The car that arrived for Lila was black, sleek, and silent. The kind of vehicle that didn't just transport—it announced. The driver, dressed in a crisp charcoal suit, opened the door without a word. Lila slid into the backseat, her nerves tucked beneath a layer of confidence she'd spent years perfecting.
She wore a navy sheath dress, simple but sharp, and her curls were pulled into a high puff. Her makeup was minimal, but her eyes were lined with precision. She looked like a woman who belonged in any room—especially this one.
The car pulled up to a private restaurant nestled in the penthouse of a luxury high-rise. The hostess greeted her by name and led her to a secluded table by the window.
Celeste Elion was already there.
She was elegance personified—dressed in ivory silk, her silver-streaked hair swept into a chignon, her posture regal. She stood as Lila approached, extending a hand.
"Lila Grace," she said with a warm smile. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Lila shook her hand. "The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Elion. Thank you for the invitation."
"Please, call me Celeste."
They sat. A waiter appeared, poured sparkling water, and disappeared just as quickly.
"I've been hearing quite a bit about you," Celeste said, folding her napkin. "From Marcus. From the board. Even from my son."
Lila's spine straightened. "I hope it's all been professional."
Celeste chuckled. "Mostly. Luca's not easy to impress. But you've managed it."
"I'm just doing my job."
"Exceptionally well."
There was a pause. The waiter returned with a delicate amuse-bouche. Celeste waited until he left again.
"I'll be honest, Lila. When your uncle asked me to help you get your foot in the door, I agreed because I trust him. But I also had someone watching. Not because I doubted you—but because I needed to be sure."
Lila nodded. "I understand."
"And now?"
Celeste smiled. "Now I'm glad I did. You're not just good. You're extraordinary."
Lila blinked. "Thank you."
Celeste leaned in. "But I have to ask—what's going on between you and Luca?"
Lila hesitated. "We don't get along."
Celeste raised an eyebrow. "That's one way to put it."
"He challenges me. I challenge him back."
Celeste sipped her water. "And do you enjoy it?"
Lila paused. "Sometimes."
Celeste smiled. "Good. He needs someone who doesn't let him coast. But be careful. My son is brilliant, but he's also... complicated."
"I've noticed."
Celeste nodded. "Just don't let him derail you. You have something rare, Lila. Don't let anyone—Elion or otherwise—dim that."
Lila's throat tightened. "I won't."
They finished lunch with polite conversation, but the undercurrent was clear: Celeste Elion had just given her blessing—and a warning.
The next morning at Elion Global, the air was different.
Lila arrived early, as usual. Her inbox was already full. She was halfway through her coffee when Marcus Hale appeared at her door.
"Morning," he said. "You're needed in the executive conference room. Now."
She frowned. "What's going on?"
He didn't answer.
When she entered the room, she froze.
Luca was at the head of the table. The entire senior legal team was present. A projector displayed a document she recognized instantly.
Her draft.
The one she'd written for the Virex settlement.
Luca looked up. "Miss Grace. Join us."
She sat, heart pounding.
"This document," he said, tapping the screen, "was submitted to our biotech partners yesterday. It contains a clause that was... problematic."
Lila's eyes narrowed. "That's not possible. I reviewed every line."
"And yet," he said, "it slipped through."
He clicked to the next slide. Highlighted in red was a clause that hadn't been there when she submitted it.
"That's not my draft," she said.
Luca's eyes were cold. "It was submitted under your name."
She turned to Marcus. "I didn't authorize this version."
Marcus looked uncomfortable. "We're investigating. But the partners are already asking questions."
Luca stood. "Until we get to the bottom of this, you're off the Virex account."
Lila stood too. "You're punishing me for something I didn't do."
"I'm protecting the company."
"You're protecting your ego."
The room went still.
Luca's jaw tightened. "Watch it."
"No," she said. "You watch it. I've worked twice as hard as anyone in this room. I've earned my place here. If you think you can scare me into silence, think again."
He stepped closer. "You think you're untouchable because my mother likes you?"
"I think I'm untouchable because I'm good at what I do."
They stared at each other, the room forgotten.
Then Luca turned to Marcus. "Escort Miss Grace out."
Lila's heart pounded. "You'll regret this."
He didn't flinch. "We'll see."
That night, Lila sat on the balcony, wine glass in hand, Pearl beside her.
"He humiliated me," she said.
Pearl was quiet. "Do you think he did it on purpose?"
"Yes. And no. I think he's scared."
"Of you?"
"Of what I represent."
Pearl nodded. "So what now?"
Lila's eyes burned. "Now I fight back."
Pearl raised her glass. "To war."
Lila clinked it. "To victory."
And somewhere across the city, Luca Elion stared out his window, jaw clenched, heart pounding.
He didn't know what he wanted more:
To destroy her.
Or to kiss her.
And that terrified him more than anything else.