The boardroom at the Paris firm was a monument to excess—glass walls, brass accents, bottled silence. The kind of place where bad decisions wore good suits.

Aria stood at the head of the table, her laptop closed. No slideshow. No mockups. Just a single printout in front of every executive.

A bold heading:

“Alternative Proposal: Design with Integrity”

One of the executives leaned back. “Ms. Vale, we appreciate your passion, but this—”
He tapped the proposal.
“—would cut into our ROI.”

Aria didn’t blink. “It will increase your long-term brand value, reduce your carbon footprint, and align your property with EU sustainability benchmarks. Not to mention—this will age well. Your current model won’t.”

Another exec scoffed. “You’re asking us to rewire the east wing, add native plant installations, scrap the imported stone… for optics?”

“No,” Aria said. “For integrity. But if you want to talk optics—try this: the most anticipated boutique opening in Paris, led by a woman known for surviving every power grab thrown at her, backed by a man who walked away from billions to do the right thing—and you told her no because you didn’t want to sacrifice aesthetics for meaning.”

A slow silence fell over the table.

Dominic, seated beside her, said nothing.

But his hand tapped once against the edge of the folder.

That same rhythm she remembered from years ago.

Right before he made a decision.

The lead executive turned to him. “Mr. Blackwood? You’ve reviewed this?”

Dominic looked at Aria.

Then at the table.

Then back at her.

“I co-signed it this morning,” he said. “Fully. If the board passes, I’ll fund the difference privately. No strings.”

The silence broke.

Hard.

Everyone started talking at once.

Aria didn’t move.
Didn’t smile.
Didn’t blink.

She just met Dominic’s gaze.

And for the first time since they’d sat across that courtroom table…

She saw a man who didn’t want to win.

He wanted to stand with her.

After the meeting, they stood outside in the chill Paris air.

“You really would’ve paid for it?” she asked.

“In a heartbeat.”

“No speeches. No press.”

“I didn’t do it for the noise.”

She looked up at him.

“For a man who built an empire on control,” she said softly, “you’re learning how to let go.”

He reached for her hand. “Because you showed me what’s worth holding onto.”