Chapter 10: The Morning After
327 Words
The adrenaline of the boardroom had worn off, leaving Elara feeling hollow and exhausted. She sat in her office, staring out at the city. She was no longer a whistleblower or a scapegoat. She was something else entirely—Killian Blackwood’s right hand.
The sliding door opened softly. Killian walked in, carrying two cups of black coffee. He set one on her desk and sat on the edge of it, his eyes tracking her every move.
"You did well today," he said. It was the highest praise she had ever heard him give.
"I did my job," she replied, taking a sip of the bitter coffee. "Does this mean the contract is over? I found your money. I cleared my name."
Killian set his cup down and leaned forward, his face inches from hers. The tension from the archives was back, but this time, there was no darkness to hide behind. "The contract is just beginning, Elara. Sterling was just a pawn. He was taking orders from someone much more powerful. Someone who wants to see the Blackwood name erased from this city."
"And you think I'm going to stay for that?" she asked, her breath hitching.
"I know you are," he murmured, his hand reaching out to trace the line of her jaw. "Because you've seen too much. And because, despite how much you hate me, you can't stand the thought of me facing them alone."
Before she could argue, he did something he had never done before. He leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. It wasn't a move of passion, but one of absolute possession.
"Go home, Elara. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we start the real fight."
As he walked out, Elara realized that she wasn't just contracted to a ruthless heir. She was falling for him. And in the world of the Blackwoods, that was the most dangerous mistake of all.
- Writer
