Chapter 1 1

The wind at Teterboro Airport didn't just blow; it bit. It chewed through the thin fabric of Elara's wool coat, finding the skin beneath and making her shiver violently. She leaned against the side of her 2014 Toyota Camry, tucking her hands deep into her pockets, trying to preserve what little body heat she had left. Her fingers brushed against the rough lining of the pocket where the stitching had come undone last week.

She checked her phone. The screen was cracked, a spiderweb fracture over the time. 4:12 PM. The flight was an hour late.

A ground crew member in a neon vest walked by, glancing at her car. His eyes lingered on the dent in the rear bumper and the fading paint. He didn't say anything, but the curl of his lip said enough. You don't belong here.

She knew. She had spent the last twenty minutes frantically scrubbing the backseat with industrial wet wipes, desperate to remove the sticky residue of spilled apple juice and the faint, lingering scent of a child. She prayed the overwhelming smell of lemon bleach would mask the reality of her life.

Then, the sound came. A low rumble that vibrated in her chest, growing into a deafening roar. The Gulfstream G650 descended from the grey sky, sleek and silver, a predator returning to its territory. The tires screeched against the tarmac, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris that forced Elara to squint.

She smoothed the front of her coat. It was a nervous tic. A useless attempt to look like Mrs. Julian Sterling instead of the woman who cleaned her own apartment.

The stairs lowered with a hydraulic hiss.

Elara held her breath. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic, uneven rhythm. Seven years. It had been seven years since she looked him in the eye.

But it wasn't Julian who stepped out first.

A woman emerged. She wore a cream-colored Chanel coat that looked like it had never seen a speck of dust. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a severe, flawless bun. Serena Pembrooke.

Serena paused at the top of the stairs, turning back with a smile that could melt glaciers. She extended a gloved hand.

And then he appeared.

Julian Sterling took Serena's hand. The gesture was easy. Practiced. He guided her down the first few steps, his body angling toward her as if to shield her from the wind.

Elara felt the air leave her lungs. It wasn't a sharp pain. It was a dull, heavy ache, like swallowing a stone.

Julian reached the tarmac. He straightened his suit jacket-custom fit, dark navy-and lifted his head. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, scanned the area. They bypassed the luxury SUVs waiting for other clients. They bypassed the security detail.

They locked onto her.

The distance between them was fifty yards, but his gaze felt like a physical touch. Cold. Assessing. There was no smile. No widening of the eyes. He looked at her the way one looks at a stranger who has stepped onto their property.

Elara forced the corners of her mouth up. It felt tight, unnatural.

"Elara!" Serena's voice carried over the wind, high and sweet. She waved, the diamond bracelet on her wrist catching the dull light. "It's been forever!"

Two large men in black suits began unloading luggage. Louis Vuitton trunks. Hard-shell cases. There were four of them. Elara glanced at her trunk. It was already filled with a bag of groceries she hadn't had time to drop off.

Julian walked toward her. His stride was long, eating up the distance. He stopped three feet away. He didn't hug her. He didn't offer a hand. He just looked at the car, then at her face.

"You're late," he said. His voice was deeper than she remembered. Rougher.

"Traffic on the bridge," Elara said. Her voice wavered. She hated herself for it. "I'm sorry."

He raised a hand, cutting her off.

"It was my fault," Serena said, stepping up beside him. She looped her arm through his. The fabric of her expensive coat brushed against his suit. "I held us up in the cabin. Don't blame her, Julian."

Elara looked at Serena's arm. It looked right there. It looked permanent. She knew Serena had been pushed onto the board of Nebula by the other shareholders, a strategic move to undercut Julian's authority, yet here she was, clinging to him like a second skin. Why did he allow it?

"The luggage won't fit," Julian said, looking at the Toyota.

"I can call a car," Serena suggested. "My driver is on standby."

"No," Julian said. "We take this."

"But Julian-"

"Get in the car, Serena." It wasn't a request.

Serena paused, her eyes flickering to Elara. A small, victorious smile played on her lips. She walked to the passenger side-the front passenger side-and opened the door. She sat down, adjusting her coat, claiming the space.

Elara stood frozen. That was her seat. That was the wife's seat.

Julian looked at her. He didn't move to open her door. He just waited.

Elara walked to the driver's side. Her legs felt heavy. She got in, the smell of harsh chemical cleaner instantly warring with Serena's perfume-sandalwood and rose.

The back door opened. Julian folded his six-foot-two frame into the cramped back seat. His knees pressed against the back of her seat. She could feel the pressure of his legs through the cushion.

She turned the key. The engine sputtered once, twice, before catching with a wheeze.

In the rearview mirror, Julian's eyes met hers. He didn't look away.

"Drive," he said.