They were completely done.

And this wasn't exactly their first rodeo. She had dumped him once before.

Orion had been hyper-focused on the conference room door the entire time, entirely aware that she was just on the other side.

She was the sole reason he was here.

Broken nose and all, he hadn't hesitated for a second to come see her.

Noticing the awkward standoff, Thaddeus quickly stepped in with a charismatic grin. "Heading out for drinks, right? I've already booked the VIP lounge downstairs. First round is on me!"

While the engineering team erupted in cheers, Lemira kept her gaze stubbornly fixed on the floor, remaining entirely silent.

She shuffled quietly back to her desk alongside her coworkers to pack up her things.

"Did you see his face?" one of the developers whispered urgently. "He looks like he got hit by a truck."

"Someone definitely clocked him. Who the hell has the absolute death wish required to punch a guy like him?"

The developer turned directly to Lemira. "Do you know what happened?"

It was common knowledge around the office that she was dating the elusive CEO. If

a punch like that ruined his ridiculously good looks, it would be an absolute tragedy. Lemira cleared her throat, feigning total ignorance. "No idea."

She certainly wasn't about to admit she had been the one to rearrange his nose.

As she grabbed her bag and walked toward the elevators, she could feel a heavy, predatory stare boring directly into her spine.

Orion's dark gaze was indeed tracking her every move.

Thaddeus clapped him on the shoulder. "Stop creeping. You can stare at her all you want over dinner."

Orion's jaw tightened. "Amanda spoke to her today."

Thaddeus's hand froze. "What did she say?"

"I don't know."

He watched her retreating figure with a desperate, starved intensity, yet he was utterly terrified to take a single step closer.

Thaddeus rolled his eyes. "You practically got your face caved in. Give it a rest. Amanda probably just went to clear the air about the crash and put in a good word for you."

Orion fell silent for a beat. "We found an alternative kidney match."

"Are you serious? Thank God. The Sinclairs' sick little blackmail scheme is officially dead in the water."

A massive grin split Thaddeus's face. No wonder Orion had the guts to show up here today. He had secured the winning hand.

Meanwhile, Lemira politely excused herself from the group. She had zero intention of attending the team dinner.

The reason was simple: she couldn't stomach the thought of spending an entire evening breathing the same air as Orion.

Especially not right after her emotionally exhausting confrontation with his stepmother.

Stepping into the elevator, she reached to press the lobby button when a large, impeccably manicured, hand suddenly blocked the sliding doors. A tall, sharply dressed man stepped inside.

His striking features were entirely flawless, save for the dark bruising across his

cheek and the heavy splint over his nose.

Lemira's breath hitched. She hadn't expected him to be this bold.

Shoving the doors open completely, Orion stepped into the confined space, his gaze heavy and brooding as he looked down at her.

Under his intense, suffocating stare, she bristled defensively. What the hell was he trying to pull?

Just as she opened her mouth to snap at him, he closed the distance between them.

Lemira watched him advance, a sharp flicker of caution in her eyes, but she refused to back down or look away.

"Not joining the dinner?" His low, husky voice resonated in the tight space.

She fixed her gaze stubbornly on her shoes, fully committed to ignoring his existence.

Knowing exactly how stubbolet

was, Orion swallowed his

frustration. "It's a company celebration. Are your feally going to play the antisocial card tonight?"

"Since when is my schedule any of your business?"

Her voice dripped with raw irritation. For a guy she had just dumped, he certainly had a lot of opinions.

Leaning casually against the stainless steel wall, Orion stared down at her. "Are you avoiding me?"

Catching the infuriatingly smug undertone in his voice, she snapped her head up. "Don't flatter yourself."

"If you aren't avoiding me, why are you sneaking out alone instead of leaving with your team?"

Utterly provoked, Lemira grabbed two fistfuls of his expensive shirt collar and yanked him downward. "Are you asking for another-"

Just then, with a soft ding, the elevator doors slid wide open-having never left the engineering floor.

Standing right in the hallway was the

entire software department,

completely frozen as they stared in

absolute shock at bemira

aggressively manhandling the billionaire CEO.