Page 19 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

I stare at him like he just sprouted a second head while he maintains that stupid smile on his face.

"First, you practically forced me into a work trip, and now you want to kill me?"

"What I'm saying is, I'm confident I'll have a good time anywhere so long as you're with me." His voice grows impossibly lower, and my breath follows. "I just need you to give me the chance to show you."

His eyes are filled with unspoken promises, and I can make out a flicker of hope lurking behind them. He seizes the moment to draw closer to me, and the air in our suite is suddenly too heavy to draw into my lungs.My skin tingles with anticipation as his eyes trail from my eyes to my neck before resting on the pendant resting on my neck. I feel the piece of metal heat up beneath his burning gaze, and I fight the urge to tear it from my neck and toss it to the side.Lucien doesn't make any more moves, but his eyes might as well be hands caressing every bit of me and leaving a wanton flame wherever they touch. He hadn't even touched me, yet I felt ravaged.I quickly turn away, breaking the spell and turning my attention to the world around me. Promises. The same ones he couldn't uphold five years ago. The same ones I held on to and tailored my life around to be tossed to the side like a rag doll. The same ones that left a gaping hole in my chest. I am not the young, naive girl I was, and despite a foolish part of me wanting to dive into his arms and let him whisper sweet nothings to me, I know better.

The after-effect is worse than a hangover of the tenth degree and takes an even longer time to get rid of or, in my case, manage. I glue my attention to the clouds floating by while the side of my face burns with awareness of Lucien's unwavering gaze. I don't offer him a word of reply, nor do I turn to confront him.Eventually, I feel the heat slip away, and the pressure lifts off my shoulders. What I did not expect is the slight pang of disappointment that came from not being the object of his sole focus. Lucien doesn't give up easily. Maybe he finally got the message, or maybe he remembered he had the entirety of the trip to get his point across. Whatever it is, I guess I'll have to rely on time to find out. The realization leaves me with a deeper feeling of unease.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Lucien

The conference room is filled with hums from the sound of paper shuffling and laptops. The final details of the project are laid out. I sit back in my chair, feeling the eyes of people on me.Executives from every department sit at the long table, their faces a mix of skepticism and interest, all waiting for a decision, all waiting for me to push them in the direction I want.My eyes scan across the room, searching for Aurora. Then, my eyes fall on her. She sits poised across me, but there's a palpable wall between us now.

Ever since we landed at the airport, she has been treating me like some stranger. I try not to show it, but I can't ignore whatever it is. She's treating this like it's just another thing she does whenever she feels like, and I can't help feeling like she's slipping away from my grasp.

She's not like the others who are here. Not like the mindless sycophants who throw praise at me every time I speak. She is different. She doesn't fawn over me and doesn't care for my reputation or charm.Her eyes remain fixed on the projector, on the problem at hand, and not on me…it drives me crazy.

I clench my jaw tightly, adjusting my tie. All this feels so new to me. She is not the Aurora I remember.

Aurora has always looked at me and wants to see me. Even when she was angry, even in silence, she never ignored me. But now? All she does is act like I'm nothing but a business partner who brought her on a trip to further our project.I lean back in my chair, grasping my pen tightly and tapping it against the table. The financial team continues to talk about the risks and market variables, but my focus is just locked on her.

I don't care if she acts differently to me.

There is no hesitation in any movement she makes. Her voice is certain, and when she speaks, people listen. They were probably drawn by her aura.

I watch carefully how she flips through the reports, files, and documents, her brows furrowing, her lips pressing together like she has something to say, but she's holding back.

My eyes trail down the soft curve of her cheek and the slope of her neck as I swallow hard.

All I want right now is to touch her and tame whatever composure she builds for me and make her stare at me the way she has always done in the past.

She hasn't done that in a while, not once since we came in contact again.

A sharp voice cuts through my thoughts, echoing. "Lucien, do you have anything to add?"

I haven't even been listening to whatever they are talking about, so what could I possibly have to add? But then, I need to add something.

I blink, scanning the faces of the executives in the conference room, then clear my throat.Aurora's gaze darts to me for the first time in the meeting. I catch her gaze, but then she looks away.

I hate that she did that.

"We've all been given the points and numbers. I have a new plan, and I'm suggesting that it will take us to the next level. It's hectic, but it's the only way forward." My voice calms as I get everyone's attention. "If we want to dominate the market, we need to take risks. I propose that we double the initial investment. We need to move fast and hard, take the competitors by surprise before they even get the chance to adjust."

Silent whispers fill the conference room as some executives nod in agreement and others frown at it.

I stare at Aurora to see her reaction, but she stays quiet. Her expression is unreadable as her fingers skim the edge of the report in her hand.

Just when I conclude that she has nothing to say, she lifts her head, meeting my gaze.

"I disagree," she spat, her voice calm but challenging.

The executives turn to her. I was surprised by how instantly her words caught the attention of the other members.

Even if I made a wrong suggestion, no one dared to disagree, but Aurora…she's a different breed entirely.

Trying to put off the irritation in my mind, I ask, "You disagree?""You want to double the investment?" Her eyes lock with mine, unwavering.

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