Chapter 29: Business Can Wait

Claire's arms stayed looped around Julian's neck, her mouth moving against his in a slow, unhurried rhythm, one hand drifting down to trace the firm line of his chest.

That lazy, teasing pace of hers soft hands wandering, never quite settling was exactly the kind of slow torture that undid him fastest.

He caught her wrist, pressed it flat against his chest, and nipped lightly at her lower lip. "Careful. Your husband's taking notes."

"You're going to regret being this much trouble."

Claire bit back a laugh, giving his chest a light smack. "You're the trouble here, not me."

Said that, sure but she kept right on teasing anyway.

Julian looked down at her, flushed and grinning up at him, and felt something in his chest go warm and reckless all at once.

This view, he thought, should really come with a warning label.

He scooped her up without warning, carried her a few steps to the leather sofa, and dropped her onto it.

Claire let out a startled laugh, then settled back, looking up at him with an easy, knowing smile.

Julian leaned down over her, that wicked grin still firmly in place.

"You really are something else."

"Tell me who's better. Me, or Lucas?"

He pinned her lightly to the cushions as he said it, clearly enjoying himself.

Claire rolled her eyes, swatting at his shoulder. "Don't bring him up right now, that's ridiculous."

Her tone said one thing. The flush creeping up her neck said something else entirely and Julian noticed exactly that.

If anything, dragging Lucas into it only seemed to sharpen her focus on him.

She pressed a kiss along his jaw, murmuring something that came out far more distracted than dismissive.

Julian, meanwhile, couldn't quite shake the memory of Lucas and Claire together and a petty, competitive edge crept into his mood.

Fine. If she's not going to answer, he thought, I'll just have to make my case properly.

The two of them stayed wrapped up in each other for a long while, the earlier conversation entirely forgotten.

Eventually, Claire tipped her head back against the cushions. "Julian, your uncle seemed genuinely intimidating."

That got his attention. He pulled back slightly, studying her flushed, thoroughly kissed, entirely too pleased with herself. "What about him?"

"He told you to hurry up and go, and you're just... doing this instead."

"Aren't you worried he'll actually be angry?"

Julian huffed a laugh, unbothered, and pulled her right back into him.

"Let him wait."

He gathered her up again and carried her straight to the bedroom, setting her down and following her onto the sheets.

"Forget about him."

Claire looped her arms around him, looking up with a teasing glint in her eye. "Aren't you worried about being late to something important?"

Julian's mouth curved into that same wicked grin.

"Not remotely. Right now, this is the only business that matters.”

...........

You Wouldn't Happen to Have Feelings for My Woman, Would You?

Julian went straight from Claire's place to the family estate for the ancestral ceremony.

The entire Ashford family had gathered, the occasion carrying all the weight and formality befitting a family of their standing.

Families like this treated ancestral tradition as something sacred not performance, but genuine reverence passed down through generations.

Nothing about it was for show. Every gesture was deliberate, every word meant.

Edmund Ashford, eighty years old and silver-haired, stood at the front in a simple dark suit, understated but commanding.

Julian stepped forward and bowed with proper respect.

His grandfather's sharp eyes tracked him the entire way.

"Julian. You've come."

Julian straightened, meeting his gaze directly. "Grandfather. I'm here."

Edmund gave a short, disapproving huff.

"You're not getting any younger. I'd like a great-grandchild before I'm gone, you understand."

"But don't you dare bring some unsuitable woman into this family. I won't have that embarrassment."

Julian's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking briefly toward Damian, standing off to the side.

*Word travels fast,* he thought grimly. *Of course Uncle already ran straight to Grandfather.*

Keeping his composure, he nodded respectfully. "Grandfather. I know where my priorities lie."

"See that this ceremony is honored properly. The Ashford name rests on every one of us showing up for it."

"Understood, Grandfather. I won't disappoint you."

Edmund nodded, sweeping his gaze over the gathered family with quiet authority.

"A family's legacy isn't about rigid rules. It's about carrying forward the gratitude and responsibility our ancestors left behind, generation after generation."

"Where there are roots, there's spirit. Where there's home, there's love."

With that, he turned toward the family shrine and led the bow, solemn and unhurried.

Age had etched deep lines into Edmund's face, clouded his eyes with time but every movement still carried the same careful reverence it always had.

That kind of respect ran deeper than years. It didn't fade.

Once the ceremony ended, General Marcus Ashford and Eleanor Ashford approached Julian directly.

His father cut the picture of a career soldier upright, sharp-eyed, carrying that unmistakable military bearing even out of uniform.

Eleanor wore an elegant black gown, refined and composed, the kind of quiet beauty that hadn't faded with age, just settled into something more commanding.

She approached with a cool, measured expression.

"Julian. I need a word. Come to the car with your mother."

His father's expression was equally grim, radiating quiet disapproval without a single raised word.

Julian's brow arched, his tone turning cold. "Mother. Just say it here."

He already knew exactly where this was headed, and his patience was thin.

His father stepped forward, jaw tight. "Julian, you"

Eleanor cut in gently, laying a hand on her husband's arm. Softer approaches had always worked better on their son than confrontation.

"If you'd rather not do this in the car, I'll just say it plainly."

"Your uncle mentioned you've been seeing someone."

"He said she looked"

Julian cut her off before she could finish, visibly irritated.

"Mother. Why does everyone in this family take Uncle's word as gospel?"

"I already know exactly where this is going. I know what I'm doing. Leave it alone."

His tone left no room for negotiation.

He had no intention of letting any of them interfere with Claire.

His father turned on his heel without another word, walking off toward the car, clearly frustrated.

Eleanor caught Julian's hand before he could follow suit, her expression softening into something more pleading.

"Julian. I know you have your own mind about this. But your uncle's concerns aren't unfounded."

"This family carries certain expectations. We only want what's best for you. Please, at least hear us out."

Knowing full well he wouldn't budge, she said her piece gently and left it there, heading to the car without pushing further.

Once the rest of the family had gone, only Julian and Damian remained in front of the ancestral hall.

Damian stood in a sharply tailored black suit, crisp white shirt, gray tie, polished to the last detail every inch the commanding officer even off duty.

He approached with the unhurried confidence of someone used to being obeyed.

"Julian. Don't throw away this family's reputation over some woman."

Julian's expression turned cold.

"Uncle. Who I'm with is my business. Not yours."

"And yet you're the one running an entire military district, and somehow you've got time to micromanage my personal life."

"Makes me wonder you don't have some kind of interest in my woman yourself, do you?"

Damian's expression shifted instantly, something sharp and controlled flashing behind his eyes.

"Julian. I just want you with someone actually worthy of you."

"That woman isn't it."

Julian studied him for a moment, almost amused by how convinced his uncle seemed of his own righteousness.

Maybe Damian genuinely believed he had good intentions.

It didn't matter. Nothing was going to stop him from being with Claire.

"Uncle. I know exactly what she's worth. Better than you ever could."

"This is my life. Drop it."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and got into his Aston Martin, tearing off down the drive.

Damian watched the car disappear, Julian's parting words echoing uncomfortably in his head.

An interest in her? Please.

The idea was almost laughable.

As if a woman that reckless could possibly hold his attention.