Raven stood in front of the large window of her private office, looking over the city.
On her desk lay several documents.
Property deeds.
Acquisition contracts.
Financial records.
One by one, Raven had been buying back the properties that once belonged to her mother.
It had taken years.
Some had been sold.
Some had been transferred.
Others had disappeared into complicated business arrangements designed to keep her from ever finding them.
But Raven had been patient.
She had tracked every property.
Every company.
Every account.
And slowly, she had taken them back.
Jane walked into the office carrying another folder.
"Another one."
Raven turned.
"Which property?"
"The estate on Willow Creek."
Raven's eyes settled on the folder.
"My mother's?"
"Yes."
Raven took it.
She opened the folder and read through the documents.
Everything was in order.
The property was officially hers again.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Five years ago, she had stood outside that house in the rain with nothing.
Now she was taking back everything that had been stolen from her.
Raven closed the folder.
"How much did it cost?"
Jane told her.
Raven nodded.
"Transfer the remaining amount."
"Already done."
Raven looked at her.
Jane smiled.
"You hired me for a reason."
A faint smile touched Raven's lips.
"Good."
Jane placed another folder on the desk.
"There are three more properties we're negotiating for."
Raven opened it.
"One in Chicago?"
"Yes."
"Another in Blackwood Heights?"
"Yes."
"And the last?"
"Still under another company's ownership."
Raven's expression hardened.
"Find out who owns it."
"We're already working on it."
"Good."
Jane hesitated.
"There's something else."
Raven looked up.
"What?"
"Your mother."
Raven went still.
Jane carefully continued.
"I found an old financial record connected to one of her properties."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"What kind of record?"
"We're not sure yet."
"Bring it to me."
Jane handed her the file.
Raven opened it.
The documents were old.
Very old.
There were several names she recognized.
Then she saw one she didn't.
Her expression changed.
"Who is this?"
"We don't know."
Raven studied the name.
"Find out."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jane turned to leave.
Then she stopped.
"Raven?"
"Yes?"
"You've been working since six this morning."
"I know."
"You haven't eaten."
"I'll eat later."
"You said that yesterday."
Raven looked at her.
"Are you my assistant or my mother?"
Jane smiled.
"Neither. But someone has to keep you alive."
Raven shook her head.
"Go home, Jane."
"After you eat."
Raven stared at her.
Jane stared back.
Finally, Raven sighed.
"Fine."
Jane smiled triumphantly.
"I'll order something."
She left.
Raven looked down at the documents again.
Her mother's properties.
Her mother's company.
Her mother's money.
Everything she had lost was slowly returning to her.
Soon, there would be nothing left for Jeff and Bella to claim.
Raven leaned back in her chair.
She should have felt satisfied.
Instead, her thoughts drifted somewhere else.
To a boardroom.
To a pair of calm eyes.
To an Omega who had looked directly at her without fear.
Eleanor Vance.
Raven frowned.
Why was she thinking about her?
She reached for another document.
It didn't help.
Eleanor's voice returned to her.
"Then perhaps we should stop negotiating and solve the problem."
Raven shook her head.
"She was simply good at business."
That was all.
A business partner.
Nothing more.
She opened another file.
Five minutes later, she found herself thinking about Eleanor again.
Raven dropped the pen onto her desk.
"This is ridiculous."
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Jane entered carrying a cup of coffee.
She stopped when she saw Raven's expression.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Jane placed the coffee down.
"You look annoyed."
"I am."
"With what?"
Raven looked away.
"Nothing important."
Jane studied her for a moment.
Then she noticed the open laptop on Raven's desk.
A business profile was displayed on the screen.
Eleanor Vance — CEO, Vance Capital Holdings.
Jane slowly raised an eyebrow.
Raven noticed.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
Jane smiled.
"I was just wondering why you're researching Ms. Vance."
"I'm not."
"Her company profile is on your screen."
Raven glanced at it.
"I was reviewing our partnership."
"Of course."
Raven narrowed her eyes.
"Jane."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Go home."
Jane laughed.
"Yes, ma'am."
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she looked back.
"You know, you can admit when someone interests you."
Raven's expression became cold.
"She doesn't."
Jane smiled.
"Whatever you say."
The door closed.
Raven stared at it.
Then she looked back at the screen.
Eleanor's photograph was displayed beside her company information.
Raven stared at it for a few seconds.
Then she closed the laptop.
She had more important things to think about.
Her mother.
Her properties.
Jeff.
Bella.
Revenge.
That was what mattered.
Love had no place in her plans.
Especially not now.
Raven picked up the folder containing the next property acquisition.
But somewhere deep inside, she already knew something had changed.
For the first time in five years, someone had managed to occupy her thoughts without permission.
And Raven didn't like it.
Not one bit.