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“The board would vote however he wanted.” The pieces click into place. “Including removing Dad as head of the company.”
“Exactly.” My father’s voice is grim. “Robert and William are meeting us here in twenty minutes. They need to see this before Marcus makes his next move.”
I lean back, processing. “You think they’ll believe it?”
“The evidence is irrefutable,” Jaxson says. “And both men have been friends with your father for years. They’ll listen.”
My phone buzzes—for just a moment, I think it’s from Lila.
‘Just checking that you’re okay. I haven’t heard from you.’
But it’s from Crystal. I grimace, ignoring the text, and shoving my phone back into my pocket.
Simple words that, if they were from Lila would slice right through me. I think of her that night, the way she stood her ground as I raged at her. How she didn’t back down, didn’t apologize for doing what she thought was right.
God, she was beautiful in her defiance and even more beautiful later when I—
“Speaking of Lila,” Jaxson says carefully, “she’s been instrumental in—“
“No!” The word comes out sharper than intended. “I won’t have her involved in this again.”
My father gives me a knowing look. “Son, you can’t protect her if she doesn’t want your protection.”
“I can try.” I stand, needing to move. “She’s not trained for this. She has no idea what Marcus is capable of.”
“I think she knew exactly what she was risking,” Jaxson counters. “She made an informed choice to help despite the danger. No matter what she says—she did it for you.”
The memory of her words that night hits me again: “You’re worth it.”
Worth risking her safety, her business, and everything she’s built. The thought makes me want to shake her and kiss her senseless at the same time.
“Robert and William will be here soon,” my father says, mercifully changing the subject. “We need to decide how to present this to them.”
We spend the next ten minutes organizing the evidence and building our case. But my mind keeps drifting to Lila’s and how she lookedwhen I left her.
I should apologize for that night, for losing control. But I’m not sorry for claiming her, for showing her exactly what she does to me. And I’m not sorry for wanting to protect her, even if she doesn’t want my protection.
“They’re here,” Jaxson announces, checking his phone.
I straighten in my chair, pushing thoughts of Lila aside. Time to focus on taking Marcus down. Time to save my family’s company.
But later... later, I need to see her to make her understand why I took her the way I did—so roughly. I need to feel her against me again, warm and alive and safe.
For now, though, we have a war to win.
I find myself outside Lila’s apartment the next afternoon. The movement in her kitchen window tells me she’s cooking, probably planning the next week’s dinner parties. My chest tightens, thinking about how dedicated she is to her work, helping us, and everything she does.
When I ring the bell, there’s a pause before her door opens. She’s wearing her usual yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. Something flickers across her face—uncertainty, maybe, or wariness. But she looks behind me, biting her lip, then steps aside to let me in.
“Hi,” she says softly, closing the door. “Are you sure it’s okay for us to be seen together?”
“I don’t care if it is or not,” I tell her truthfully. “I wanted to see you. Give you an update on what’s been going on.”
She’s been baking—the apartment smells like warm sugar and vanilla. It’s so perfectly Lila that my throat tightens.
“I’m sorry,” I finally say, moving closer. “About the other night. I shouldn’t have—“
“Lost control?” Her lips curve slightly. “Or what happened afterward?”