His Betrayal Unleashed Her True Power

ton

er feet and a look in her eyes that could freeze hell over. For a split second, my brain refused to proces

strides, but I didn' t hug her. My arms felt like lead. My first instinct, a primal, st

in, my voice hoarse. "W

cool and level, and she addressed me with a

tell me you were coming?" I reached for her suitcase, a c

she said, her tone flat.

. I leaned against it, running a hand through my hair. "Kyra, c

ry detail. She looked different than she did on our video calls-more powerful, more intimidating. The exhausted, soft

am I supposed to guess?" I tried for a light

icture of us on a beach in Malibu. It now held a photo of my new team, a candid shot from our las

w?" I stammered. "It' s the project team. Kyra' s in

ned this moment for two years, Coleton." Her voice was quiet, but it cut through my pathetic

out her phone. She didn' t need to

ed the sterile office. "Race you t

"Erika, it' s not

n' t

t' s it. It' s... it' s a climbing thing. She

e thought to mention in two years?" she asked, her voice laced with an exhaus

uit, and Kyra needed a job. It was just... convenient." I took a step toward her, my hands raised

"Five years, Erika," I whispered into her hair, my voice thick with desperation. "We'

Her nose was pressed against my chest, and I could feel the dampness of her tears s

showed her the flight confirmation. A round-trip ticket to her city for next weekend. "I booked this last

wanted to ask-about the motorcycle, about the late night, about the photo-hun

cheek with my thumb. "Let' s j

oward the door. I needed to do

be busy but obviously listening. She looked up as we came out, h

for the benefit of anyone within earshot

you. Coleton talks about you all the time." Her eyes flickered down to our hands again. "Hi, E

ut firm. "She' ll be working with the software team on the thi

ne. As she walked away, her shoulders slumped, I

d Kyra was already standing

oice laced with mock indignation. "Serious

in my shoulders easing slightly. "Wel

frame with a playful pout. "Maybe not hold her hand like s

hythm after the storm that was Erika. "I don

me. She can come watch. It' ll be fun." She

led. "Fine. But

d settled in my stomach. I was trying to hold onto two different wor

ka

the feigned sincerity in his eyes-it was a performance, and I was the unwilling audience. The mom

y island beside me. I stared at the blank computer screen for what felt like hours. The

was my mentor, Edi

ome party?" he as

ak. A sob caugh

" His tone shifted ins

I lied, my

t fine. What

ling out-the video, Kyra, the lies, the

ilence on the othe

dis

quiet. "I see. It seems Mr. Ruiz has forgot

d, wiping my eyes with the back of my

earn the difference. You are the creator of 'Aura.' This company, his career, it' s all built on your genius

n' t about the power, or the money, or the career. It was about the five years

ht completely gone from me. "I don' t want t

days. See how things play out. But know this, Erika. You are not al

ad been building towards, the future I had envisioned,

ing partner? Fine

ade another call, one I nev

said, my v

f our biggest rival, answered. His voice was calm and

r?" I asked, closing my eyes. "The one t

o," he said slowly. "I

offer came with

n my mouth. "A partnership. In every sense of the

could hear the faint sound of him b

ka?" he asked, his voice soft

ittle. "I' m done playing second fiddle in my own

t tearing every