Chapter 1: A Stormy Reunion

I took a deep breath, scanning the faces in the packed auditorium. The lights were bright, and the anticipation was palpable. This was my moment, a culmination of months of work. I adjusted the microphone and began my keynote address.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the future of technology isn't just about innovation—it's about redefining our reality. At Hartfield Tech, we believe in pushing the boundaries—"

I was interrupted by the sudden flash of cameras, a murmur running through the crowd. My eyes shifted to the side of the stage, and that’s when I saw him. Julian Sterling. My ex-husband. The man I had spent three years of my life loving and ten years trying to forget.

Julian's mere presence sent a chill down my spine, but seeing him stride confidently towards the stage was another thing altogether.

He wore that infuriatingly charming smile that I knew all too well, his dark eyes focused squarely on me. What in the world was he doing here?

A collective gasp filled the room as he took the microphone from the moderator at the side of the stage. "Thank you, Isobel, for that inspiring introduction," Julian said smoothly.

The audience's murmuring grew louder. I gripped the podium tighter, my knuckles turning white. What game was he playing now?

Julian continued, his voice like velvet over steel. "I am thrilled to be here today, especially since I have a rather exciting announcement to make.

Sterling Enterprises has just invested fifty million dollars in Vortex Tech, Hartfield Tech’s newest and fiercest competitor."

A wave of shock rippled through the audience, followed by a flurry of camera flashes. My heart dropped. Vortex Tech? I had heard of them—they were a scrappy startup looking to disrupt the market. But a partnership with Sterling Enterprises? That was a declaration of war.

I forced myself to remain composed, even as anger simmered beneath my professional facade. I couldn't let him see how much his stunt had rattled me.

I took a step toward Julian, my voice cold and controlled. "Julian, this is quite the surprise. I wasn't aware that you were a fan of tech conferences."

He turned to face me, his smile widening. "Oh, I'm a fan of many things, Isobel. Especially when they involve you."

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "Is this your way of trying to get under my skin? Because it’s not going to work."

"Who said I was trying to get under your skin?" Julian replied, his tone infuriatingly calm. "Maybe I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"Liar," I hissed under my breath, stepping closer so that only he could hear me. "You're here to cause trouble. You always are."

Julian’s smile didn’t falter. If anything, it grew more amused. "Trouble? I prefer to think of it as opportunity. Besides, you and I both know that competition keeps things interesting."

The crowd was still buzzing with excitement and confusion, but I barely heard them. My focus was solely on Julian, my mind racing. What was he planning? And why now?

"I don't know what your game is, Julian, but you won't win," I said through clenched teeth. "Not this time."

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent shivers down my spine despite my anger. "This isn’t about winning or losing, Isobel. This is about us. It always has been."

I recoiled as if he’d struck me, his words hitting far too close to home. Before I could formulate a response, Julian turned back to the audience, raising his voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for allowing me to interrupt your regularly scheduled program. I’ll leave you to the capable hands of Miss Hartfield. I’m sure she has much more to say."

With that, Julian handed the microphone back and made his way off the stage, leaving me standing there, stunned and seething.

The audience erupted into whispers and applause, some clearly entertained by the spectacle, others just as shocked as I was.

I had to pull myself together. I couldn’t let him win, not here, not in front of all these people. Taking a deep breath, I forced a smile and returned my attention to the crowd.

"Well, that was unexpected," I said, trying to inject some levity into my voice. "But as I was saying, at Hartfield Tech, we believe in innovation and pushing the boundaries of what technology can do.

Now, more than ever, we are committed to leading the charge into the future."

The rest of my speech was a blur, my thoughts consumed with Julian and his sudden reappearance in my life.

As soon as I wrapped up, I hurried off the stage, ignoring the questions and camera flashes that followed me.

I needed a moment to breathe, to process what had just happened. I made my way to the green room, my mind spinning with anger and confusion. Julian had always been unpredictable, but this… this was a new low, even for him.

I barely had time to collect myself before the door swung open, and Julian stepped inside, his expression unreadable.

"Isobel," he began, but I cut him off, my patience finally snapping.

"What the hell are you doing, Julian?" I demanded, my voice shaking with barely restrained fury. "What kind of game are you playing this time?"

He held up his hands in mock surrender, that infuriating smile still in place. "No game, Isobel. I told you—I just wanted to see how you were doing."

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "Don’t insult my intelligence. You and I both know this isn't just about catching up. Why now? Why Vortex Tech?"

Julian’s expression softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something genuine in his eyes. "I’ve been thinking a lot about us lately, about what went wrong. I know I hurt you, and I know I’ve made mistakes—"

I cut him off again, my anger flaring. "Mistakes? You call what you did to me a mistake?"

He flinched, and I felt a small, twisted sense of satisfaction. Good. Let him feel something for once.

"Isobel, please," he said softly. "I’m not here to dredge up the past. I want to make things right, to—"

I raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Enough, Julian. Just… enough. I don't know what you’re trying to accomplish here, but you’re not going to get it. Not from me."

I turned to leave, but he reached out, grabbing my arm. His touch was electric, sending a jolt of unwanted memories through me. I pulled away, glaring at him.

"Don’t touch me," I snapped.

Julian dropped his hand, his gaze intense. "I’m not trying to hurt you, Isobel. I just… I miss you. I miss us."

I felt a lump form in my throat, but I swallowed it down. I couldn’t let him see how much his words affected me. "Well, I don’t miss you, Julian. And I certainly don’t miss us."

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that only I could hear. "I don’t believe that, Isobel. I don’t think you ever stopped loving me."

His words hung in the air like a challenge, daring me to deny it. I wanted to scream, to slap him, to do anything to wipe that smug look off his face. But all I could do was stand there, staring at him, my heart pounding in my chest.

Julian leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, "You and I both know this isn’t over, Isobel. Not by a long shot."

I felt a shiver run down my spine, my breath hitching in my throat. Before I could respond, he pulled back, giving me one last, lingering look before turning and walking out of the room, leaving me standing there, shaken and confused.

I watched him go, my mind racing. What the hell was he up to? And why did I still feel that pull toward him, even after everything he’d done?

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. Julian had always been a master manipulator, and I couldn’t let him get to me again.

But as I stood there, replaying his words in my mind, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

What did he mean, "this isn’t over"?

The questions swirled in my mind, and I knew one thing for certain: whatever Julian Sterling was planning, it was going to change everything.

And I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.

As I turned to leave the room, my heart still racing, I felt a hand grab my wrist again. This time, it wasn’t Julian. I spun around, ready to snap, only to find Rachel Monroe, Julian's ambitious assistant, staring at me with an unreadable expression.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Rachel leaned in, her eyes flashing with something I couldn’t quite place. "Be careful, Isobel. Julian isn’t the only one with an agenda. And if you’re not careful, you might just find yourself in over your head."

With that, she released my wrist and walked away, leaving me with more questions than answers. What the hell was going on? And who could I trust?