Chapter 4 4

River's POV

~One Year Later~

I woke up again, breathless, my skin warm and tingling, my heart racing like I had just run a mile. The dream was the same one I'd been having all week-Killian, close to me, his voice low and soft in my ear.

His hands on my waist, his lips brushing against mine. It was so vivid that I could almost feel it, like a memory instead of a dream. I turned my face into the pillow and groaned.

This was getting ridiculous. I was beginning to see him even when I closed my eyes. I couldn't explain it...this constant heat that followed me everywhere, creeping into my thoughts, making it impossible to think of anything else.

But today wasn't the day to get lost in daydreams. Today was important. I had a big meeting at the firm...my chance to pitch a proposal that could shift our entire strategy.

I needed to stay focused and grounded. I slipped out of bed, trying to shake the fog out of my mind, and headed downstairs to get a cup of coffee, hoping it would steady my nerves.

But the moment I stepped into the kitchen, I froze.

Killian was standing by the counter, a towel wrapped low around his waist, water still dripping from his hair, sliding down his chest.

His back was half-turned, muscles shifting with every small movement. His body was all smooth strength...broad shoulders, firm chest, and toned arms. I'd seen him dressed up, casual, or even in gym clothes, but never like this.

Never just skin, fresh from a shower, steam still curling around him like mist. I stared before I could stop myself, my breath catching in my throat. My cheeks burnt, and my whole body felt warm.

I didn't mean to look, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. My gaze dropped to the line of his hip, where the towel barely hung on, and I felt something stir deep inside me. I imagined what it would feel like to touch him, to feel his skin against mine.

A sudden shiver ran through me, uninvited and unstoppable.

And then he turned.

Our eyes met, and I froze like a deer caught in headlights. "Do you need anything?" he asked, voice calm, low, and kind...but there was something behind it, a quiet knowing, like maybe he had seen me looking.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to speak. "I came to get a cup... of coffee," I said, stumbling over the words like I had suddenly forgotten how to form them.

"I know how tense you are. Big day," he said gently, walking toward the machine. "Just sit. I'll make you one."

I nodded and walked stiffly to the dining table, lowering myself into the chair like I didn't trust my knees to hold me. It had been a year and 6 months with Killian now, and everything about him had been steady and safe.

He never crossed the line. Never made me feel uncomfortable. We had boundaries, clear ones. Separate rooms. Respect. Space. But he was there when I needed him. Always. He took Alora out with us on weekends.

He kept every promise in the contract. But now I couldn't stop wondering what it would feel like if we ever stepped outside those lines, maybe just a one-time thing.

"Don't be tense, River. You can do this. We've come a long way, and this is the time to take back what we've always wanted," Killian said, his voice calm and steady, like it always was when I needed it most.

He placed the cup of coffee in front of me, and as he leaned in, his body came so close I could feel the warmth from his skin and the faint scent of his cologne mixed with soap still clinging to him.

For a moment, I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around him, to stay there and forget everything else. Sometimes I felt like he did it on purpose...getting too close, being too gentle...like he wanted to see how much I could take before I gave in.

I let out a small laugh before I could stop myself. "What is it?" he asked, raising a brow like he had no idea what he was doing.

"It's nothing, Killian," I said, trying to hold back the smile tugging at my lips. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, and then just like that, he turned and left the room.

I stared after him, letting out a quiet breath. "He only made things worse by doing that," I muttered, then drank up my coffee and headed upstairs. After a warm shower, I stepped into the new red dress I had picked out for today.

It was sleek and form-fitting, with a high neckline and long sleeves, the fabric smooth and rich against my skin. It hugged my waist and flared slightly at the knees, elegant but bold...exactly how I needed to feel today.

Standing in front of the mirror, I packed my red hair into a bun and then I took a deep breath. "You can do this, River," I whispered, then left the room. I stopped by Alora's room. The nanny was already with her, and I leaned down to kiss her soft cheek.

"Mommy will be back soon," I whispered. As I walked out, I glanced back at the life I'd rebuilt-brick by quiet brick, with Killian by my side.

I didn't know what the day would bring, but I knew this much: I wasn't the woman they left behind.

Not anymore.

Through a close friend, Killian secured me the position at Derma's Groups, one of New York's top firms, and I'd climbed fast, proving myself again and again. Now, I was one of the board representatives for major strategic decisions.

Today, we were pitching for a high-value global merger...one that could change everything. And what made it even more thrilling was that Chitox Groups, Rowan's firm, was also in the running.

This wasn't just business. This was the beginning of the end for him. And the beginning of everything for me. I stepped out of the house and walked straight to my black SUV car.

I opened the door, slid into the driver's seat, and shut it behind me with a sharp thud. One glance in the mirror, one long breath, and I hit the gas. The city rushed by, but my mind was already at the office.

A few minutes later, I pulled into the office lot and stepped out. I stood still for a second, my chest rising slowly as I tried to breathe the nerves away.

I straightened my shoulders and walked in. Inside, the receptionist gave me a bright smile. "Good morning, Mrs River." I gave a small nod and kept walking, barely hearing the greetings around me.

My eyes locked on the elevator doors ahead like they were the only thing that mattered. I stepped inside, and right then, my phone buzzed. I looked down. 'Board meeting starts in 10 minutes.'

Perfect. Just enough time to remind myself why I couldn't afford to lose. My mind drifted where it always went when I didn't want it to...Rowan. I hadn't seen him in a year and 6 months, and I was sure he'd send someone.

He never faced his messes. "Rowan! The son of a bitch," I muttered, half-laughing to myself. "Too dumb to pitch his idea himself." Just before the elevator doors closed, I caught a shadow in my periphery. Then a voice, sharp as a blade.

"Who did you just call a son of a bitch?" My whole body locked up. My breath stopped.

No. It couldn't be.

Slowly, I looked up-and there he was.

Rowan.

The man who betrayed me. The man who watched me fall and never looked back. His eyes met mine, and for a second, something flickered in them. Shock? Regret? I couldn't tell.

He took off his sunglasses slowly, like he couldn't believe it either. My throat was dry, but I forced the words out. He stepped inside just as the elevator doors closed behind him.

I didn't blink. I didn't flinch.

"Do I... know you?" I asked, voice calm and cold. He stared at me, completely still. Like I had slapped him without lifting a hand. And as the elevator climbed, so did the silence.

Rowan stood beside me, a little too close, like he wanted to make sure I felt the weight of his presence. He hadn't changed much...still sharp in his suit, still smug in that quiet, arrogant way.

"Well," he said, finally breaking the silence, his voice low and thick with mockery. "I have to admit, I didn't expect to see you here... not after everything that happened."

I kept my eyes forward, jaw tight, refusing to give him the reaction he wanted. He chuckled under his breath. "Still pretending to be strong, huh? Still trying to act like you belong in this world."

I turned my head slightly. "I do belong here. Just like you. Maybe even more." Rowan scoffed. "You think one little board seat makes you powerful? Please, River."

"You were nothing before me, and you're even less now. You're just trying to stay afloat in a game you don't understand." I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palm.

"You ruined me," I said quietly. "You left me to rot while you moved on like it meant nothing." He leaned in closer, voice dripping with venom.

"Because it meant nothing. You were the weak link."

"I did what I had to do, and you... well, you got what you deserved." I blinked, forcing the tears back. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"You really think you'll win this deal?" He went on, laughing. "You think they'll give that contract to a woman fresh out of a scandal, one with a prison record and a broken reputation?"

"You're a joke, River. You always were." The elevator dinged, and the doors slowly slid open. I straightened my back, stepped out, and turned to look at him one last time.

"We'll see who's laughing when this is over."