Billionaire's Betrayal a contracted revenge (Aurelia) novel Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Aurelia’s POV

Rieck quickly looked up. “What? No.” His voice came out low and steady. “Never, Aurelia.”

“Then why are you suddenly always acting like I’m… bothering you?”

“I already told you. Nothing’s wrong.”

“You’re not telling me the truth.”

“Aurelia.”

“I’m not asking for a fight, Rieck.” I softened my voice, just slightly. “I’m only asking for the truth.”

“There’s nothing to tell.” He looked away first, back towards his desk. “I promise you, Aurelia.”

“You keep making so many promises lately.”

“And I intend to keep every single one of them.”

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“Then keep this one, Rieck.” I held his gaze steady, unwavering. “Don’t shut me out. Whatever this is, I would rather face it with you than be left guessing alone in the dark.”

“I hear you.”

“Do you really?”

“I do.” Something flickered behind his eyes, guilt or grief, I couldn’t fully tell which anymore. “Give me a little more time, Aurelia.”

“Time for what exactly?”

He didn’t answer that question either.

I studied him a long moment, wanting so badly to believe it, knowing I didn’t fully believe it at all.

But I let it go, for now.

Ever since my position came back, I stayed on alert.

Selene had promised to stay away from Rieck. But the bitch didn’t.

“Selene is heading towards Rieck’s office again,” one of the junior staff mentioned to me quietly, almost apologetic, like she felt bad reporting it. “Third time today.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

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Chapter 125

“She always has a reason ready. A file. A question. Something small that could have easily waited.”

“I know. Keep me updated, please.”

“Of course, Mrs. Valerius.”

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I stared at the woman hurry back to her desk, grateful for the small loyalty even as it made my stomach twist tighter, hating that I had reached the point of needing employees to report her movements to me at all.

She still found reasons to walk towards Rieck’s office three, four times a day. She still lingered outside his door with folders she could have easily emailed.

I started spying on her without meaning to and I saw things I had never bothered seeing before.

The way her perfume lingered in the hallway after she left his office. The way Rieck’s jaw tightened whenever her name came up in conversation, even in passing. The way he avoided my eyes for exactly one beat too long every time I asked about his day, that small hesitation before he answered anything at all.

Something was still happening between them. I was sure.

I spotted her that afternoon, a folder tucked under her arm, walking straight towards his office.

I stepped into the hallway before she reached his door.

“Selene, stop right there.”

She stopped, her smile arranging itself quickly into place. “Aurelia. I have something for Rieck.”

“Give it to me.”

“It’s urgent, Aurelia. I should really hand it to him directly.”

“Then it will reach him faster through me.” I held out my hand, keeping my voice pleasant and controlled. “I’m second in command here. Reports pass through me first. That has not changed.”

“It really would be quicker if I just took it in myself.”

“I’m sure it would.” I kept my hand out, waiting, unmoving. “But that’s not how this company runs. Not

anymore.”

“Rieck usually doesn’t mind.”

“I am not Rieck.”

Her jaw tightened, just slightly. “Of course. My mistake.”

“Is it a mistake, Selene? Or a habit?”

She didn’t answer that.

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A few employees passing by slowed their steps, clearly sensing the tension without understanding why.

She slowly handed over the folder, reluctantly, her eyes staying locked on mine the entire time.

“Thank you.” I turned and walked away without waiting for her response, the folder held tight against my chest, refusing to let my hands shake until I was back inside my own office.

Closing my door, I set the folder on my desk, my heart beating harder than a single folder should have ever caused.

Whatever this was between us, it had stopped being about paperwork weeks ago, if it had ever really been about paperwork at all.

She found me in my own office an hour later, walking in without knocking, closing the door behind her with a loud click, her heels sharp against the floor as she crossed the room.

“You really didn’t have to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Take the file from me in front of half the staff.” Selene crossed her arms, studying me with something cool and unreadable behind her eyes. “It was unnecessary. Embarrassing, honestly, for both of us.”

“It was policy.”

“Was it?” Her mouth curved, thin and unkind. “Or is this about something else entirely?”

“Excuse me?”

“Only an insecure woman watches another woman this closely, Aurelia.” Selene tilted her head slowly. “Only an insecure wife tracks every folder, every meeting, every single hallway someone walks down.”

“I am not insecure, Selene.”

“Are you sure?” Selene stepped closer, unbothered by the desk between us. “Because from where I stand, it looks exactly like fear.”

“Call it whatever you like.”

“I call it what it is.” Selene’s smile widened. “A woman who knows something is slipping through her fingers, and can’t quite figure out how to stop it, no matter how many folders she confiscates.”

“Mind your words,” I said, rising slowly from my chair, my voice dropping colder than I intended. “You are speaking to Rieck’s wife. Not some coworker you can push around whenever you please.”

“I’m well aware of who I’m speaking to.”

“Then act like it.”

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