Page 11 of Code of Heart

“What do you have to lose, Aurelia?” Charles asked softly.

Aurelia silently averted her attention from Charles to the small glass door built into the window, allowing the study to open up to a private terrace overlooking the manor's lush gardens.

Though in its place, all Aurelia saw was a wide chasm of uncertainty—one she would have to leap across without knowing what waited on the other side. Charles’s question reverberated in the silence of her mind.

What do I have to lose?

She could lose her freedom…by marrying someone as awful as the last person she was with. The possibility alone made her shiver with discomfort.

What do I have to lose?

She could lose whatever sense of self she managed to build up over the last year.

What do I have to lose?She asked herself again, her blank stare still focused on the windows.

The answer hit her like a freight train—fast, unexpected, and utterly crushing—because the answer wasnothing.

She couldn’t even tell Selene—not legally anyway—so what was there to stop her from jumping in headfirst and seeing this matchmaker?

Aurelia squared her shoulders, sat up in her chair, and seriously considered Charles’s question. With unwavering confidence, she stated, “Nothing. So, which one of these outrageously thick file folders holds the key to my future betrothal?”

CHAPTER 5

Levi

The walk towards the executive conference room felt like a death march.

Coming into work used to be exciting; something he was passionate about. Now it weighed him down, having turned into a chore and a burden…and Levi was about to face one of the key reasons for it head-on. He and Isaac stepped through the door to the conference room, bracing themselves for a battle they knew was looming on the horizon.

Located in a secluded corner on the same level as his office, the room was large and spacious. It was full of contradictions, managing to feel both vast and intimate all at once. Two walls were encased in sleek glass panels that gave a beautiful, picturesque view of Joia City.

The skyline shimmered under the morning sky, a breathtaking contrast to the gravity of the discussions that would be taking place shortly within this room. The beauty beyond the windows was ignored by most of the occupants as they entered, an unspoken heaviness settling over the space.

Levi strode over to his seat at the head of the long, meticulously polished white oak table, positioned near the windows to capitalize on the daylight pouring in. The table itself was a statement—an expanse of wood capable of seating a dozen decision-makers with the possibility to accommodate another ten more if needed.

As he passed, he offered curt nods to members of the Board, his presence commanding silent tribute. Behind him, Isaac followed, seamlessly taking his place to Levi’s right, a quiet testament to their alliance.

One of the solid walls was dominated by a state-of-the-art screen panel, its surface already queued with a presentation, waiting for the deliberations to begin. Along the adjacent wall, steaming carafes of coffee and assorted continental breakfast items were carefully arranged on the buffet counter. Members of the Board were hovering over the selection of buttery croissants, neatly sliced fruit, and delicate pastries before the meeting began.

Levi hadn’t yet set his coffee down on the table before a deep rasp sounded behind him.

“How kind of you to finally grace us with your presence, Mr. Lockwood,” said Tyler Faulkner, his voice slithering. The way it scraped against Levi’s eardrums always left him feeling somewhat violated.

He discreetly clenched his teeth and forced his temper back. He made a show of setting his things down and looking at his watch before slowly spinning around and responding. “It looks like I’m right on time, give or take a couple of minutes,” Levi said, smiling broadly.

He stared into Tyler’s beady eyes, the color almost as black as the man’s soul, and the only noteworthy feature—aside from his bulbous nose—in his otherwise sunken and wrinkled face.

The Chair of the Board was covered in liver spots, rotund, and short enough that Levi could see his reflection peer back at him from the shiny bald cap of skin atop his head. The only hair he managed to retain was gray and hung limply as it snaked around the sides of his skull.

The audacity this man had was larger than he was.

Tyler scowled up at him. “It’d be more professional if youat leastattempted to show up earlier and engage with the rest of the Board members before the meeting. Or are you too good to entertain the likes of us?” he challenged.

Not missing a beat, Levi retorted, “If you wanted me here earlier, then you should’veat leastscheduled the meeting to start earlier. Or are you too good to follow scheduling etiquette?”

Tyler's face and neck turned a bright shade of red as it filled with rage. He sputtered, “Who do you think you are, you—”

But Levi cut him off, his smile unwavering. “Now, now, Tyler,” he crooned, “let's not get ourselves worked up when you’re supposed to be calling the meeting to order. While I find this back and forth adorable, it’s not very respectful to the rest of the attendees. If you want to hang out with me so badly, all you have to do is ask.”