Aurelia’s eyes narrowed as she took in the intimate scene before her. Luke’s expression remained impassive, his gaze never leaving the files in his hands.
“Veronica,” Aurelia said curtly, her voice laced with disdain.
Veronica’s smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Aurelia, darling. We were just discussing the upcoming fashion week. Luke here has been kind enough to offer me a spot on the cover of Graham Magazine.”
Aurelia’s jaw clenched, her mind racing with the implications. This was a slap in the face, a reminder of Luke’s power and influence. Whenever she thought she’d seen it all, Luke proved her wrong, never failing to surprise her.
“I see,” Aurelia said coolly, her eyes locked on Luke’s profile. “Congratulations, Veronica.”
Luke finally looked up, his gaze meeting Aurelia’s. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.
“Take a seat, Aurelia,” Luke said, his tone formal and even. “We have a long flight ahead.”
It annoyed her. His nonchalant attitude rubbed salt into the wounds he inflicted on her. Well since she’d already been humiliated, she could as well return the energy he gave her.
Aurelia’s eyes flicked to the empty seat across from them, her reluctance evident. There was no way she was going to be an audience to whatever it was they were doing.
“I’ll sit elsewhere,” she said, turning to make her way to the back of the plane.
“Aurelia,” Luke called out, his voice commanding.
She ignored him, finding a seat by the window and buckling herself in.
Aurelia bit on her bottom lip, letting out a small scoff at foolishness. And here she thought he invited her to apologize.
She’d hoped that was the case, but her expectation crumbled into dust right before her eyes. This must be some kind of payback, a petty vendetta against her.
As the plane took off, Aurelia pulled out her phone and sent a text to Ezekiel.
“Hey, just wanted to let you know I’m on my way to Paris.”
Ezekiel responded immediately. “Safe travels, Aurelia. Looking forward to seeing you soon.”
Aurelia smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. But her relief quickly faded, her heart aching.
To hell with being the bigger person, she thought, glancing at Veronica and Luke.
Veronica reached for Luke’s glass of champagne, drinking from it shortly after he set it down.
Aurelia scoffed again, almost amused by the audacity.
If Luke was going to be petty, then so would she.
The flight attendant’s voice came over the intercom, announcing their ascent into cruising altitude.
Aurelia closed her eyes, willing herself to relax.
But her peace was short-lived.
She had hoped she would fall asleep during the flight, but she just tossed and turned in her seat, trying to mute Veronica’s obnoxious laughter and their endless conversations.
Aurelia took deep calming breaths, refusing to look their way as she begged for patience.
She reminded herself that she just had to make it through this flight.
Little did Aurelia know, this was only the beginning of a very long and turbulent flight.
To her utmost disappointment, she also had to share a ride with them to the hotel.
The CEO had booked a luxurious suite for her and Veronica, and he would be staying in the hotel as well.
Aurelia wondered what was going through his mind, and how far he was willing to go to frustrate her. Did she have to witness more of his doting behavior to Veronica?
And hell she was even more angry about the fact that it bothered her. Was this his plan? to make her jealous? Did he think she would hurry back into his arms from the fear of competition?
Oh if it’s true then he’s highly mistaken. Because he was only pushing her further away from him.
Later that evening, Aurelia trudged wearily to her hotel room, dropping her luggage onto the floor.
As she inserted her key card into the lock, she heard a faint laugh behind her.
“Looks like we’re neighbors,” Veronica said, arriving at the room opposite Aurelia’s.
Aurelia rolled her eyes. “What a coincidence.”
Veronica’s smirk came slow, running a hand through her dark hair. “I hope we might finally have a chance to get to know each other better.”
Aurelia’s eyes flashed with annoyance, but she bit back her retort. Veronica had never directly insulted her, but the way she spoke, the way she looked down on her, and her confidence in whatever relationship she had with Luke got on her nerves.
Veronica barely knew Aurelia and yet she knew the right buttons to push to set her off the edge. But Aurelia was in no mood to give her the satisfaction of doing so today.
Instead, she pushed open her door and stepped inside.
Just as she was about to shut the door, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Luke’s name flashed on the screen.
“Aurelia, meet me in my room,” his text read.
Aurelia’s eyes narrowed. Her grip on the device tightened. She read the text again, then threw her head back and laughed dryly.
On the contrary, it was Luke who got on her nerves the most. And he was tap dancing on her buttons, having the time of his life.
“No.” She typed out a single word and sent it back, tossing the phone on the bed with a loud huff.
She stared at it for a while, half expecting a reply or rather a demanding phone call. Her phone remained silent.
Exhaling, Aurelia began to unpack, her movements mechanical. She was tired, both mentally and physically, feeling the effect of jet lag stiffen her muscles.
She needed a bath to calm herself.
And maybe forget everything she witnessed today, but that was highly unlikely.
As she soaked in the warm water, the scent of the strawberry bath wash floating in the air, her mind wandered to Veronica and Luke’s apparent closeness.
She didn’t want to dwell on it, but it was easier said than done. During the flight, she occasionally stole glances at them, and each time she did, Veronica always had her arms around him, and he just let her.
Was this how he felt with her and Ezekiel? Does this mean that she also didn’t trust him? And if that proved to be true, it would only expose her as a hypocrite.
But she and Ezekiel weren’t like that in any way.
Aurelia raised her gaze to the ceiling, her feet kicking against the bubbles escaping the bath.
She recalled he introduced her as an old friend, and yet what she’d seen didn’t quite match the description.
“Ahh to hell with it all,” Aurelia said to the room, sinking lower into the water.
Finally feeling somewhat relaxed, Aurelia emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel.
And froze.
Aurelia visibly paled, her heart jumping to her throat.
Luke leisurely sat on her bed, his eyes fixed intently on her.
“Wh-What are you doing here?” Aurelia mentally slapped herself for stuttering, her voice trembling with surprise.
Luke took his sweet time to reply, his mismatched eyes narrowing.
His gaze swept over her ever so slowly, from her slender neck to her chest, lowering to the curve of her hips and her exposed thighs.
He felt himself harden, but he maintained a neutral expression, hiding the roaring desire that raged within him. Seeing her like this did things to him, and now all he wanted to do was peel the towel off her body like a wrapped present.
Aurelia flushed under his gaze, gulping her spit as she felt goosebumps litter her skin.
Damn him and the effect he had on her.
Then after what seemed like forever, he spoke;
“You disobeyed me,” he said, his voice low and even, but laced with an undertone of a threat.
Aurelia’s irritation, simmering since the turbulent flight, boiled over. “With all due respect sir,” She bit out, securing her towel with one hand while the other pointed to the front door. “Get. Out.”
But Luke didn’t budge. Instead, he leaned back on his hands and spread his legs apart, getting more than comfortable on the bed.
“I’m not going anywhere until I’ve achieved what I came for,” he said, his voice dripping with menace.
Aurelia’s eyes flashed with defiance and a hint of confusion. “And what’s that?” she demanded, her voice steady despite the growing unease in her chest.
Luke’s smile grew, spreading across his face like a dark stain. His eyes seemed to gleam with wicked excitement as he replied, his tone authoritative
“To punish you.”