Chapter 10 No More Lies

That night, back at the penthouse, the city lights glowed like scattered stars through the glass walls. Elena stood in the living room, still in her navy dress, her hair beginning to fall from the sleek bun she'd worn to face the board. Her heels lay discarded by the couch, and her breath finally came easy.

Lucien entered with two glasses of wine and handed her one.

"To justice," he said, his tone softer than usual.

"To partnership," she corrected with a faint smile.

Their glasses clinked quietly, and for a moment, they just stood there-no threats looming, no contracts between them. Just two people who had been through hell and somehow found each other in the middle of it.

"I couldn't have done any of this without you," Lucien said, his voice low and honest.

"Yes, you could have," she replied, setting her wine on the table. "But I'm glad you didn't."

Lucien moved closer. "You've changed everything, Elena.

I've spent so much of my life building walls, pushing people away, hiding behind power. But you're the first person who ever made me want to tear all that down."

Elena rested her head against his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heart-steady, strong, real.

"Then let's keep building," she whispered. "Together."

He tilted her chin up, his touch tender. "No more pretending."

"No more contracts," she replied.

"No more lies."

He kissed her, this time without pressure, without obligation. There were no cameras, no board members, no strategic moves. Just the warmth of his lips, the promise in his hands, and the truth of what they had become.

When the kiss broke, they didn't rush apart. They held onto each other, anchoring themselves in the moment.

The world might still come at them tomorrow-with rumors, betrayals, business wars-but tonight, they had found something real. Something unbreakable.

Whatever came next, they would face it side by side.

Together.

For real this time.

The city skyline glistened against the night, skyscrapers blinking like distant stars as the snow slowly melted beneath the streetlamps. From the towering height of the penthouse, it all looked so small-like the chaos of the day couldn't reach them here.

Elena stood barefoot in the living room, wrapped in the quiet aftermath of victory. Her navy dress clung to her softly, and her hair, once tightly pinned for the board meeting, now fell in loose curls around her shoulders. Her eyes were fixed on the glass, as though searching for the next storm before it arrived.

Behind her, the elevator dinged softly. Lucien stepped out, two glasses of wine in hand, his sleeves rolled to his elbows and a rare ease in his expression.

"For you," he said, handing her a glass.

She took it, her fingers brushing his. "Thank you."

He raised his glass. "To justice."

Elena's lips curved slightly. "To partnership."

They clinked glasses gently, the sound soft but certain, and took a long sip. The wine was bold and smooth, much like the man who had finally allowed himself to show cracks in his armor.

"I still can't believe we did it," she said, finally turning toward him. "We exposed Harper, cleared my name, and

showed the board they can't control you."

Lucien sat on the edge of the couch, running a hand through his hair. "It doesn't feel real yet. But we couldn't have done it without you."

She raised an eyebrow. "You mean without us."

He looked up at her. "No, I mean you. I've had power my whole life. But I never knew how to use it to protect someone. Until you."

Elena walked over and sat beside him, folding one leg beneath her. "You don't have to carry everything alone anymore, Lucien. That's what a partnership means."

He studied her, a softness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "You've changed me."

She smiled. "You let yourself be changed. That's braver."

He leaned back against the couch and sighed. "For years, I thought love made people weak. Distracted. Vulnerable. But with you... it doesn't feel like that. It feels like strength."

Elena tilted her head, watching him. "Because it is. Real love makes you stronger. It makes you want to fight harder, not hide."

He placed his glass on the table, turning to face her fully. "Do you still think this started as just a contract?"

She laughed softly. "It did. We both know that "

"But it didn't end that way," he said, his voice deep and sure. "And I don't want to pretend anymore. No more rules. No more pretending it's temporary."

She set her wine down and slid closer. "Then stop pretending."

He hesitated-just for a second-and then reached for her hand. Their fingers laced together naturally, like they had always belonged that way.

"I want this to be real, Elena. I want you. Not because I need to fix a PR disaster. Not because I feel guilty about what happened. But because... I've never felt like this before. And I don't want to lose it."

She inhaled slowly. "I don't want to lose it either."

He stood and gently tugged her up beside him. His hand moved to her waist, the other brushing a loose curl behind her ear.

"I've spent so long building walls," he whispered. "But you make me want to tear them down."

"Then let's build something better," she replied, "together."

He kissed her slowly, carefully, like he wanted to memorize the shape of her lips, the taste of this moment. It wasn't rushed or forced-there was no audience, no pressure, just the quiet thrum of something genuine between them.

When the kiss broke, Elena rested her forehead against his.

"No more contracts."

He smiled against her skin. "No more lies."

"No more pretending."

He pulled her into a hug, burying his face in the curve of her neck, holding her as if the entire world had tried to take her from him and failed.

They stood like that for a long time. No words. No plans.

Just silence, broken only by the hum of the city outside their glass walls.

Later that evening, they curled up on the couch, the fire crackling low. Lucien brought a blanket and wrapped it around them both. He scrolled through his phone, checking messages-most were congratulations or news outlets requesting interviews, but one message stood out.

He stiffened.

Elena noticed instantly. "What is it?"

He turned the screen toward her.

It was a private email from Harper Donovan's assistant.

"The board was only the beginning. There are others watching. Be careful who you trust."

Elena's blood ran cold. "He's bluffing."

Lucien shook his head. "Maybe. Maybe not. Harper's gone, but that message... it's a warning. Someone else is still out there."

"We'll deal with it," she said, squeezing his hand. "Just like

we always do. Together."

He looked at her, grateful and awed all at once. "You're fearless."

"No," she said with a faint smile. "But I'm in love. And that makes me fight harder."

A beat passed. Then he whispered it.

"I love you."

Her eyes widened slightly, and her breath caught. "Lucien..."

"I should've said it sooner," he continued. "I didn't know what it felt like before. But now I do. I love you, Elena Cruz. I love everything about you-your fire, your strength, your heart."

Her eyes glistened, and she reached for his face, holding his cheek in her palm. "I love you too."

They kissed again-this time deeper, unrestrained. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a promise. That they had survived the worst. That love had won.

Later, as they lay in bed, Lucien whispered into the dark, "No matter who comes after us, I'll protect you."

Elena nestled closer. "We'll protect each other."

Outside, the snow began to fall again-quiet and soft-but inside the penthouse, the warmth between them was undeniable.

It wasn't the end of their story

It was only the beginning