The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Chapter 9 – The Return

Damien. She didn’t need to say it.

My voice turned cold. "Then he sees what he threw away."

After we hung up, I stood at my window for a long time. Noah’s face floated in my mind—those ice-blue eyes that I saw every day, that reminded me every day of both my greatest love and my deepest betrayal.

He was Three now. Smart, funny, kind. Everything good in my life.

And he had no idea who his father was.

My assistant appeared in the doorway, with a tablet in hand. "Ms. Monroe? It’s 2 PM."

I turned from the window, smoothing my suit. "Who is it?"

She glanced at her screen. "Ravenwood Business Summit coordination. The Blackwood meeting is confirmed for tomorrow."

My pulse jumped, but my face stayed neutral. "Perfect."

She hesitated, then continued. "They’re requesting a preliminary meet-and-greet tonight. Drinks at the Grand Hotel." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Decline." I sat back at my desk, my tone final. "I don’t do social calls."

"They were quite insistent" She ventured carefully.

"Decline," I repeated, not looking up from my screen. "We’ll meet at the summit. On my terms."

She nodded and left, understanding in her silence.

I pulled up Blackwood Enterprises’ latest financial reports. Studied Damien’s photo on the company website. Four years older now. Still devastatingly handsome but cold.

Still the man who threw me out pregnant.

My hands clenched into fists.

Let’s show them what they created, I thought, my reflection sharp in the darkening window.

The Ravenwood Grand Hotel was exactly as I remembered. Opulent. Excessive. Everything about it screamed old money and older power.

I walked through the marble lobby in a black. My heels clicked with authority. My assistant and two junior executives flanked me with their tablets ready.

Heads turned as they always did now.

The business summit was being held in the hotel’s largest conference center. Three hundred of Ravenwood’s most powerful players, all gathering to discuss market expansion, partnerships, hostile takeovers disguised as collaborations.

I’d been invited because Monroe Global couldn’t be ignored anymore. We were too big, too successful, too disruptive.

They had to let me in.

The irony was delicious.

The summit coordinator greeted me with an oily smile. "Ms. Monroe. Welcome to Ravenwood. Your presentation slot is at 2 PM in Conference Room B."

I didn’t break stride. "Change it. I want the 3 PM slot at the main hall."

His smile faltered. "That’s... that’s Mr. Blackwood’s slot."

"Then we’ll go back-to-back." I didn’t wait for his response, already walking past him. "Make it happen."

I walked away, my team scrambling to keep up.

The morning sessions were dull. CEOs posturing, companies measuring each other, the usual corporate theater. I sat in the back, analyzing and planning.

At noon, I stepped out for air. The hotel’s rooftop garden was quiet, overlooking the Ravenwood skyline.

Blackwood Tower loomed in the distance.

I’d been in this city for six hours and hadn’t seen him yet. Part of me was relieved. Part of me was screaming with anticipation.

A voice came from behind me. "Aria Monroe?"

I turned. A woman in her fifties, perfectly styled, pearl necklace. Recognition flickered.

Mrs. Hartford. One of Eleanor’s society friends.

I kept my voice neutral. "Yes?"

Her eyes swept over me. "I thought that was you! My goodness, you look so different. I almost didn’t recognize you."

"That was the point," I said smoothly, my smile razor-sharp.

She laughed, uncertain. "I heard you’d left town. Eleanor said you—well, never mind what Eleanor said. You’re obviously doing well for yourself."

"I am." I smiled, coldly. "Monroe Global. Perhaps you’ve heard of us?"

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