CHAPTER SIX

Shadows of the Past

Nicole's thoughts drifted back to Tyler's proposal, but another name surfaced, unbidden—Anthony Bond.

She hadn't spoken of him in years, not since their catastrophic ending. Yet, his shadow still loomed over her, a constant reminder of trust misplaced.

Anthony had been charming, charismatic—and calculating. Their relationship had started as a strategic alliance, a perfect merger of power and ambition. She had believed she controlled the narrative. But Anthony had rewritten the ending.

As she stepped into her bedroom, her gaze settled on the antique dresser against the far wall. With a quiet breath, she slid open a hidden compartment. Inside, a small velvet box rested, untouched by time.

Nicole hesitated, then flipped it open. A single golden cufflink glimmered under the dim light. Anthony's.

Her fingers hovered over it, the memories rushing back in sharp clarity—his smooth words, his intoxicating confidence, the way he had played the long game with ruthless precision. Their partnership had been a ticking time bomb. She had ignored the signs until it was too late.

Her jaw tightened. Never again.

She snapped the box shut and shoved it back into the compartment, locking away both the cufflink and the ghosts of her past.

The Present Calls

The next morning, a package from Winslow Enterprises arrived—Tyler's proposal.

Nicole sat in her private study, the morning light spilling over the polished mahogany desk as she meticulously reviewed the documents. Projections, legal clauses, potential risks—she dissected everything, looking for leverage, for any sign of a trap.

It was an ambitious move. A high-stakes gamble that could alter the industry's power balance.

Tyler's words echoed in her mind. "We'll change the game, Nicole."

She smirked slightly. Change the game?

That depends on who's holding the cards.

A sharp exhale left her lips. The game was already changing. The real question was—would she control it, or would she be played?

She flipped through the last page of the proposal and reached for her pen—not to sign, but to make notes. Revisions. Demands. If Tyler thought he had dictated the terms, he was mistaken.

Nicole Melbourne never played a game she couldn't win.

Her phone buzzed. Rachel.

Nicole hesitated before answering.

"Nicole, I've been thinking… about Anthony." Rachel's voice was cautious.

Nicole's grip on the phone tightened slightly. "What about him?"

"I remember how he hurt you. Are you sure you're ready to trust Tyler?"

Nicole's pause was deliberate, her tone measured. "Tyler's different, Rachel. This is business."

Silence hummed on the other end.

"Be careful, Nicole. Your heart is at stake."

Nicole's gaze drifted back to the proposal, her mind split between past and present. Was Rachel right? Was she ignoring the warning signs?

Or were they all just being unnecessarily cautious—because they cared too much?

She set her phone down and reached for a fresh sheet of paper. If she was going to play this game, she would play to win.

And Tyler Winslow was about to find out exactly who he was dealing with.