Eliza Montgomery's heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floors of Montmore Tech's headquarters, each step echoing through the vast, high-ceilinged corridor. She was accustomed to the sound now—having walked these same floors countless times—but today, something felt different. There was a tension in the air, an undercurrent that couldn't be ignored, as if the building itself held its breath, waiting for something significant to unfold. Or perhaps it was just Eliza herself, on edge as she prepared for the launch of her latest campaign.

At thirty-two, Eliza had worked tirelessly to carve out a name for herself—one that wasn't tethered to her family's towering legacy of wealth and influence. The Montgomery name had always been synonymous with power, prestige, and influence. It was a name that had opened doors her whole life, but it was also one that she had tried to distance herself from.

Her father, Victor Montgomery, had been a titan in the business world—his empire built on a ruthless blend of shrewd investments and corporate control. But that world was never her world. Growing up in the constant glare of her family's spotlight had suffocated her, stifling her independence at every turn. Eliza had fought tooth and nail to forge her own path. She had attended a state university, worked her way up from an intern to the marketing director at Montmore Tech, a startup that had been making waves in the tech industry. Now, Montmore Tech was on the verge of something monumental—and Eliza was at the helm of its marketing campaign.

She had always believed in hard work, in earning her successes. Her father's empire had been built on power and manipulation; hers would be built on determination and skill.

Her fingers tightened on the strap of her leather handbag as she approached the entrance to her office. The familiar blend of energy and quiet hum from the open workspace greeted her, but it did little to ease the growing tension coiling in her chest.

"Morning, Eliza!" Her assistant, James, called out from across the room as she passed by the desk, a cheerful grin lighting up his face.

"Morning," Eliza replied with a nod, forcing a smile she didn't entirely feel. She could hear the buzz of chatter and the soft clicks of keyboards, the pulse of the office moving as usual, but today, she couldn't shake the sense that something was off.

She had been in the office for hours already, buried in meetings and last-minute revisions for the campaign, but it was the news she'd heard earlier that had set her on edge. Whispers had started circulating the office about a potential acquisition. Montmore Tech wasn't a large company, but it had attracted significant attention from investors in recent months. And the biggest name in the room was Dominic Ward, the billionaire mogul who had a reputation for turning struggling companies into his personal playground. The idea of him taking over Montmore Tech didn't sit well with Eliza.

She had spent her entire career working to avoid becoming a pawn in someone else's game, especially a man like Dominic Ward. Cold, calculating, and ruthless in his business dealings, Dominic's name was synonymous with corporate takeovers. He wasn't someone who bought companies for their potential—he bought them to strip them down and reshape them to fit his vision.

"Dominic Ward…" she murmured under her breath, the words tasting bitter in her mouth.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on her office door. James stepped in, a look of uncertainty on his face.

"Eliza, the board wants to see you. Now."

Eliza's heart skipped a beat. The board. Of course, they wanted to see her. She had suspected that something big was happening, but the realization hit with full force now. If the board was calling her in, it was for one reason. The acquisition.

"Is it him?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper.

James hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes. Dominic Ward."

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had worked hard for years to earn her position at Montmore Tech. She had fought to make her mark without relying on her family's connections, but now it felt as though everything she had worked for might be slipping away in an instant.

Dominic Ward. The man who had built an empire of his own with ruthless efficiency and no room for sentimentality. His company, Ward Enterprises, was one of the largest conglomerates in the world. And now, he was poised to take over Montmore Tech.

Eliza felt a wave of unease wash over her. She had no illusions about the type of man Dominic was. Cold, aloof, and driven by his desire for control, he wasn't someone who would hesitate to dismantle her company if it suited his interests.

"Thanks," Eliza said, her voice steady as she stood up. She adjusted the sleeve of her blazer, smoothing out the wrinkles, and walked toward the boardroom.

With every step she took down the long hallway, her thoughts raced. How would she handle this? How could she convince the board that her vision for the company was worth fighting for? And what role would Dominic Ward play in all of this?

As she reached the boardroom, the doors swung open with a quiet click, and the room fell silent. All eyes turned to her, and Eliza could feel the weight of their gaze—some expectant, others assessing. At the head of the table sat Dominic Ward, his presence commanding attention without a word.

He was everything the rumors said and more. Tall, with sharp, angular features, his eyes piercing and calculating. His dark suit was perfectly tailored to his broad frame, and his dark hair was combed back with military precision. There was an air of effortless power about him, something magnetic that made it impossible to ignore him.

"Miss Montgomery," he said, his deep voice breaking the silence. His gaze locked onto hers, unwavering. "I've heard a lot about you."

Eliza took a moment before responding, maintaining her composure despite the flutter of nerves that had suddenly risen in her chest. "I hope it's all good things," she replied, her tone steady, though her insides churned.

He gave the faintest of smiles—more a quirk of his lips than anything genuinely warm. "Good things are subjective. I prefer results."

She fought the instinct to bristle. Dominic Ward was not a man who dealt in pleasantries. He dealt in outcomes, in business, in power. She had heard the stories—his ruthless corporate dealings, the companies he'd bought and then either turned into successes or shut down without a second thought. There was no room for sentimentality in his world, and Eliza had no doubt that he would have no problem destroying everything she had worked for if it suited him.

"I'm here to discuss the future of Montmore Tech," Dominic continued, his gaze never leaving hers. "And I believe you and I have much to talk about."

Eliza swallowed her unease. "I'm listening."

As the meeting unfolded, Eliza felt herself torn between two worlds. Dominic Ward's influence was undeniable, and he was determined to make his mark on Montmore Tech. But Eliza wasn't one to simply fall in line. She had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let a man like Dominic strip away everything she had built.

Despite the mounting tension, a flicker of something else passed between them—something dangerous, something she couldn't quite name. But for now, she focused on what mattered: her company. Her career.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that the man sitting across from her wasn't just here to take over her company. He was here to take over her life.