Aurora's POV

“Welcome back, Mrs Ashford.”

I stood still, utterly shocked.

“Sorry?”

I asked to be sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me.

“I said Welcome back, Aurora Blake,” he smirked.

“Or should I call you Aurora Hayes?”

My fingers curled up, and I was almost trembling. I quickly masked my surprise with a confused look.

“I don't get what you mean, Mr Ashford.”

“Oh, you definitely do, Aurora.”

He stopped smiling and walked slowly towards me with a raised brow as if daring me to deny.

“Quit the pretense.”

I backed away slowly, not wanting him to come closer.

“We are alone, and I know it is you.”

*A few days ago*

Elena, my assistant and I were alone in my office at the Blake Biotech building.

“Just reject it.”

She said without looking up from the tablet in front of her.

“You are not ready YET.” she continued.

Am I really not? I thought.

“Am I making a mistake?” I asked her, unsure.

“Should I have waited?”

She didn't answer me, then she finally dropped the tablet and walked up to me. Her eyes were not leaving me.

“Aurora?” She called quietly.

“You know you don't have to do this if you aren't ready for it.”

“I need to,” I interjected immediately.

“I have to.” This time, softly.

She moved closer, held my hand in hers, and squeezed gently. I looked up at her.

“I have started, and I don't plan on running away now.” I said this with a determined look, I was just trying to convince myself.

“I understand.”

She smiled softly, dropped my hand, and strode back to where she was sitting.

“Your father would be so proud of the woman you have become.”

I smiled faintly. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away.

“I will support any decision you make, Aurora.”

“Always remember that we are in this together.”

I got up and moved to hug her.

“Thanks, El. I really don't know what I would have done without you,” I said softly.

Aurora had always been there for me. Since the day of the accident that almost claimed my life till today. Sometimes, I think she was sent by my dead parents to take care of me.

“Ew,” she scrunched her face up in fake disgust, and we both busted into laughter.

The telephone beeped, and Elena snatched it up immediately. I picked up a document.

“Hello. This is Elena Brooks from Blake Biotech.”

She listened for a few seconds before glancing at me.

“It's the Sterling Group,” She said after covering the receiver with her palm.

My smile disappeared, and I raised my eyes from the document in front of me.

“Again?”

Elena nodded.

“They are asking for a meeting.”

She had that exasperated look on her face.

“They are so persistent.” She mouthed to me.

“Tell them no.”

“They have been trying to get this partnership for months.”

“Still no.”

“They can try for another month.”

I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms. She knew that she was already getting on my nerves. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and she hung up.

“You really won't think about it?” She teased.

“Don't piss me off. You already know the deal."

“You really don't want anyone getting close to you, do you?” Now seriously.

“Not everyone deserves to.”

Elena's expression changed, she knew better than to ask me why.

The telephone beeped again, and she glanced at the screen.

“There's another call.”

“Who?”

She looked at me.

“Ashford Group.”

My body stiffened, Elena's eyes remained on me. For a minute, none of us spoke, I just stared at her.

“Who?” I asked again, to be sure I didn't hear wrong.

She gave me a look.

“You heard me.”

She lowered the phone. “They have called three times today.”

“Three?”

She nodded, then I held out my hand.

“Give me the phone.”

Elena hesitated. “Are you sure?”

I looked at her. “Why wouldn't I be?”

She didn't answer, instead, she pressed the button and placed it on my palm. I brought it to my ear.

“Hello, this is Ms. Blake, CEO of Blake Biotech.”

A man's voice came through. “Good afternoon, Ms. Blake. I'm Collins Ashford, a senior executive of the Ashford Group.”

I almost laughed.

Ashford Group.

For five whole years, I waited for this name to cross my path again.

I glanced at the invitation still lying on my desk.

“I delivered the invitation personally, Ms. Blake.” He continued as if he can see what i was looking at.

“I'm the half-brother to the CEO, Damian Ashford.”

Damian Ashford.

The name brought back memories that should have stayed hidden.

“We hope you can honor our invitation, Ms. Blake,” he continued.

There was a brief silence.

“We would like to invite you to a meeting concerning a potential partnership between Ashford Group and Blake Biotech.”

I glanced at Elena, she was holding her breath.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“I'm not interested.”

Elena's eyes widened, and she mouthed “WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU SAYING?” to me.

I ignored her.

The man on the phone remained polite. “I understand, Ms Blake. However, we would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the proposal personally.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“I'm busy,” I told him.

“I know.”

My brows shot up, and a brief silence followed.

“And?”

“I will keep trying.”

A smile touched my lips, I didn't want it to feel like I gave in easily.

“Still no.”

I ended the call and placed the phone on the desk.

Elena stared at me like I had grown two heads.

“What?” I asked her like I didn't know why she was staring.

“You didn't even hear the proposal.”

“I don't need to.”

“Then why did you start this if you are going to reject them?”

She sighed and picked up the documents on my desk to arrange them.

“You know, sometimes I think you forget that I was there through most of it.”

I looked away, and my eyes fell on the gold lettering on the envelope that Collins Ashford delivered.

ASHFORD GROUP

For years, I had imagined the moment I would finally stand in front of the people who destroyed my family.

I clenched my fist. Five good years of building and preparing. I had imagined the satisfaction I would feel when I watched all they've built crumble beneath my feet.

I looked down at the invitation again, and the Ashford logo stared back at me. The name had been associated with everything I lost, and now they are asking for a partnership. How convenient.

The telephone rang again, and Elena's expression changed.

“They are calling again.”

I raised my eyes.

“They are persistent. Just perfect.”

She held the phone out to me. I could either answer or reject them again. I could make them wait, I've been waiting for years. Surely, they can wait a few minutes.

I steadied my trembling hands and looked at Elena.

“Answer it.”

She pressed the phone to her ear.

“Hello?”

She listened for some seconds before her eyes moved to me.

“What did they say?”

She covered the receiver with her hand.

“It's not Mr Collins Ashford this time.”

I frowned.

“Who is it?”

“Mr Damian Ashford”

My heart skipped a beat.

Damian.

After five years, I was finally going to speak to the man I once called my husband.

I reached for the phone and stopped for a second. I remembered his face, his indifference toward me, now he wants to talk to me.

I pushed the memory away. I wasn't the woman he married anymore. And I certainly am not the woman who will forgive him.

I returned the phone to Elena.

“Tell them I've changed my mind.”

“And tell them I'll attend the meeting.”

I slid the invitation back across the desk and whispered.

“It's finally time.”