THE FIRST BATTLE

ANIYA’S POV

Three weeks after signing the divorce papers, I stood in the middle of my new studio and stared at a wall covered with sketches.

For the first time, the room looked like a real fashion house.

Mood boards covered one side of the wall. Fabric samples were pinned beside sketches of evening gowns, tailored suits, and statement dresses. Two long tables held notebooks, laptops, measuring tapes, and unfinished designs.

It wasn’t perfect.

But it was mine.

I smiled as I ran my fingers over one of the sketches.

Aurelia Luxury.

The name still felt strange.

Beautiful, but strange.

For years, I had imagined having my own fashion brand. I had pictured models walking down runways wearing my designs while photographers captured every detail.

Then I got married.

Corbin’s career took off.

I became Mrs. Vale, and somehow, my dream became something I could always return to later.

Later became four years.

Now, I was finally here.

My phone rang.

I glanced at the screen.

Sophia.

I answered.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, boss.”

I smiled.

“Don’t call me that yet.”

“Why not? You hired me.”

“I hired you as my personal assistant.”

“Exactly. Which means I’m allowed to call you boss.”

I laughed.

Sophia had started working with me only a few days ago, but somehow she had already brought more energy into my life than I expected.

“What’s the emergency?”

“Your nine o’clock meeting is in twenty minutes, your eleven o’clock meeting was moved to twelve, and Mr. Sterling’s office just sent over the revised investment documents.”

My smile faded slightly.

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll review them after the meeting.”

“There’s one more thing.”

“What?”

“Someone sent you flowers.”

I frowned.

“Who?”

“I don’t know. There’s no name.”

“Don’t accept them.”

“Too late.”

“Sophia.”

“They’re already on your desk.”

I sighed.

“I’ll deal with it when I get there.”

I ended the call and looked around the studio.

Everything was moving faster than I expected.

The investment from KC had given me the opportunity to build properly instead of struggling with a tiny budget. I had hired a small team, secured a manufacturer, and begun developing my first collection.

But money wasn’t going to guarantee success.

I still had to prove myself.

I picked up my laptop and headed toward the conference room.

The meeting lasted almost two hours.

By the end of it, I had rejected one supplier, approved two fabrics, and rewritten part of the production plan.

When I returned to my office, the flowers were still sitting on my desk.

They were beautiful.

White roses.

I picked up the card.

There was only one sentence.

You deserve better.

My stomach tightened.

I stared at it.

There was no name.

No explanation.

I immediately called Sophia.

“Did you see who delivered these?”

“No. The delivery guy left before I could ask.”

“Throw them away.”

She looked surprised.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

I watched her take the flowers.

Something about them made me uncomfortable.

I didn’t know why.

Maybe because I had spent the past few weeks dealing with enough unwanted attention.

The divorce had become public.

My name had appeared in entertainment blogs.

People had speculated about Corbin and Kenzie.

Some had called me the abandoned wife.

Others had accused me of leaving because Corbin’s career was more important than me.

I had ignored all of it.

But now someone was sending me anonymous flowers.

I didn’t like it.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Maya appeared.

Maya: Have you seen the news?

I immediately knew who it was about.

Me: No.

Three dots appeared.

Then she sent a screenshot.

My stomach dropped.

The headline read:

CORBIN VALE SPOTTED WITH KENZIE SEAN AGAIN

I stared at the picture.

Corbin and Kenzie were leaving a restaurant together.

They weren’t touching.

They weren’t even smiling.

But the picture was enough.

I locked my phone.

I didn’t care anymore.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

A knock sounded on my door.

Sophia entered.

“Mr. Sterling’s office is calling.”

I straightened.

“Put them through.”

A few seconds later, Ethan’s voice came through the phone.

“Ms. Harlow.”

“Hello, Ethan.”

“Mr. Sterling wants to move tomorrow’s meeting to tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Something came up.”

I frowned.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes.”

He paused.

“There’s just a change in schedule.”

I glanced at the clock.

“I can meet him at seven.”

“Seven works.”

The call ended.

I leaned back in my chair.

There was something strange about Ethan’s tone.

He had sounded more serious than usual.

I pushed the thought aside.

I had enough problems without inventing new ones.

⸻

That evening, I arrived at KC’s building at exactly seven.

This time, Ethan was waiting for me downstairs.

“Ms. Harlow.”

I smiled politely.

“Ethan.”

He nodded toward the elevator.

“Mr. Sterling is expecting you.”

As we walked, I noticed he kept glancing toward the entrance.

“Is something wrong?”

He looked at me.

“No.”

“You’ve looked outside three times.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“You’re observant.”

“I have to be.”

He didn’t answer.

When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out.

KC was standing near his desk.

He looked different tonight.

Darker.

More serious.

He looked at me.

“You’re late.”

I checked my watch.

“By thirty seconds.”

His lips twitched.

“You’re still late.”

I smiled.

“Then I’ll make sure I’m early next time.”

He gestured toward the chair.

“Sit.”

I sat.

KC placed a document in front of me.

“There’s been a problem with one of the manufacturers.”

I opened the file.

“What kind of problem?”

“They’ve changed their terms.”

I frowned.

“Without notifying us?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Pressure from another company.”

I looked up.

“Which company?”

KC’s expression remained unreadable.

“Corbin Vale’s.”

My fingers froze on the document.

“What?”

“They’re trying to acquire the manufacturer you’re working with.”

I stared at him.

“Why would Corbin care about my supplier?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

I closed the file.

“Do you think he’s doing this because of me?”

“I don’t know.”

KC’s voice was calm.

“But I’m going to find out.”

I looked at him.

“I don’t need you fighting my battles.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you doing it?”

His eyes met mine.

“Because I invested in your company.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“That’s a business reason.”

“Exactly.”

Something about the way he said it made me suspect there was more.

Before I could ask, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression changed immediately.

“Excuse me.”

He stepped away from the desk.

I watched him answer.

“Talk.”

Silence.

Then his jaw tightened.

“Where?”

Another pause.

“Keep him there.”

He ended the call.

I stared at him.

“Is everything okay?”

KC looked at me.

“Yes.”

“You don’t look okay.”

He walked toward me.

“Your driver is waiting downstairs.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“I’ve arranged for someone to take you home.”

“I have my own car.”

“Not tonight.”

I stood.

“KC, what is going on?”

He hesitated.

Then he looked directly into my eyes.

“Someone has been following you.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

“We believe the same person has been watching your office.”

A chill moved through me.

“Who?”

“We don’t know yet.”

I stared at him.

For the first time, the calm businessman I had met weeks ago seemed to disappear.

There was something much colder behind his eyes.

Something dangerous.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“Because I wanted to confirm it first.”

I swallowed.

“And now?”

“Now I know enough to tell you that you shouldn’t leave this building alone.”

My phone suddenly vibrated.

I looked down.

An unknown number had sent me a photograph.

My blood ran cold.

It was a picture of me leaving my office that afternoon.

Someone had taken it from across the street.

Underneath the picture were four words.

You should have stayed married.

I stared at the screen.

KC noticed my expression.

“What is it?”

I slowly handed him the phone.

His eyes moved over the photograph.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

He handed the phone back.

Then he looked at Ethan.

“Lock the building down.”

Ethan immediately nodded.

KC turned back to me.

“From now on, you don’t go anywhere alone.”

I stared at him.

“Who would do this?”

His expression hardened.

“I don’t know yet.”

He paused.

“But I’m going to find out.”

And judging by the look in his eyes, whoever had chosen to threaten me had just made a very dangerous mistake.