Chapter 3 Rivals In Silk
- The Grand Palais in Geneva was a cathedral of glass, marble, and blinding grandeur. The air was heavy with the scent of expensive perfume, aged champagne, and the crackling energy of absolute power.
- Amelia stepped out of her black Maybach, immediately greeted by a blinding flash of photographer strobes. She wore a floor-length, backless gown in deep emerald silk from her own collection, a dress that moved around her like liquid envy, hugging every curve before falling into a dramatic, sweeping train. Diamonds sparkled at her throat, but it was the icy, untouchable calm in her eyes that captivated the room.
- The heavy oak doors opened, and the whispering began instantly.
- "Is that Amelia Rhodes?"
- "She looks extraordinary..."
- "Did you hear? *Aura* just crushed Cross Holdings' second-quarter luxury projections in Asia."
- Amelia navigated the glittering crowd with fluid grace, sipping sparkling water as she held court with European royalty and venture capitalists. She was no longer a shadow beside a powerful man; she was the sun everyone was orbiting.
- Then, the atmosphere in the grand ballroom shifted.
- A quiet hush rippled through the crowd near the entrance. Amelia didn't need to turn around to know who had arrived. The sudden drop in ambient temperature and the subtle shift in high-society gravity gave him away.
- Sebastian Cross walked in.
- He was strikingly handsome in a custom charcoal tuxedo, his dark hair immaculate, his presence magnetic and suffocating all at once. He looked every bit the ruthless titan who ruled the corporate world.
- His dark eyes swept the ballroom, ignoring the heiresses and CEOs trying to catch his attention, until his gaze locked onto Amelia.
- For a long, suspended second, neither of them moved.
- Sebastian’s jaw tightened. It had been over a year since he had seen her in person. The woman standing across the room wasn't the quiet, accommodating wife he had walked away from. This woman was lethal. She was radiantly, undeniably breathtaking. A sudden, sharp ache hit him squarely in the chest, a terrifying mix of nostalgia and pride.
- Amelia gave him a polite, barely perceptible nod, her expression unreadable, before casually turning back to her conversation with a French countess.
- An hour later, the elite gathered in the private VIP lounge. The core purpose of the summit was no secret: the Swiss government and the prestigious Valmont Estate were awarding an exclusive, ten-billion-dollar global partnership for a new chain of ultra-luxury private resorts. Only two brands were left in the running… Cross Holdings and AURA.
- Amelia stepped toward the terrace for a breath of crisp mountain air, leaving the stifling lounge behind.
- "Emerald was always your color," a deep, smooth voice spoke from the shadows.
- Amelia paused, taking a slow breath before turning to face Sebastian. He stood near the marble balustrade, a glass of scotch hanging casually between his fingers.
- "Sebastian," she said, her tone as smooth as fine satin. "I see you still favor dramatic entrances."
- Sebastian walked closer, stopping just short of invading her personal space. Up close, he could smell her signature scent notes of jasmine, amber, and something dark and intoxicating. It hit him like a physical blow.
- "Congratulations on Forbes," he said, his voice dropping an octave, rich and sincere. "You looked remarkable on the cover. Though the article barely did justice to how quickly you’ve dominated the market."
- "I don't need media praise to know my worth anymore, Sebastian," she replied, tilting her head slightly. "But thank you."
- Sebastian leaned against the stone railing, his eyes tracking the line of her throat. "I heard you're pitching for the Valmont contract tonight. It's a bold move, Amelia. That deal requires global distribution networks that take decades to build. My firm has those networks."
- Amelia let out a soft, melodious laugh that sent a strange shudder down Sebastian’s spine.
- "Decades?" She took a slow step toward him, closing the distance until she had to look up into his dark eyes. The lingering warmth between them was palpable, wrapped in a suffocating layer of tension. "Your network is ancient, Sebastian. It's rigid. AURA offers modern, bespoke elegance that your corporate behemoth simply can't replicate. You sell status. I sell an experience."
- Sebastian’s eyes darkened, his competitive instinct flaring, but beneath it lay something far more dangerous: desire. He had forgotten how sharp her mind was, how dangerous she could be when she was ignited.
- "Is this business, Amelia?" Sebastian asked quietly, stepping closer until his heat radiated against her bare shoulders. "Or are you trying to prove something to me?"
- Amelia didn't flinch. She leaned in, her lips inches from his jaw, whispering softly, "I don't think about you enough to prove anything to you, Sebastian. This isn't revenge. It's just business."
- Before Sebastian could respond, a rich, cultured laugh echoed from the terrace doors, breaking the tense spell between them.
-
- "Ah, the famous exes trading sharp daggers in Geneva! What a magnificent view."
- Amelia and Sebastian both turned.
- Walking onto the terrace was a man who looked like he had stepped straight out of a classic Hollywood film. Tall, with sun-kissed skin, silver-streaked dark hair, and a tuxedo tailored to absolute perfection, Adrian Vale strolled toward them. He was a legendary billionaire investor, a notorious rogue, and the undisputed king of European private equity.
- Adrian’s bright blue eyes ignored Sebastian completely, landing directly on Amelia. A slow, wickedly handsome smirk spread across his face.
- "Amelia Rhodes," Adrian murmured, stepping right past Sebastian to gently take her hand. Instead of a formal handshake, he lifted her knuckles to his lips, kissing them with unhurried warmth. "I’ve chased your brand across three continents. Meeting the mastermind behind it is an absolute honor."
- Sebastian’s hand tightened around his scotch glass until his knuckles turned white. A dark, possessive urge one he had no right to feel surged fiercely in his gut.
- Amelia smiled, her eyes lighting up with genuine amusement. "Adrian Vale. I’ve read about your aggressive acquisitions."
-
- "Forget what you’ve read," Adrian said smoothly, his eyes flashing with playful warmth as he held her gaze. "I'm much more gentle in person. Especially when I'm trying to impress the most extraordinary woman in the room."
- Sebastian took a sharp step forward, his voice dropping into a cold, protective growl th
- at sliced through the night air.
- "Vale. You're in the wrong conversation.”