Taken by the Rivals.

Chapter 3- The return of Bennett

~ Aria POV ~

~ Four Years Later ~

"You're turning down the biggest real estate mogul in the city?" my assistant asked, holding a stack of folders against her chest.

"I'm not turning him down, Maya," I said, keeping my eyes fixed on the financial reports on my desk. "I'm restructuring his expectations. Julian wants my firm to handle his entire property profile. I'm telling him we only take the luxury estate developments."

"But Julian is outside right now," Maya whispered, glancing toward the glass doors of my office. "And he brought flowers again."

"Send him in," I said.

I didn't look up until the door clicked open. Julian walked in, a confident smile on his face, holding a massive bundle of rare black roses. He was a billionaire who usually got exactly what he wanted, but he hadn't managed to break through my professional walls yet. Over the last four years, I had built Bennett Consulting from a tiny bedroom desk into a dominant empire. The naive girl who left the city on a train was gone.

"For the most untouchable woman in business," Julian said, setting the bouquet right on my desk.

"They're lovely, Julian," I said, my voice smooth and detached. "But they won't change the contract clauses. My team checked your numbers. We need total control over the estate reorganization, or we don't sign."

"You're cold, Aria," Julian laughed, leaning against the front of my table. He looked down at me, his eyes dark with an open attraction he never tried to hide. "Most people beg to work with my firms. You treat me like a basic balance sheet."

"Because you are a balance sheet during office hours," I replied, offering a tight, polite smile. "If you want my personal oversight on your newest country property, those are my terms."

"What if I want your oversight over dinner tonight?" he asked, tilting his head. "No business talk. Just you and me at that new spot downtown."

"My evening is already booked with client files," I said, closing his folder with a deliberate snap. "Sign the contract as it is, Julian, or I'll give the slot to your biggest competitor. They've been calling all morning."

Julian let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "You really don't play around. Fine. Send the papers to my lawyers. But I'm not giving up on that dinner, Aria."

"Have a good day, Julian," I said.

He gave me one last lingering look before turning on his heel and exiting the office. The second the door closed, I let out a breath, my hands remaining perfectly still. I didn't feel a single spark. My heart was a locked vault now, and I liked it that way.

Maya slipped back into the room immediately, her eyes wide as she held a new courier envelope. "Aria, a private messenger just dropped this off. It's marked confidential, and the upfront payment already cleared in our bank account."

"How much?" I asked, pulling the envelope toward me.

"A half-million dollars," Maya said, her voice shaking. "Just to secure a consultation meeting today. The paperwork says they need an expert to completely organize a massive residential estate downtown. But the client identity is entirely hidden behind a blind trust."

I tore the envelope open, pulling out the single sheet of thick paper. There was no company name at the top, just a blank background. The signature line was a stamp from a private legal firm.

"An anonymous buyer?" I murmured, looking at the massive sum verified on my screen.

"The contract says it requires the owner's personal oversight," Maya said. "They want the head of our agency on-site immediately to review the blueprints. They've booked a private executive suite at the Apex Club downtown for the meeting. The car is already downstairs."

My mind started spinning in quick circles. Anonymous clients were common, but the size of this upfront payment was aggressive. Whoever this was, they had massive resources and wanted my attention immediately.

"Should I look into the trust background?" Maya asked, looking worried.

"No time," I said, standing up from my chair. "We don't turn away a half-million-dollar deposit. This agency is about to launch our global expansion. I need this contract to secure our top market position. I'm going."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," I said, grabbing my executive files. "I'm not a defenseless beginner anymore, Maya. If someone wants to pay this much for my expertise, I'll show them exactly what Bennett Consulting can do."

I walked out of the building and stepped straight into the waiting car. I didn't look out the window as the driver navigated the busy city streets, heading toward the financial district. I kept my eyes on my tablet, reviewing our active project timelines.

The car stopped outside the Apex Club, a private tower downtown where the city's highest earners conducted their confidential business. I stepped out of the vehicle, my heels clicking loudly against the ground as I walked through the grand entrance.

The staff at the front desk didn't ask for my ID. They just gave a quiet nod, clearly expecting me, and led me straight toward the private elevator. The ride up was dead quiet.

"The client is waiting for you in the private study suite at the end of the hall," the attendant said, gesturing toward a pair of double doors when the elevator opened on the top floor.

"Thank you," I said.

I took a deep breath, forcing my heart to slow down. I grabbed the handles, pushing the doors open, and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, the large windows overlooking the city skyline covered by dark curtains. A massive desk sat in the center of the room, and a high-backed leather chair was turned away from me, facing the far wall.

"I'm Aria Bennett," I said, my voice echoing in the quiet room. "I believe you requested my firm's services for your residential project.

The chair slowly turned around.

My breath caught in my throat, a sudden wave of panic hitting my chest.

Damien sat behind the table. He looked older, his jawline rougher, and his dark hair cut shorter than before. The boyish charm he used to have was completely gone, replaced by a cold, hardened expression. But it was his eyes that made my skin crawl. They were wide, bloodshot, and fixed on me with a dark, terrifying intensity.

"You came," Damien whispered, his voice incredibly low. He stood up from his chair, his hands resting on the table as he stared at me as if I were a ghost. "Four years, Aria. I finally found you.”