His Perfect Mistake のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

"Turn it up," Ethan said.She found the remote on the counter and pressed the volume button. The anchor's voice filled the space. "...sources telling us tonight that the irregularities center specifically on shipping data submitted by Ellington Group's logistics division earlier this month. The data in question was part of a restructured proposal that was approved at an executive level meeting shortly before the merger talks advanced."Bianca felt her stomach drop. "That's my proposal," she said quietly.Ethan looked at her. "What?""The restructured shipping proposal. The one I presented in the joint strategy meeting." She turned to face him fully. "The one I caught Farid's numbers on. The one your father asked the finance department to review immediately."He was already reaching for his phone. "Are you sure?""I'm sure." She pointed at the screen. "They said 'shipping data.' They said 'restructured proposal.' They said 'executive level meeting.' That's exactly what I presented. Th

Ethan stepped out of the office without a word. The door clicked shut behind him, and Bianca sat alone at her desk, staring at it. The takeout containers sat between them, half-empty, the steam long gone. Her fork rested on the edge of the container.She told herself she was just giving him privacy. That was the polite thing to do. The reasonable thing. He was taking a call from the woman he loved, and Bianca had no business listening in or wondering what was being said or thinking about the way his thumb had hovered over the screen before he'd finally stood up and walked out. She told herself all of that, still she kept staring at the door anyway.The minutes stretched. One. Two. Three. She counted without meaning to. She glanced at the clock on her laptop, then looked away, then looked back. She straightened the papers on her desk. She opened an email and closed it without reading it. She picked up her fork, set it down, and pushed the container away.It was the door that bothered h

Ethan was not himself. Bianca noticed it before breakfast was even served. He came downstairs earlier than usual, already dressed, phone in hand, and when his assistant called to confirm his morning schedule, he cut her off mid-sentence."Just send me the details. I don't need a rundown."He hung up without saying goodbye.Victoria, seated at the head of the table with a cup of tea, glanced up at her son. She didn't say anything. She just watched him sit down and reach for the newspaper with a bit too much force.Richard arrived a few minutes later. He poured himself a coffee, opened his tablet, and glanced at Ethan over the screen."Did you review the project timeline for the logistics expansion?""Yes, dad.""And?""It's fine."Richard's eyebrows lifted slightly. "It's fine?""That's what I said.""The timeline was supposed to be finalized two days ago, Ethan. Fine isn't an answer."Ethan set his fork down. "It's not fine. It's done. I sent the revised schedule to the team last nigh

Bianca deflected. She did it gracefully, the way she'd learned to do over years of family dinners and board meetings and conversations she didn't want to have. She smiled, tilted her head, and gave Peregrine an answer that sounded like a real one without actually saying anything. "That's a complicated question." Peregrine watched her for a moment. He didn't push. He just nodded slowly, like he'd expected exactly that. "Fair enough," he said. "I won't press." "Thank you." "But I'll say this." He picked up his cup and finished the last of his espresso. "Whatever the answer is, I don't think you've said it out loud yet." Bianca didn't respond. Peregrine set his cup down and stood. "I'll be in touch about the foundation. Whatever happens with the rest — I'd still like to work with you." He offered his hand. She shook it, and he walked out without looking back. Bianca sat alone at the table for a long moment after he left. She didn't move. She didn't rea

The ballroom on the second floor of the Anderson mansion had been transformed. The furniture had been pushed to the walls, the heavy curtains drawn back to let in the late afternoon light, and a portable speaker sat on a small table near the windows, playing something slow and orchestral. Flora, the instructor, stood in the center of the floor with her hands clasped behind her back, waiting. Bianca stood opposite Ethan, close enough to see the faint shadow of a beard along his jaw. He looked tired. He'd been quiet all day, in a way that suggested he was thinking about something. "We'll start with posture," Flora said. "Ethan, right hand on her back. Not too high. Not too low. Just above the waist." Ethan stepped closer. His hand settled against Bianca's lower back, warm through the fabric of her dress. She felt the pressure of his palm, steady and deliberate. "Good," Flora said. "Bianca, left hand on his shoulder.