The silence in the car was suffocating.
Anastasia barely waited for the car to come to a full stop before she shoved open the door and stepped out onto the familiar grounds of Laurent Corp. Her heels clacked against the pavement with purpose, her eyes fixed on the towering building that once symbolized pride and legacy.
Dante stepped out after her, silent and poised as always, but Anastasia didn't spare him a glance. She was too focused, too determined to let him shake her now.
She paused briefly at the entrance, her breath catching in her throat. This place used to be her second home. Now it felt like a battlefield.
With a sharp inhale, she pushed the doors open.
Inside, the receptionist glanced up from her desk, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Miss Laurent!" she gasped, standing abruptly. Her voice dropped an octave when she saw who followed behind. "A-Are you... is that...?"
Her voice trailed off as she stared, lips parted. Her eyes locked on Dante like she couldn't believe he was real.
Dante Alexander Montgomery. The billionaire. The man behind a thousand headlines. Her dream husband. Her voice came out as a whisper. "Oh my God."
Anastasia offered a tight smile but didn't slow her pace. "We're going up."
"Of course, Miss Laurent. Go right ahead."
Dante didn't even acknowledge the receptionist, striding past her with quiet elegance. He didn't need to speak to command attention. His presence alone said everything.
They reached the elevator, the silver doors reflecting their expressions back at them—hers tense, his unreadable.
As the elevator doors slid closed, Anastasia turned to glare at him.
"Why are you following me in? This doesn't concern you," she snapped.
Dante didn't flinch. "You forget," he said coolly, his eyes meeting hers in the reflection. "I own Laurent Corp now."
Anastasia clenched her jaw. There was no comeback for that. Not yet.
The elevator dinged.
He reached for her hand.
Anastasia stiffened, her gaze darting to the cameras. She forced a smile, the kind that didn't reach her eyes, and let him take her hand. She hated this dance.
As they stepped out, the hallway buzzed with whispers. Eyes turned. Phones were subtly angled to capture the sight of them walking hand in hand. To the staff, it was the talk of the century.
"Is that Dante Montgomery?"
"Are they a couple now?"
"God, they look like royalty."
Anastasia lifted her chin and smiled as if she didn't hear a word, even though her stomach churned.
They reached the CEO's office.
She didn't knock.
Her mother sat behind the large mahogany desk, eyes closed, the weight of stress evident in the lines of her face. Genevieve Laurent looked years older than the last time Anastasia had seen her.
Her eyes opened slowly.
"Anastasia," she said quietly, then her gaze shifted behind her daughter. "Mr. Montgomery."
She didn't sound surprised.
Anastasia walked in first, keeping her shoulders squared. She didn't bother asking why Dante followed. She was too exhausted.
"What's going on?" she asked, her voice firmer than she felt.
Genevieve folded her hands on the desk. Her lips pressed together before she spoke. "The company is on the brink of bankruptcy."
Anastasia's world tilted.
"What?"
"The board has been selling shares to keep us afloat," Genevieve continued, her voice brittle. "Your uncle, Maxime Anstorne, bought most of them."
Anastasia froze.
"He—what?"
"He's set to become the next CEO, if nothing changes," her mother said with a bitter smile. "There'll be a board meeting soon to confirm it."
Anastasia's hands clenched at her sides. She turned toward Dante, who stood still, unreadable. Like always.
He was right. She didn't know the first thing about saving a collapsing corporation. But that didn't mean she couldn't learn.
She turned back to her mother.
"So what do we do now?"
Genevieve's expression was blank.
"We prepare for the board meeting. And we pray Maxime doesn't already have too much power."
Anastasia's jaw tightened.
Not if she could help it.
Dante remained quiet the entire time. But his gaze never left her.
Like he was waiting to see what she'd do next.