The Ex-Factor

Selene stood in the center of her office, her mind replaying the distorted voice on the phone over and over again. "You're being watched." The warning had been clear, and the call had come from an unknown number-one that had disappeared the moment she tried to trace it. Someone out there wanted her to know she was a target. She didn't like being hunted. Selene set her phone down on the desk, her fingers pressing into the surface harder than necessary. Her company, her people, her life-someone was watching her, and she had no idea who. A knock at the door made her snap her head up. Camille stepped inside, her expression tight with concern. "You look like you haven't slept." Selene exhaled through her nose, pushing her exhaustion aside. "Did you find out who leaked the boardroom minutes?" Camille sighed, walking further into the room. "Not yet but we did find out something else." Selene arched an eyebrow. "Which is?" Camille hesitated before sliding a tablet across the desk. Selene picked it up, her eyes scanning the contents. Her stomach tightened. It was an invitation, a high-profile charity event,one hosted by the Rothschild family. Camille crossed her arms. "Damian is making moves again. This event is a power play, and you know it." Selene clenched her jaw. "Of course it is." Camille nodded. "And Aurora is attending with him." Selene's grip on the tablet tightened. "Aurora." She could still feel the warmth of Aurora's skin from the night before, the way their lips had almost touched, the way the air between them had crackled with something dangerous. And now, she would be walking into a public event on Damian's arm. Selene let out a slow breath, forcing her emotions into a tight box. "Then I'll be there too." Camille lifted an eyebrow. "Selene..." Selene looked up, her gaze sharp. "He made the first move, I'm making the next." Camille sighed but nodded. "I'll arrange everything." Selene turned toward the window, her jaw still tense. If Damian thought he could parade Aurora around as some sort of victory, he was wrong. She would remind him exactly who he was dealing with. That night, she would play the game and she would win. The Rothschild estate was drenched in wealth, the grand ballroom glittered with chandeliers, the walls lined with deep mahogany and gold accents. Guests moved through the space in silk gowns and tailored suits, the scent of expensive perfume clinging to the air. Selene entered with the same controlled grace she always carried, her black dress sleek, simple and powerful. She didn't need glittering jewels or elaborate fabric. She was the storm, and she didn't need to announce it. Camille walked beside her, whispering updates in her ear. "Press is here. Industry leaders and a few politicians." Selene nodded, uninterested in anyone but the man she came to face then she saw him. Damian Rothschild stood at the center of the room, his posture relaxed, his presence magnetic but it wasn't him that made her body tense. It was Aurora. She stood at his side, draped in emerald green, her golden hair curled over one shoulder, she was laughing softly at something Damian had said, but when she lifted her gaze and met Selene's her smile faltered. Selene smirked. Good. She should be unsettled. She moved forward, cutting through the crowd like a knife. Conversations quieted as she approached, eyes shifting toward her in anticipation. Everyone in this room knew about the past between her and Aurora and now they were watching. Damian turned, his lips curling into an amused smile. "Selene. What a pleasant surprise." Selene arched an eyebrow. "Is it?" Damian chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "I wasn't sure if you'd come." Selene picked up a champagne flute from a passing waiter, taking a slow sip before responding. "You didn't think I'd let you have all the attention, did you?" Aurora shifted slightly beside Damian, her fingers tightening around the stem of her own glass. Selene's eyes flickered toward her, deliberately slow. "Aurora." Aurora swallowed. "Selene." Damian glanced between them, his smirk widening. "Oh, this is delicious." Selene ignored him, tilting her head slightly as she regarded Aurora "You look... comfortable." Aurora's lips parted slightly. "Selene-"Damian interrupted, grinning. "Doesn't she? She fits into this world so well, don't you think?" Selene turned to him, her expression blank. "I think you enjoy pretending you own things that don't belong to you." Damian chuckled. "Everything has a price." Selene smirked. "Not everything." Aurora inhaled sharply. The tension between them thickened, something that was unspoken crackling in the air. Damian's gaze darkened slightly. "Careful, Selene, this is my house." Selene took another slow sip of her drink. "And?" Damian's smirk faltered for just a second. Good. Selene turned her attention back to Aurora, stepping forward until they were close enough to touch. Her voice dropped, just for Aurora. "Are you going to spend the whole night playing pretend?" Aurora's breath hitched. For a second, it looked like she might say something-something real. Then Damian placed a hand on her lower back, pulling her attention away. "Come, darling. We have people to greet." Aurora hesitated. Just for a second then she let him lead her away. Selene's fingers curled around her champagne glass. This wasn't over and Aurora knew it. Camille stepped beside her, sighing. "You okay?" Selene exhaled slowly. "I'm fine" but even as she said it, her pulse was unsteady. A waiter passed by, offering her a fresh drink. She reached for it but before she could, a hand wrapped around her wrist. She turned sharply. A man stood beside her, dressed in a sleek suit, his eyes unreadable. Selene had never seen him before but when he spoke, his voice was calm. "We need to talk." Selene narrowed her eyes. "Do I know you?" The man's grip remained firm. "No. But I know who's watching you." Selene's pulse spiked. He released her wrist and slipped something into her hand, a folded piece of paper then, without another word, he disappeared into the crowd. Selene's fingers tightened around the note she didn't open it immediately, she waited and watched closely. Then, when she was sure no one was looking-she unfolded the paper. It was just one sentence, one message written on the paper "Your enemy is closer than you think." Her breath caught. This is not just about Damian nor was it just about Aurora. Someone inside her world was already working against her and she had no idea who.