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“You can,”he assured her.“My family has been working for the Aghayans for generations. They’ve always treated us well and we owe them everything. As an Aghayan heir, our loyalties lay with you.”
“Thank you, Samson. I have no doubt that together we’ll make this empire even greater. I promise that you’ll be well looked after and get a proper cut out of everything,” she assured him.
“We’ll talk soon.”
Sienna nodded even though he couldn’t see, then hung up the phone. She had a good feeling about Samson and his father. If she wanted to run a successful business, she would have to rely on people. Trusting strangers didn’t come easy to her, but she didn’t really have a choice. They were Dalia’s most trusted advisors and so far, she had no reason to change that.
The thought of having to participate in the oil and energy-related meetings didn’t excite her. Maybe after things settled down, she could invest some part of the money into something that was closer to her heart. The problem was that until the Ryder Massacre happened, all she was passionate about was where and with whom to party.
A knock on the door interrupted her downward spiral, forcing her to blink a few times to return to reality.
“Come in,” she called, expecting Adrianna to barge in.
Sienna almost dropped her phone on the floor when she saw Aurora coming into the room. She was the last person Sienna would expect to see and also one of the few people that still made her uncomfortable. If Sienna had to choose, she’d prefer to spend the day with Mr. Carrington than his wife. There was something about Aurora that made her weary of how she talked to her.
“May I?” Aurora asked, gesturing to the sofa.
Speechless, Sienna nodded, then followed her to the sofa and sat next to her. Aurora looked around the room with barely disguised disgust on her face. Sienna was suddenly conscious of just how messy she was. Always regal-looking and composed, Aurora narrowed her eyes at her.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m here,” she said, addressing her in a way that made her feel inferior to her. Still at a loss for words, Sienna gave her another nod.
“I want to talk to you about my sons,” Aurora said, looking straight into her eyes as if challenging her to a duel. Her tone was unforgiving and threatening in a way only a mother could sound. “Tell me about your intentions with them.”
An unladylike snort escaped Sienna at the ridiculous demand, and she raised her hands to cover her mouth, but it was too late. Aurora’s body stiffened as her lips set into a thin line at the mocking sound.
“With all due respect,” Sienna started, trying to regain some of the composure and authority that belonged to her by name as well as the respect that she worked hard to earn, “What’s between me and your sons is none of your business.”
“I disagree,” Aurora replied with an iciness in her voice that reached her eyes that were far from the warm brown eyes she associated with Xavier. “The happiness and well-being of my sons are my top priority. You’re playing not only with their minds but their hearts as well. I want this to stop. Make your decision and make it fast.”
“No,” Sienna said with a steely tone of her own, refusing to be bullied into something that could affect her whole life.
Aurora’s eyes widened at her insubordination. She lifted her chin high up and took a deep breath, fully filling her chest before barking a threat in a low but clear voice. “You’re forgetting yourself, Miss Ryder. You’re someone only as long as we allow you to be. You have only as much power as we let you have. My sons are my everything and if you hurt them, you’re going to beg the Remingtons to take you in because what I’ll do to you will be a lot worse than they ever could. Be careful where you step for the path is treacherous and full of dangers.”
Sienna forced herself to keep a neutral expression on her face. She didn’t want to show Aurora how much she frightened her. Her heart pumped furiously, spiking adrenaline levels high enough for her pride to overshadow the fear. With slow but deliberate movements, Sienna stood up, towering over Aurora. For the first time ever, she saw her for what she really was, and she wouldn’t hesitate to challenge the old woman if she kept on stepping on her toes.
“You’re wrong, Aurora,” Sienna said, her voice calm and collected, which made her appear dangerous without having to throw around a bunch of threats. “I’m Sienna Ryder, blood of the Lockwood and heir to the Aghayan dynasty. I won’t give in to your demands not now, not ever. I will give you one warning and you better listen because it’s the only one you’ll get. Stay out of my way and out of my business. If I see one sign of a snake, I’ll assume it’s you and I’ll come after you. Don’t make me do that. Pray that no one does that, or I might make wrong assumptions that wouldn’t work out well for you.”
Aurora stood up, her eyes turning from ice to fire. Sienna rattled her but she had too much practice to show it. It was clear neither of them would kneel and so they’d have to satisfy themselves with a fragile and temporary peace.
“This isn’t over,” Aurora said through gritted teeth. “You and I aren’t over.”
“Oh, but we are,” Sienna replied, curling her lips up into a small smile that she knew would further anger her new enemy. “It’s time for you to leave.”
Even though Aurora’s regal mask had cracks that let Sienna see into just how frustrated the old woman was, the mother of her beloved Carrington heirs still held herself with as much regal air as she could muster and left Sienna’s room, banging the door behind her with a resonant sound that echoed down the hallway.
The moment the door closed, Sienna crumpled on the sofa, struggling to catch a breath. Her hands shook violently, the tremors spreading all over her body until she was forced to curl up into a ball to make herself as small as possible. She didn’t know how long she was curled up, hugging her knees, swaying back and forth. She was lucky that no one entered her room in that time to check on her, otherwise she’d be forced to give an explanation of something that she wasn’t sure about just happened.
If Sienna thought her life was becoming easier and clearer, she was wrong. It was now more than ever that her enemies became shady, and their names obscured. Anyone could be waiting behind the corner to strike her down. Even the ones closest to her. It was time for her to build another set of walls around her heart, fortifying it for her own safety. Letting too many people in would only raise the chances of betrayal.
Regaining her wits, she paced up and down the room. Her eyes took in Jensen’s note, reminding her of their midnight date that was not a date because it was Jensen. For the shortest of moments, she tried to convince herself not to go, her brain telling her that it was a stupid risk, one that she didn’t need to take.
No matter how much she preached herself about the walls, boundaries, and protection, she was defenseless when it came to the charming Carrington heirs. They weren’t their mother. Some of them weren’t even her biological sons. Sienna wouldn’t let the damn viper keep her from them, especially if getting close to her sons would infuriate the old woman even more.
With a newfound determination to meet with Jensen and possibly seduce him once and for all, Sienna sent Adrianna a text message to come to her room. If she was to dress up as a temptation incarnate, she’d need all the help she could get.
The nature of her meeting with Jensen was unknown, but the ending was clear. It would be a happy one.
CHAPTER 23
