if he knew we were here.
Wondering if he cared.
A knock on the door pulled back.
Soone entered. I didn’t look up imdiately, just assud it was just another Wilson Tech employee bringing docunts or coffee or whatever.
But then Director Quinn and Mr. Kim both stood abruptly.
"Miss Brown."
I froze and then looked up.
Sienna. Of course, it was Sienna.
She was dressed impeccably with her tailored blouse, and fitted skirt, heels that clicked against the floor as she walked in.
Everything about her scread I belong here.’
Johnny’s jaw tightened beside , but he didn’t say anything.
Sienna glanced at briefly and then dismissively. Then turned her attention to Director Quinn and Mr. Kim with a warm smile.
"I just ca to take a look around. Don’t let interrupt."
"Of course, of course," Director Quinn said imdiately. "Please, have a seat."
Mr. Kim was already gesturing to his secretary. "Get Miss Brown so tea."
Their attitude was so different from how they’d greeted us. More warm. More deferential.
Like she was already the lady of the house.
The future Mrs. Wilson.
My throat felt tight.
Sienna settled into one of the empty chairs, crossing her legs elegantly. "President Gray," she said, acknowledging Johnny with a polite nod.
"Miss Brown," Johnny replied. His tone was courteous but cold.
She didn’t greet .
Didn’t even look at again.
Sienna accepted the tea from Mr. Kim’s secretary with a gracious smile, then settled into the chair they’d practically scrambled to pull out for her.
She took a sip and set the cup down delicately.
Then her eyes landed on the contract spread across the table.
"May I take a look?" she asked.
Not can I, but may I. Like she was being polite about sothing she already had every right to do.
Mr. Kim bead. "Of course, Miss Brown."
I felt Johnny tense beside . I saw him glance at from the corner of his eye.
Mr. Kim must have noticed our reaction because he chuckled, like he was letting us in on sothing. "Miss Brown is President Wilson’s girlfriend. When President Wilson signs contracts, he never hides anything from her."
The words hit like a punch.
Girlfriend.
He’d said it so casually. So matter-of-fact.
Like it was common knowledge. Like everyone at Wilson Tech already knew. Already accepted it.
Mr. Kim kept talking, his smile still in place. "So there’s no need to worry about confidentiality. She’s one of us."
Johnny recovered faster than I did. Smiled back, smooth and professional. "With your assurance, Mr. Kim, we have no concerns."
I kept my head down and stared at the contract in front of like the words would suddenly make sense if I just focused hard enough.
But all I could think about was the study.
The study in Dante’s villa. Our villa, technically, though it had never felt like mine.
He’d made it clear from day one, the study was off-limits. Company secrets, he’d said. Confidential information. The housekeeper had inford of the rule the first day I moved in.
"Mrs. Wilson, the study is Mr. Wilson’s private workspace. He’s asked that you not enter."
And I hadn’t. Not once in all these years.
Never stepped foot inside. Never saw what he was working on. Never got a glimpse into that part of his life.
Because he didn’t trust with it.
Didn’t want there.
But Sienna? Sienna could waltz into Wilson Tech whenever she wanted. Could look through confidential contracts. Could sit in on etings.
Everyone here knew her. Welcod her. Treated her like she already belonged.
Like she was already Mrs. Wilson.
My hands clenched under the table.
Sienna picked up the contract, flipping through it slowly. Taking her ti. Making sure we all saw that she had access to things I’d never been allowed near.
Then she set it down and looked directly at .
I kept my head lowered. Didn’t et her eyes. I... Couldn’t.
Because if I looked at her right now, if I saw that satisfied smile I knew was on her face... then I might actually break.
Sienna picked up her teacup again. Took another sip and settled back in her chair like she was supervising.
Like she was the boss and we were here for her approval.
Mr. Kim and Director Quinn were revising sothing in the contract, heads bent together, discussing terms.
And then Johnny spoke.
"Miss Brown," he said, his voice casual. "Aren’t you planning to work at Wilson Tech?"
I looked up despite myself.
Sienna set her teacup down and t Johnny’s gaze directly.
"Dante asked if I wanted a position here," she said smoothly and confidently. "But I prefer to rely on my own abilities. I don’t want to use connections or backdoor opportunities, so I declined."
The implication was clear.
‘I could work here if I wanted. Dante offered. But I’m too principled to take the easy route.’
Unlike so people.
She didn’t say that last part. She didn’t even have to.
It hung in the air anyway.
I bit the inside of my cheek. Hard enough to taste blood.
Johnny’s smile didn’t falter. "That’s admirable, Miss Brown. It’s good to see soone committed to earning their place."
Sienna inclined her head, graciously. "Thank you, President Gray."
But her eyes flicked to for just a second.
And in that second, I saw it.
Triumph.
She’d won. She knew it. And she wanted to make sure I knew it too.
Dante had offered her a job. Had brought her into his professional world. Had given her access to everything he’d kept from .
And she’d turned it down.
Not because she didn’t want it. But because she could afford to. Because she already had everything she needed, all of his his attention, his trust, his affection.
She didn’t need a job title to prove she mattered to him.
Unlike , who’d never mattered at all.
The eting continued.
Voices discussing clauses and paynt terms and implentation tilines.
But I wasn’t really listening anymore.
Just sitting there. Taking notes I wouldn’t rember. Nodding at appropriate monts.
While Sienna sat across from , sipping her tea, looking like she owned the place.
Looking like she’d already won.
And maybe she had.
Maybe she’d won a long ti ago.
I just hadn’t wanted to admit it.
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