Chapter 2 News spreads fast

Liana forced her breathing to steady as Darren turned away, walking back to his desk with the same unshakable confidence he had always possessed. He picked up a pen, twirling it between his fingers as if the tension between them wasn't thick enough to cut through.

"You'll report directly to me," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "No intermediaries. No assistants. I want to know every detail of your work firsthand."

Liana's fingers curled slightly at her sides. "That's unusual for someone in my position."

Darren's gaze flicked back up to her, dark and calculating. "Consider it a privilege."

Or a punishment.

Liana knew exactly what he was doing. This wasn't about work. This was about control-about making her feel the weight of the choices she had made five years ago.

But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of breaking her.

"I understand," she said, keeping her tone even. "I'll do whatever is required of me."

His lips quirked slightly, though there was no amusement in his eyes. "I expect nothing less."

A knock on the door interrupted the thick silence between them. Darren's assistant, the same woman who had escorted Liana here, stepped inside with a stack of neatly bound documents.

"Sir, the quarterly reports you requested," she said, placing them on his desk.

Darren barely glanced at them before shifting his focus back to Liana. "You'll familiarize yourself with these by tomorrow morning."

Liana took the files, her fingers brushing against the cool, smooth paper. "Tomorrow morning?" she repeated, suppressing the urge to sigh.

"You have a problem with that?"

"Not at all," she said, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination.

Darren studied her for a long moment, his expression giving nothing away. "Good," he finally said, his voice cool as ice. "You can go now."

Liana nodded, clutching the documents tightly as she turned to leave. But just as she reached the door, his voice stopped her.

"And Liana."

She hesitated.

"Don't make the mistake of thinking I'm the same man you left behind," he said smoothly. "Because I assure you, I'm not."

She swallowed, forcing herself to keep walking even as the weight of his words settled over her.

Liana barely remembered making it to her new office. It was a sleek, modern space, sparsely decorated but elegant, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. Yet all she could focus on was the storm brewing inside her.

She collapsed into her chair, exhaling slowly as she stared at the documents Darren had given her.

This is what you wanted, she reminded herself. You knew it wouldn't be easy.

Still, nothing could have prepared her for the cold, unreadable man Darren had become.

The man who had once held her in his arms, whispered promises against her skin, and made her believe in a forever that never came.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.

It was her fault.

She had walked away.

And now, she had to live with the consequences.

She reached into her bag, pulling out a sleek silver locket-the only piece of the past she had allowed herself to keep. She traced her thumb over the delicate engraving, her chest tightening.

A knock at the door made her snap the locket shut, tucking it away before calling out, "Come in."

A man stepped inside, tall and sharp-featured, his blue eyes filled with curiosity. "Liana Calloway, right?"

She stood, smoothing down her blouse. "Yes."

"Daniel Carter," he introduced himself with an easy smile. "Director of Finance."

Liana extended her hand, shaking his firmly. "Nice to meet you."

"Word travels fast here," Daniel said, leaning against the doorframe. "Everyone's talking about how our CEO personally assigned you to work under him."

Liana forced a neutral smile. "That so?"

Daniel smirked. "Darren Vaughn doesn't do personal assignments. He barely acknowledges most of us unless it's about numbers or results."

Liana's heart pounded. She couldn't afford to be the subject of office gossip.

"I guess he has high expectations," she said carefully.

"Or unfinished business." Daniel's gaze was knowing, but he didn't push. "Whatever the case, I'd watch your back if I were you. He's not the forgiving type."

Liana already knew that.

Daniel tapped the doorframe lightly. "Welcome to Vaughn Enterprises, Calloway. Hope you survive the battlefield."

With that, he was gone.

Liana sank back into her chair, exhaling slowly.

Surviving wasn't the problem.

Keeping her secrets buried was.

That night, Liana sat at her small apartment's kitchen table, the dim glow of the overhead lamp illuminating the untouched dinner in front of her.

The documents Darren had given her lay spread across the table, but she couldn't focus.

Her mind was still trapped in the past.

She had spent five years building a new life, running from the choices she had made. She had convinced herself that she could bury everything-bury him.

But Darren wasn't someone who could be forgotten.

And now, she was right back in his world.

Liana's fingers brushed over the silver locket again, her stomach twisting.

She had been foolish to think she could walk away unscathed.

Because Darren wasn't just going to let her exist in his company as if nothing had happened.

He was going to make her pay for leaving.

And if he ever found out the truth about why she had left...

Everything she had built would come crashing down.