Chapter 58
It had been two weeks since Aurora left for Switzerland. We rarely contacted each other—perhaps the last time we spoke was the day after she arrived, and then nothing. Silence ever since. I wondered if she was doing well with the business trip.
A sigh escaped me as I shrugged, trying to ease the thought. The elevator chimed, and as the doors slid open, we stepped out.
"This way, Mr. Silva," I said, ushering one of my company's investors through the corridor of Aurora's firm.
Celeste approached us, bowing slightly. "Ms. Duvall," she greeted politely.
"Celeste," I acknowledged with a small smile. "I have here with me our potential investor, Mr. Silva." I turned to the man beside me. "Mr. Silva, this is Celeste, my wife's secretary. I've been coordinating closely with her while Aurora is away on business."
Celeste smiled warmly and extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Silva."
"The pleasure is mine," he replied, shaking her hand before glancing around the lobby. "The building itself speaks of luxury already."
I laughed softly.
"Of course. The owner herself knows how to live in luxury," I remarked, the corners of my lips twitching.
Then I turned back to Celeste. "Celeste, I'd like you to attend the discussion about the potential investment between Mr. Silva and DeLacroix Haute Couture Luxury House.
Please make sure the meeting minutes are sent to both me and Aurora. "
"Yes, ma'am," Celeste said, retrieving her tablet and clipboard before leading the way.
I nodded and turned to Mr. Silva. "Shall we?"
He inclined his head, and together we followed Celeste to one of the available meeting rooms. Inside, she instructed a pantry staff member to bring in a coffee maker and fresh cups.
Mr. Silva settled across from me as we began the discussion.
"Ms. Duvall," he started, leaning slightly forward, "I heard the company faced bankruptcy a few months ago?"
I hummed in acknowledgment, nodding.
"You're right, Mr. Silva. The company did face bankruptcy months back.
But with the joint venture between my firm and DeLacroix, the performance has stabilized—we've already reached the breakeven stage.
" I turned my laptop toward him, displaying the financial graphs.
"By the end of the year, I'm confident we'll surpass that mark and even exceed our current sales and market value. "
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "And you're the major stakeholder now?"
"Yes, Monsieur," I confirmed with a calm smile. "My wife and I agreed that I'd assume a major shareholding position, covering nearly half of the investors they lost due to the embezzlement issue."
Mr. Silva raised an eyebrow, scrolling through his laptop. "Their stock performance isn't exactly stable, though," he said. "Look here—the company may have recovered some of its sales revenue, but the market value is still in bear territory."
"You're right, Mr. Silva," I agreed, keeping my tone even.
"Because of the embezzlement issue, we're not expecting the stock to gain much this year.
But if you take a look at the market performance over the past few weeks—" I hovered my mouse over the broker's tab and switched to the DeLacroix portfolio.
"You'll see that the market's been steadily improving.
Just last week, the stock closed with a fifteen percent gain.
It's modest, but it's growth nonetheless. "
I offered him a faint smile.
"Besides, your investment will be valuable.
The company has several postponed projects waiting to be revived.
Now that things are stabilizing, the teams have started to roll out the plans we had on hold.
With the expansion underway and our subsidiaries performing well, DeLacroix is on track to rise quickly. "
The meeting stretched for over an hour, but I was pleased with how it turned out.
When we finally stood, I extended my hand to him.
"Thank you, Mr. Silva. I'd also like to invite you to tomorrow's board meeting.
I'll check with my wife to see if she can attend—I'd like to introduce you to her. "
Mr. Silva nodded, shaking my hand firmly before releasing it. "I look forward to meeting your wife, Ms. Duvall. I trust your instincts in business—you wouldn't have earned your title otherwise."
I bowed slightly, straightening with a confident smile. "Thank you, Mr. Silva. I can assure you, this investment won't disappoint."
Turning toward Celeste, I approached her desk. "Has Aurora mentioned if she'll be returning soon? Or will she complete the month-long business trip?"
Celeste looked up, her expression polite. "She hasn't mentioned anything yet, Ma'am, but I can check in with her today and confirm."
"Do that," I said with a nod. "I'll try to reach her as well. Thank you, Celeste."
She smiled. "Of course. I'll go assist Mr. Silva now. Call me if you need anything else."
I gathered my things, ushered Mr. Silva out of the meeting room, and watched Celeste return to her station.
Once Mr. Silva had left the premises, I headed to my car and drove home.
The silence that greeted me was deafening—cold, almost melancholic.
I sighed, setting my bag down as I made my way to our room.
After a quick shower, I slipped into lingerie and pulled my laptop from my briefcase.
With my phone and earbuds in hand, I settled in the living room to finish some pending documents. I was halfway through typing when my phone buzzed.
Sliding to answer, I placed the earbuds in. "It's past business hours, Margot," I teased, skipping the greeting.
A dramatic groan filled my ear, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"You keep turning me down for dinner," she complained.
I laughed softly, still typing. "Margot, you know we can't just see each other whenever we want. Besides—"
"What's so wrong about it?" she interrupted. "Your wife's not around, and we're not doing anything wrong."
I let out a sigh, setting my laptop beside me. Crossing one leg over the other, I leaned back against the couch, arms folded across my chest. "Because I'm married, Margot."
"Then divorce her. Easy."
I arched a brow at that, pressing the bridge of my nose. "Margot, that's not an option for me." Another sigh slipped out. "How about this—lunch sometime soon, deal?"
"Oh, you'd better not bail on me," she said.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "I won't. Just let me know ahead of time, all right? Don't plan on the spot when you know I have other things scheduled. And in case you've forgotten—I'm not single anymore. I can't just drop everything whenever you ask."
"Fine," Margot muttered, drawing out a long, exaggerated sigh that made me laugh.
"Come on, you're acting like a child." I scoffed lightly. "Anyway, I need to go." I ended the call and pulled out my earbuds.
A glance at the wall clock told me it was nearly eleven.
Gathering my things, I made my way to the bedroom, setting my laptop on the console table before sinking onto the bed.
My gaze drifted to the empty space beside me.
I unlocked my phone, hovering over Aurora's name—but stopped myself.
Setting the phone on the nightstand, I lay back and stared at the ceiling.
"Why do I miss her?" I whispered. The question hung in the silence.
I shut my eyes, trying to will myself to sleep, but the image of her face surfaced instead—her lips, her eyes, the way she used to look at me.
A groan escaped me as I covered my face with both hands. "Oh my God," I muttered. "Am I really missing her?"
I shifted on the mattress, my hand brushing over the cold, empty space beside me.
The sheets were untouched, sterile—nothing like the warmth I used to feel when she was here.
My fingers lingered there anyway, tracing the emptiness as Aurora's face filled my mind again—her lips, the glint in her eyes, the way she used to look at me as if I was the only thing that mattered.
My breath grew shallow as I imagined her above me, her weight, her scent, the sound of her voice whispering against my ear.
My hand drifted from my chest to my abdomen, sliding beneath the fabric of my lingerie.
My fingertips circled over the sensitive peak of my breast before gliding down again—lower, until they found the heat waiting for her.
"God, Ro," I breathed, shutting my eyes as I rubbed slow, deliberate circles against my clit.
The air felt thick, heavy; my skin flushed with the memory of her touch.
"Oh, fuck..." The sound escaped me, half sigh, half moan, as I moved my fingers faster, tracing my folds before slipping one inside.
A sharp gasp left me when pleasure surged through my body. "Yes... yes, that's it," I rasped, my voice trembling with every thrust of my hand.
God, I wish she were here.
I wanted her mouth, her hands, her weight pressing me into the bed.
My free hand gripped the sheets where she should've been, while the other moved frantically, desperate for release.
"Please..." I whimpered, breath breaking.
"Please, fuck me more," as if she could somehow hear me through the distance, through the ache.
The tension built until my body arched, trembling. A choked breath escaped me as I came undone, shivering through the fading waves. I swallowed hard, chest heaving, before covering my face with my free hand.
"Oh, God... you're losing it, Sloane," I whispered, half laughing, half breathless. The shame crept in slowly—the realization of what I'd just done, and who I'd done it for.
?·???°???°???·?
Sitting on the couch across from Mr. Silva, who had arrived early for today's board meeting, I reached for my phone and sent a quick message to Aurora. Come to think of it, I should've called her last night to inform her about the potential investor.
Board meeting starts at ten. Will you attend online? I typed and sent it.
My brow raised when her response came almost instantly: Won't attend online. Carry on as usual.
I checked my wristwatch—it was ten minutes before the board meeting. I let out a sigh and sat up straighter. "Mr. Silva, ready to head to the boardroom?"
He glanced at me and gave a subtle nod before standing. "So, will your wife be attending today's meeting?" he asked as we left the office room Aurora had given me inside her building.
I chuckled lightly. "Unfortunately, Mr. Silva, my wife won't be able to attend today's board meeting. But who knows? If she finds some time, maybe she'll catch up later." I said, leading the way toward the boardroom.
We settled at the head of the table, leaving Aurora's seat vacant.
Several directors were already seated, waiting for everyone to arrive.
Celeste entered, bowing politely as she handed me copies of the documentation and placed portfolios at the table across each chair.
Soon, the room filled with directors. I looked around, giving them a nod. "Good morning, everyone," I began. "As you may see, I have with me a potential investor from France who is interested in partnering with DeLacroix Haute Couture Luxury House."
"Mr. Silva owns a company in France that specializes in luxury houses," I continued, flipping through the document in front of me.
"A partnership between his company and DeLacroix would be an ideal approach, especially as we begin implementing the planned projects.
Section two contains a comparison between Mr. Silva's company and DeLacroix.
Given DeLacroix's strong presence in the luxury and haute couture industry, collaborating with an external partner could be highly beneficial. "
The directors leaned over their documents, reviewing the details. "If you have any questions or need clarification, Mr. Silva will be happy to address them," I added, letting them study the documentation.
While my hand hovered over the mouse, reviewing my laptop, Mr. Silva leaned closer and whispered, teasingly, "Well, your wallpaper looks great. Is that a wedding photo with your wife?"
I laughed softly, nodding. "Yes, it is, Mr. Silva," I said, eyes fixed on the screen. Dione had suggested I use that photo for both my laptop and phone wallpaper.
"You two really are compatible—no wonder you tied the knot so quickly, Ms. Duvall," he remarked, making me blush slightly.
"Well, thank you, Mr. Silva," I replied, smiling.
We were in the middle of that conversation when a familiar voice made me stiffen.
"Good morning."
Both Mr. Silva and I turned toward the voice, and there she was... Aurora. My throat tightened as her eyes met mine. She looked... vibrant. Something about her was different, and I found myself hitching a breath as I stared.
Clearing my throat, I offered a faint smile. "Ah, Aurora. You're back earlier than expected. You should've told me—I would've picked you up."
Aurora didn't respond. She just stared at me—blank, cold, and seemingly uninterested. She strode past us and dropped her laptop onto the table beside me with a sharp thud, making a few directors flinch.
I furrowed my brows, confused. What's wrong with her? Her gaze flicked to me, then to Mr. Silva. "I see we have company. Which of your associates is responsible for this?" she asked, her voice sharp.
My eyes narrowed. "Aurora, this is an investor. Mr. Silva is interested in joining the company. I thought you'd—" My words died in my throat as Mr. Silva stood and extended his hand.
"Hello, Ms. DeLacroix. A pleasure to meet you," he said, smiling politely.
Aurora looked at him but didn't shake his hand.
Mr. Silva sank back into his chair, loosening his tie, as Aurora stepped closer.
"An investor?" she echoed, voice dripping suspicion.
"Or some... other man? Because from where I'm standing, it looks suspiciously personal. "
My lips parted.
What...? Is she seriously accusing me of something?
I noticed Mr. Silva shifting in his seat.
I exhaled and stood up. "Aurora, it's strictly professional.
Mr. Silva wants to invest in the company.
That's all. I assure you, there's nothing personal here. "
Aurora's glare sharpened as she stepped even closer, her eyes flicking between me and Mr. Silva.
"Really?" she said, low and dangerous, her jaw tightening.
"Because from where I'm standing, it looks a hell of a lot more like you're inviting him into your private circle—laughing at his jokes, leaning in, exchanging glances. .."
Her voice was quiet, almost a hiss, but full of judgment. I pressed the bridge of my nose and exhaled slowly. "Ro, that's enough," I muttered, just loud enough for her to hear. "You're jumping to conclusions again. If you'd listened instead of assuming the worst—"
Aurora slammed her hand on the table, making the others flinch.
"Listen? I just got back from Switzerland!
" she snapped, grinding her teeth as she tried to calm herself.
"I come back to find another investor sitting here, without my knowledge.
And I'm supposed to what? Smile politely while you. .. play games?"
I scoffed. "Games? I'm running this company as we agreed. Mr. Silva is legitimate. You're the one imagining a story that doesn't even exist."
Is she seriously thinking Mr. Silva is my lover? Just because she saw me laughing with him earlier? Absurd.
Aurora stepped even closer, as if trying to corner me. "Do you realize how it looks? How it feels to come back exhausted and see the person you—" She stopped herself, clicking her tongue. "Never mind. Maybe I'm overreacting."
I studied her face, trying to read her thoughts.
All I could see was anger, like she had been hurt without me realizing it.
And I couldn't understand why she was acting this way.
She'd just returned from Switzerland without telling me, and now she was showing this side of herself?
"No," I countered, my voice low but steady. "You're not overreacting. You're reacting to assumptions. And it makes me wonder... why am I even explaining myself to someone who refuses to listen?" I shut the portfolio and my laptop with a soft snap.
Aurora's gaze didn't waver. "We'll finish this discussion later. Privately." She grabbed her laptop. "Meeting adjourned." And just like that, she left, leaving everyone else behind.
The directors filed out one by one. I exhaled, closing my eyes for a moment, then let out a bitter chuckle. "I'm so sorry about that, Mr. Silva. Perhaps my wife is just dealing with jetlag and exhaustion from travel." I bowed slightly.
Mr. Silva waved it off with a laugh. "Oh, no worries. But just by looking at your wife, she's not an easy one to deal with. Makes me wonder if she'll even agree to my company investing in hers. I'd like her confirmation before we proceed."
I smiled faintly. "I'll make sure to ask her once she's in a better mood, Mr. Silva." I gathered my laptop and documents. "Shall we?" I gestured toward the door.
We walked to the elevator, the silence stretching between us.
"Ms. Duvall," Mr. Silva began, glancing at me. I tilted my head toward him.
"How long have you known your wife before marrying her?"
I smiled softly, watching my reflection in the metal doors.
"More or less fifteen years, Mr. Silva. Aurora and I were university sweethearts with four years of history.
We broke up twelve years ago and only recently reunited before the wedding.
" I chuckled, a faint warmth creeping into my voice.
"Oh," he clicked his tongue. "Seems you two found your way back into each other's arms."
I let out a soft laugh, exhaling slowly. "You could say that, Mr. Silva."
The elevator dinged, and we stepped out into the lobby. His personal driver was waiting just outside. I walked him to the car, bowing politely as he slid into the backseat. "Have a nice trip, Mr. Silva," I said, stepping aside as the car pulled away.
I lingered in the parking lot, pausing on the pavement. Not far away, Aurora's gaze met mine. We held each other's stare for a heartbeat, then she averted her eyes, slipped into her car, and drove off.
I ran a hand through my hair, groaning under my breath. "Just what the hell is going on with you, Ro?" I couldn't understand her behavior. I didn't remember doing anything wrong. Unless... she was jealous of Mr. Silva?