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He built an empire from nothing. She never wanted to be noticed.

When ruthless billionaire CEO Nicholas Ashford hires the quiet but sharp-tongued Emery Clarke as his new executive secretary, neither expects their lives to change forever. Nicholas lives in a world of power, secrets, and revenge—built on the ashes of a past he never speaks of. Emery, haunted by her own losses, just wants to survive and stay invisible.

But sparks fly the moment their worlds collide.

As office politics turn dangerous and a rival corporation threatens everything Nicholas built, Emery becomes more than just a secretary—she’s the key to unlocking his humanity... and a truth that could destroy them both. Because Emery has a secret too. One that ties her to the Ashford empire in ways no one could have predicted.

What begins as a contract becomes a collision. What begins as desire becomes destiny.

ASHES AND INHERITANCE

The room was cold. On purpose.

Sterile, windowless. Just four gray walls, a round table, and too many eyes.

Emery sat on one side of the table alone. On the other—two board-appointed compliance officers, Marla, and Lucas Vale.

She hadn't touched the water in front of her.

Her blouse felt too tight. Her palms too dry. She hadn't worn makeup that morning. She wanted them to see her—not a seductress, not a threat—just a woman trying to survive a fire she hadn't lit.

"Let's begin," said the lead officer, a bald man with an accent as flat as his affect. "We're investigating potential breaches of the Ashford Code of Conduct. Full cooperation is expected."

Lucas leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, fingers steepled. His presence alone dominated the room. Charming. Calculating. Deadly.

She remembered his words from the hallway.

"Nicholas may be the king... but I own the guillotine."

"You were promoted four months ago," the officer continued. "Did your relationship with Mr. Ashford begin before or after that change in title?"

Marla scoffed. "It's a simple question, Miss Clarke."

"No," Emery said quietly. "It's a complicated answer. One that started long before I ever touched him. Before I knew what I meant to him."

The officer scribbled something down.

"And in return for this... undefined relationship," he continued, "have you received any raises, bonuses, or internal favors that could be seen as preferential?"

"No," Emery said. "But I earned every one I ever received. With results. With numbers. With long hours and twice the work."

"And yet—someone took a photo of you and Mr. Ashford. Twice. Do you have any knowledge of who that might be?"

Outside the room, Nicholas stood with Olivia.

He wasn't allowed in the hearing. But his presence was a storm through the executive hallway—board members moving fast, whispering, avoiding his eyes.

"You need to see this," Olivia said, handing him a flash drive. "It's from our internal systems team."

Nicholas plugged it into his tablet.

And then—a name.

And then Nicholas whispered: "He had her keycard cloned."

Back in the hearing, the lead officer leaned forward. "Final question."

"If you were given the choice—to protect your career or protect Mr. Ashford—what would you choose?"

And said: "Neither. I'd protect myself."

"Thank you, Miss Clarke. That will be all."

She stepped into the hallway and found Nicholas waiting.

"Come with me," he said, already walking.

They entered a locked conference room on the 44th floor—one used only for private strategy sessions.

"He cloned your access card," Nicholas said. "That's how he got into the rooftop feed. How he found the camera in the elevator. This wasn't a leak. It was sabotage."

Emery stared at the screen, then at him. "Why?"

Nicholas's jaw tensed. "He wants Ashford. And he wants you."

Cut to Lucas Vale, alone in his private office.

On the desk in front of him, a press packet.

"CEO'S SECRET AFFAIR: Insider Scandal at Ashford Enterprises"

End of Chapter Ten

Chapter 10: A game of Wolves