The headlines the next morning were vicious.
"Valentine Group in Trouble? Aurora's Past Leaks Ahead of Billion-Dollar Merger"
"Dominic Raine's New Partner Has a Scandalous Secret?"
"Love, Lies, and Business: Trouble in Paradise?"
Aurora slammed her phone on the desk, nearly cracking the glass screen. Her jaw clenched, chest tight, as she stared at the articles splashed across every digital news outlet. Photos of her with a man she once dated—five years ago—were now being twisted into narratives of corporate fraud, romantic scandal, and an implied conflict of interest. It was nothing but tabloid garbage, but it was timed with precision.
Too precise.
"Who the hell leaked this?" she hissed, pacing across her office. "This wasn't even public record."
Lacey, her assistant, looked pale. "We're trying to trace the IP of the submission to the press, but it's rerouted through five countries. Someone covered their tracks well."
Of course they did.
And she knew who was behind it.
Adrian. Dominic's right-hand man—and the one who had made it clear during the merger talks that he didn't trust Aurora. She wouldn't put it past him to plant a story to sabotage her. Or worse—try to turn Dominic against her.
Before she could rage further, her office door burst open.
Dominic.
His eyes were fire, face unreadable, the headlines rolled up in his fist.
She braced herself.
"Save it, Raine. I know what it looks like but—"
"Shut up, Aurora," he snapped, startling her. "You're not the one under fire. We are."
He threw the rolled papers down on her desk.
"You think I had something to do with this?" she asked, crossing her arms, defiant. "Wouldn't be the first time someone underestimated me."
"Underestimated you?" he repeated, incredulous. "You're the most dangerous woman I know."
"You say that like it's a compliment."
"It is." His voice dropped. "But you're not handling this alone."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I'm holding a press conference in an hour. I'm putting this shitstorm to bed."
Her brows shot up. "You? Why?"
He moved closer, the cold mask cracking just a little. "Because if this scandal derails our merger, you lose everything. And I don't want that."
"Why?" she whispered.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he said, "Put on something red. Show them you're not scared."
---
An hour later, the press conference room was bursting at the seams. Photographers fought for front row spots. Reporters waved microphones like weapons.
Dominic stood at the podium, flanked by both company logos on either side, with Aurora stepping out exactly sixty seconds after he began.
Heads turned. Cameras clicked. And when she stood beside Dominic in a blazing red dress that hugged her curves and screamed unapologetic power, the room froze.
He turned to her briefly, eyes lingering just a moment too long.
Then he addressed the crowd.
"Let me be clear," he began, his voice like steel. "What you saw this morning was a desperate attempt to divide two empires that are about to change the business landscape forever. The photos leaked have nothing to do with this merger, and the only thing scandalous is how far some people will go to stop progress."
The room erupted with shouted questions.
"Mr. Raine, is it true you're romantically involved with Miss Valentine?"
"Is this more than just business?"
"Did you know about her past before signing the deal?"
Dominic raised a hand, silencing them.
"I knew everything I needed to know about Aurora before we signed. She's fierce, brilliant, and doesn't let anyone dictate her story."
Aurora glanced at him, heart thundering.
He wasn't just defending her.
He was choosing her.
Not just as a business partner.
As something more.
"Let this serve as a message," he finished, "to those hiding in the shadows: come at me again, and you'll find I don't play nice."
Mic drop.
He walked off stage, not waiting for applause. Aurora followed close behind.
Once they were out of sight, he turned to her.
"You okay?"
"I don't need rescuing," she snapped, though her voice softened after. "But… thank you."
"I wasn't rescuing you," he said, stepping closer. "I was protecting what's mine."
She swallowed. "Yours?"
He didn't touch her, didn't say another word. But the way he looked at her—like he was slowly stripping away every defense she had ever built—it made her forget how to breathe.
---
That night, she sat alone in her penthouse, trying to think logically, trying to remind herself he was dangerous.Too charming. Too powerful. Too good at pretending.
But when her phone buzzed, and she saw his name flashing across the screen, her fingers betrayed her and answered.
"I forgot something," Dominic said.
"What?"
"You never told me if you thought I looked hot defending you today."
She laughed in spite of herself. "That's what this call is about?"
"No," he admitted. "This call is about hearing your voice before I go to sleep."
A pause.
Aurora's heart twisted."You're playing a dangerous game, Raine."
"So are you, Valentine."
---