Aria barely slept that night.

  The stranger’s words kept repeating in her head.

  “Kael Voss isn’t the man you think he is.”

  She stared at the ceiling.

  Aria:

  She groaned and buried her face in the pillow.

  ________________________________________

  The Next Morning

  Orion headquarters buzzed with activity.

  Aria walked into the office trying to act normal.

  Which she was very bad at.

  She bumped into a chair.

  Dropped her notebook.

  And nearly walked into the glass door.

  Leo watched from across the room.

  Leo:

  Aria forced a smile.

  Aria:

  Leo leaned closer.

  Leo:

  Aria laughed nervously.

  Aria:

  Before Leo could ask more -

  Kael stepped out of his office.

  The entire floor immediately went quiet.

  Kael’s eyes scanned the room.

  Then stopped on Aria.

  For a moment they simply stared at each other.

  Kael’s expression changed slightly.

  He walked straight toward her.

  Aria’s heartbeat accelerated.

  Kael:

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  Aria:

  Kael:

  Leo slowly leaned back in his chair.

  Leo:

  ________________________________________

  Inside Kael’s Office

  The door closed.

  Silence.

  Kael walked to his desk but didn’t sit.

  Instead, he leaned against it and crossed his arms.

  Watching her.

  Closely.

  Aria shifted nervously.

  Aria:

  “Did I do something wrong?”

  Kael didn’t answer immediately.

  Kael:

  “You were in the parking garage last night.”

  Her heart jumped.

  Aria:

  “…Yes.”

  Kael:

  “You spoke to someone.”

  Aria froze.

  He knows.

  She quickly tried to recover.

  Aria:

  “It was just a guy asking for directions.”

  Kael raised an eyebrow.

  Kael:

  “In the employee parking garage.”

  Aria winced.

  Aria:

  “Okay… maybe not directions.”

  Kael’s gaze sharpened.

  Kael:

  “What did he say to you?”

  Aria hesitated.

  But she had decided something on the way to work.

  She would ask him directly.

  No games.

  No guessing.

  Aria:

  “He said something about you.”

  Kael didn’t move.

  Not even a blink.

  Aria:

  “What did he mean when he said you’re not who people think you are?”

  Silence filled the room.

  Kael looked at her for a long moment.

  Then he sighed.

  And surprisingly -

  He laughed.

  Aria blinked.

  Aria:

  “That’s not exactly comforting.”

  Kael rubbed his temple.

  Kael:

  “That man…”

  He paused.

  Kael:

  “…works for my uncle.”

  Aria frowned.

  Aria:

  “You have an uncle involved in this company?”

  Kael nodded slowly.

  Kael:

  “He used to run Orion.”

  Aria’s eyes widened.

  Aria:

  “Used to?”

  Kael’s expression darkened slightly.

  Kael:

  “The board removed him years ago.”

  Aria:

  “Why?”

  Kael didn’t answer right away.

  Instead, he looked directly at her.

  Kael:

  “Why are you asking me this?”

  Aria blinked.

  Aria:

  “Because a strange man approached me in a parking garage and basically said my boss is secretly evil!”

  Kael almost smiled.

  Kael:

  “Fair point.”

  He straightened up.

  Kael:

  “My uncle thinks Orion was stolen from him.”

  Aria crossed her arms.

  Aria:

  “And?”

  Kael shrugged slightly.

  Kael:

  “And he believes I’m helping him get it back.”

  Aria stared.

  Aria:

  “Are you?”

  Kael stepped closer.

  Now they were only a few feet apart.

  Kael:

  “What do you think?”

  Aria swallowed.

  Her brain said be professional.

  Her mouth said -

  Aria:

  “I think you’re hiding something.”

  Kael’s lips curved slightly.

  Kael:

  “You’re very direct.”

  Aria:

  “You asked.”

  He looked at her for a long moment.

  Then said quietly -

  Kael:

  “So are you.”

  Aria froze.

  Aria:

  “What?”

  Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  Kael:

  “You’re hiding something too.”

  Her heart skipped.

  Aria:

  “I’m not - ”

  Kael:

  “You’re a terrible liar.”

  She opened her mouth.

  Closed it again.

  Kael sighed.

  Kael:

  “Aria.”

  His voice softened slightly.

  Kael:

  “If someone approaches you again…”

  He leaned closer.

  Kael:

  “Tell me immediately.”

  Aria felt something strange in her chest.

  Concern.

  Real concern.

  Before she could answer - The office door burst open.

  Leo rushed in dramatically.

  Leo:

  “Boss! We have a problem!”

  Kael turned sharply.

  Kael:

  “What happened?”

  Leo held up a tablet.

  Leo:

  “The board called an emergency meeting.”

  Aria frowned.

  Aria:

  “About what?”

  Leo looked between them.

  Then said the words that changed everything.

  Leo:

  “They’re voting to remove Kael as CEO.”

  Silence.

  Aria slowly turned to Kael.

  But Kael didn’t look surprised.

  Not even a little.

  Instead…

  He smiled.