Semua Bab Betrayed by My Ex, Claimed by His Boss: Bab 31 - Bab 40

"Get used to me being here.""People leave," I whispered into the dark.It sounded dangerously like a confession. I hated how frail it sounded, but the darkness had swallowed my pride.The slow, rhythmic kneading of his fingers at the base of my neck came to a complete halt."I don't."Two words. Low, absolute, and devoid of any hesitation.He slowly resumed the firm pressure of his thumb against my shoulder. The migraine medication was beginning to seep into my bloodstream, softening the sharp, defensive edges of my consciousness."Do you do this often?" I murmured, my eyes fluttering shut. "Play the caretaker?""Do I look like one to you?" his voice rumbled quietly against my back."You look like someone who requires absolute control over everything around him," I answered honestly. "Caring for someone is... unpredictable. It’s messy.""It is," he agreed, his tone calm and unbothered in the pitch black. "I usually despise anything that disru

The sharp, bright lights of the conference room and the sprawling mess of files on the glass table felt like a welcome return to reality. I sat near the center of the long glass table, my eyes focused on the Delacroix case files spread out in front of us. The air in the room was thick with tension. Victor sat at the head of the table, tapping his pen against a document. "Ashcroft’s media smear didn't give him the leverage he wanted. But since that failed, he's been keeping a very low profile. It makes me uneasy." "He isn't exactly resting," Victor’s CFO chimed in, sliding a few printed photos across the table. "Our people got this recently. Ashcroft hosted a private dinner at his estate. Look who was on the guest list." I pulled the photos closer. They were blurry, taken from a distance, but the faces were recognizable. "Two of the Delacroix cousins." "Exactly," Victor frowned. "Why is he suddenly wining and dining the extended family?" "Because he's changing his angle," I

The subsequent conversation with Camille took hours. After a long day of navigating the underlying tensions of the Delacroix estate, the biting alpine air of the Geneva evening was a welcome relief. It was only the first day, and while there were still shifting dynamics to figure out, the overall situation felt far more stable than I had anticipated. Camille had also confirmed that both Delacroix cousins whose shares could tip the balance would be attending the Maison’s annual gala in two days. It would be the best opportunity to speak with them privately before Ashcroft tightened his hold. By the time the waiting car dropped me off at the hotel, the sharp focus of the day had faded, leaving behind a heavy, deep-seated fatigue. I unlocked the door to the sprawling, impeccably furnished suite. I kicked off my heels by the entryway, unbuttoned the sharp blazer of my suit, and collapsed onto the plush velvet sofa near the floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, Lake Geneva was a dark, sil

When I woke up, the sprawling velvet sofa had been replaced by the soft, heavy linens of the master bed. The faint, lingering scent of cedar on the pillow was the only proof of how I had gotten there.I slipped into a silk robe and walked out to the living area. Sunlight spilled across the dark wood floors, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the cold Geneva morning.Lucian was already awake. He sat in the armchair by the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sleeves of his dark dress shirt rolled up to his forearms. A single wireless earbud was in his ear as he listened to a transatlantic video conference, his voice a low, commanding murmur in the quiet room.I didn't interrupt. I curled up on the opposite sofa, pulling a thick stack of Delacroix equity structures onto my lap. For a long time, the only sounds were the quiet rustle of paper and the distant voices of Wall Street executives.It was a strange, parallel existence. Yet, when I mindlessly reached for my empty c

The annual Geneva Global Finance Gala was a sea of crystal chandeliers, flowing champagne, and the quiet, dangerous hum of European old money.I stood near the entrance of the ballroom, smoothing a hand down the side of my midnight-blue gown. The heavy silk draped flawlessly, catching the light as I took a steadying breath and stepped fully into the crowd.It took me less than fifteen minutes to locate my targets.Henri and Laurent Delacroix stood near a quieter alcove by the terrace doors. They were cousins, both holding significant shares of the Delacroix empire, and both visibly anxious about the impending hostile takeover from Alistair Ashcroft.I took a glass of champagne from a passing tray and approached them with a perfectly calibrated, disarming smile."Henri. Laurent," I greeted smoothly. "Evelyn Thorne. I’ve been handling Victor Delacroix’s strategic negotiations."Henri stiffened slightly, his grip tightening on his glass. "Ms. Thorne. I believe o