The 22 year old woman was forced by her stepmother to get into bed with one of her business partners, and she fled in desperation to a stranger's car… but that moment of fate would change her life forever…

Back in the secure penthouse, Julian poured two glasses of scotch. He handed one to Clara, who was trembling—not from fear, but from the massive dump of adrenaline.

"They were Vance's men," Julian said, downing his drink in one swallow. "Victoria must have convinced him that if they eliminate us, the merger can still happen."

Clara watched him pace. "Julian. Why are you doing this? Fifty million dollars is a lot, but you have billions. You risked your life tonight. Why do you hate Victoria so much?"

Julian stopped by the window, looking out over the glittering skyline. For a long time, he didn't speak. When he did, his voice was heavy with a sorrow Clara had never heard before.

"Ten years ago, my younger sister, Elena, was an intern at Sterling Enterprises. Victoria used her. Framed her for massive corporate fraud to cover her own embezzlement. Elena was fragile. She couldn’t handle the media, the police, the threats." Julian closed his eyes. "She took her own life before I had the power I have now to save her."

Clara felt the breath leave her lungs. She set her glass down and walked slowly across the room. She stood behind him, hesitating for a moment before wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his back.

She felt the tension in his muscles freeze, then slowly melt. He turned around, pulling her fully into his chest.

"I thought I was just using you as a pawn to destroy her," Julian whispered into her hair. "But when I saw you on that road… barefoot, bleeding, fighting to survive… you were everything Elena wasn't. And when those men shot at the car tonight, I didn't care about the money or the revenge. I only cared about you."

Clara looked up into his dark, tortured eyes. She reached up, wiping the streak of dried blood from his cheek with her thumb.