Chapter 138: A Conflict of Interest

Chapter 138: Chapter 138: A Conflict of Interest

The grand ballroom of the Starlight Hotel was loud. Photographers shouted directions. Crystal chandeliers cast a bright, heavy glow over the crowd of actors, models, and industry executives.

Alexander stood near the back of the room. He held a glass of sparkling water, quietly watching the chaos. He was here for the final selection mixer of a massive international luxury campaign.

A familiar scent of expensive vanilla perfume drifted past him.

"You’re late."

Alexander didn’t even turn his head. He just glanced at his silver watch.

"You’re early," Alexander corrected smoothly.

Zoey Mitchell stepped up beside him. She wore a sleek, emerald green gown that caught the flashing camera lights perfectly. She took a slow sip of her champagne.

They had been competing for the same campaigns, covers, and awards for three years. Neither had ever managed to stay ahead for long.

"I prefer winning," Zoey said.

"You haven’t won yet," Alexander replied.

Zoey smiled brightly. "Give it ten minutes."

The executives ushered the top candidates into a private VIP suite. The campaign director stood at the front of the room, explaining the vision for the new global advertisements.

Alexander sat at the long table. He nodded at the right times. He looked entirely professional.

But his mind completely drifted. He stared blankly at the polished wood of the table for a long moment, thinking about a quiet apartment and a closed door.

Zoey sat directly across from him. She noticed immediately.

She didn’t know about Audrey. She certainly didn’t know Alexander had just gone through a quiet, devastating breakup. She simply noticed that her biggest rival wasn’t acting with his usual, irritating level of total focus.

When the presentation ended, the room started to clear out. Zoey walked past his chair.

"You were distracted," Zoey noted quietly.

Alexander stood up and buttoned his suit jacket. "Was I?"

"Twice," Zoey confirmed.

Alexander looked at her. "You counted?"

"I always count when I’m competing with you," Zoey replied without missing a beat.

Alexander actually laughed. The heavy tension in his chest eased just a little bit. It was refreshing to talk to someone who only cared about beating him in a contract negotiation.

Before Alexander could reply, the campaign director walked over to them. He had a massive smile on his face.

"We made our decision," the director announced loudly. "We don’t want just one face for this campaign. We want a narrative. We want a rivalry."

The director looked back and forth between them.

"We want both of you to co-star."

Zoey raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. She slowly turned her head and looked at Alexander.

"Looks like you’re stuck with me," Zoey said smoothly.

Alexander offered a polite, challenging smile. "I’ve survived worse."

"Careful," Zoey warned, her eyes gleaming with absolute competitiveness. "I might make you regret saying that."

"That’s usually your goal," Alexander replied.

Across the city, the heavy corporate world felt a million miles away.

Mason drove his dark car through the busy downtown streets. Audrey sat in the passenger seat, wearing a beautiful black dress. She looked out the window, completely failing to hide her smile.

This was an actual date. There were no tense hospital visits. There were no heavy conversations about the last seven years. They were just a boyfriend taking his girlfriend out for the night.

But Mason completely refused to tell her where they were going.

Audrey turned to look at him. "Restaurant?"

"No," Mason answered, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Football event?"

"Definitely not."

Audrey crossed her arms. "Then you’re kidnapping me."

"You came willingly," Mason pointed out logically.

"I was promised dinner," Audrey argued.

Mason smiled. "And you’re still getting dinner."

He eventually pulled the car up to a private, luxury building. He led her into a private elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.

When the doors opened, Audrey gasped softly.

It was a private rooftop garden overlooking the entire glittering city. It wasn’t overly extravagant or meant to show off his massive billionaire status. It was just incredibly beautiful. Warm string lights hung from wooden pergolas. A small table for two was set up near the glass railing, surrounded by lush green plants and soft jazz music playing from hidden speakers.

They sat down at the table. A private waiter brought them plates of incredible food.

The best part of the entire night was how completely natural it felt. They were finally behaving exactly like a normal couple.

Audrey cut a small piece of her chicken. Then, she paused. She looked across the table at Mason’s plate. He had ordered a perfectly cooked steak.

While Mason was taking a sip of his water, Audrey casually reached her fork across the table and stabbed a piece of his steak.

Mason lowered his glass. He caught her in the act.

"That’s yours," Mason stated, pointing at her plate.

Audrey quickly ate the piece of steak. "I changed my mind."

"You ordered your own," Mason reminded her.

"Yours looked better," Audrey replied simply.

Mason raised an eyebrow. "You do realize that’s theft."

Audrey leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Arrest me."

Mason stared at her completely unapologetic smile. He let out a soft breath of amusement. He reached out and physically pushed his entire plate directly into the middle of the table so she could reach it easier.

"Fine," Mason said.

Audrey smiled brightly. "You’re learning."

They didn’t talk about the airport. They didn’t talk about the tears they had cried.

Instead, they talked about the things they had never actually gotten to do together. They talked about Audrey’s new journalism ambitions at the paper. They talked about the places they desperately wanted to travel.

"Wait," Audrey stopped eating. She looked at him in total shock. "You’ve never taken a vacation?"

"Not a real one," Mason admitted. "Football schedules were brutal. Then the surgeries. Then the company."

Audrey shook her head. "That’s depressing."

"You’re welcome to fix it," Mason offered smoothly.

"I’ll consider it," Audrey teased. "I’ve always wanted to go to the coast of Italy."

"Then we’ll go," Mason said instantly.

Audrey laughed at how ridiculously easily he agreed to fly across the world.

"Mason, you don’t even know when I’m free," Audrey pointed out.

"I’ll work around you," Mason replied.

"You can’t just rearrange your entire corporate schedule because I want to eat pasta on a beach."

Mason picked up his glass. His dark eyes locked onto hers with absolute certainty.

"Watch me," Mason promised quietly.

After dinner, they walked slowly along the edge of the rooftop garden. The cool night wind brushed against their skin.

Audrey stopped at the thick glass railing and looked out at the massive city skyline.

Mason stepped up right beside her. There was no dramatic, heavy speech. He didn’t need to declare his eternal devotion to the stars. He simply reached out and took her hand, lacing his long fingers perfectly through hers.

Audrey looked down at their joined hands. Then, she turned her head and caught him looking directly at her face instead of the view.

"What?" Audrey asked softly.

"Nothing," Mason answered.

"You’re staring."

"I’m allowed."

Audrey smiled, her heart doing a familiar flutter. "At your girlfriend?"

Mason squeezed her hand. "Especially my girlfriend."

Audrey stepped closer and rested her head comfortably against his solid shoulder. Mason rested his cheek against her hair.

It was simple. It was quiet. It was exactly what they both needed.

The next morning, the city was bright and busy.

Audrey sat at her desk in the newsroom. She held a warm cup of coffee and booted up her computer. She felt lighter than she had in years. She was ready to tackle the day.

She opened her work email.

There was a new, high-priority message from the Editor in Chief. It had a secure file attached to it.

Audrey clicked the email open and began to read.

The newspaper was launching a brand new, highly sensitive investigation. It was a developing story involving severe financial discrepancies inside the Calloway Football Group.

Audrey stopped drinking her coffee. Her stomach gave a sudden, uncomfortable lurch.

She scrolled down and opened the attached document.

Calloway Football Group: Preliminary Financial Investigation

Several senior executives and board members had been linked to unexplained financial transfers.

Audrey’s eyes moved rapidly down the printed list.

Mason Calloway’s name was there.

Not as an accused criminal.

Not yet.

But he was listed among the principal executives whose financial records would be thoroughly examined.

Audrey stared at Mason’s name.

Her phone was still in her hand.

For the very first time since they got back together, she didn’t know what to say to him.