Page 35 of Monsters Wear Crowns (Crowned Monsters Duet #1)

The morning after our fight, the mansion felt colder. Or maybe it was just me. Rafe hadn’t come to bed. I hadn’t gone looking for him. And when I left for the office, there was no sign of him. Just his men, stationed like shadows around the perimeter, always watching.

I didn’t care.

Or at least that’s what I kept telling myself.

But the tension coiled tight in my chest as the car pulled up to Sinclair Solutions. I needed the distraction of work–I needed to remind myself who I was without Rafe’s presence looming over me, consuming me.

I wasn’t some kept woman. I wasn’t someone’s possession.

I was Adela Sinclair, and no one was going to forget it.

The sleek glass doors slid open as I stepped inside, my heels striking the marble floor with sharp, determined clicks. The rush of activity inside was a welcome distraction, the low murmur of voices, the distant ring of phones. Familiar. Steady.

But as I headed toward my office, I noticed something else. A tension in the air. People kept their heads down. Conversations stopped when I passed. And when I pushed through the door into my office, Laura was already waiting, her face set in a grim line.

“We have a problem,” she said without preamble.

My stomach dipped. “What kind of problem?”

She held up her phone. “Turn on the news. ”

I crossed to my desk, my fingers already flying over the keyboard. The moment the screen flickered to life, I saw it–the bold headline splashed across the business news feed like a slap to the face.

HIGH-PROFILE CLIENT DROPS SINCLAIR SOLUTIONS AMID SECURITY CONCERNS

The blood drained from my face. I clicked the article, scanning the words with growing fury.

“‘Unnamed sources within the company have raised questions about Sinclair Solutions’ ability to protect sensitive data,’” Laura read aloud, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “‘The sudden termination of the contract suggests a lack of confidence in their security measures.’”

I slammed my laptop shut. “This is bullshit.”

Laura’s eyes were dark and furious. “Of course it is. But it’s already out there.” She tossed her phone onto my desk. Every tech blog and business journal is picking it up. If we don’t get ahead of this, it will spread like wildfire .”

My pulse pounded in my ears. I forced myself to take a breath, to keep my voice level even when my hands curled into fists. “Who’s the client?”

Laura’s mouth twisted. “Grayson International.”

My breath hissed through my teeth. Grayson was one of our biggest and most visible contracts. Losing them wasn’t just a blow, it was a message.

And I had no doubt who sent it.

“Moreau,” I said quietly.

Laura nodded. “You think it was him who convinced Grayson?” The room felt too small, too hot. I pushed away from the desk, pacing to the windows. The city was bright and glittering below, oblivious to the war being waged beneath the surface.

“Get a call scheduled with Grayson’s CEO,” I said. “I want to hear exactly why they pulled out. From them.”

“And if they won’t talk? ”

“Then we’ll make them.” My voice was cold. “One way or another.”

Laura’s eyes gleamed with approval. “That’s my girl.”

“Ensure the office knows what this really is–a pissed off non-client trying to get us to stand down,” I commanded.

Laura nodded before leaving my office. Even as I stood there, seething, I felt the prickle at the back of my neck. The sense of being watched.

I turned toward the glass wall of my office. And there he was.

Rafe stood on the far side of the floor, speaking to one of his men. But his eyes were on me–dark and unreadable as always, his expression carved from stone. The air shifted, thickening between us even at a distance.

I couldn’t look away.

But I wanted to. Because the longer I held his gaze, the more I remembered the night before. The words we hadn’t said, the way his hesitation had sliced through me more sharply than any knife.

He was still holding back. And suddenly, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever really know why. A man like him? I doubt he’d ever loved anyone before. Was it even possible that I’d ever be an exception?

***

I adjusted my blazer and stared into the camera as the Grayson International logo flickered to life.

A moment later, Arthur Grayson himself filled the screen–salt-and-pepper hair, sharp hazel eyes, and a frown that seemed etched into his face.

The man had built a multi-billion-dollar empire with that permanent expression of polite disapproval. But he was an attractive man, for sure.

“Mr. Grayson,” I said, nodding. “Thank you for taking the time.”

He gave a tight smile. “Of course, Ms. Sinclair. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you personally.”

“Then let me get straight to it,” I said, folding my hands on the desk. “Why did you drop us?”

He blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Sinclair Solutions has provided flawless cybersecurity for Grayson International for over three years. No breaches. No red flags. Not a single incident.” My voice was calm, but firm. “So I’ll ask again–why did you really terminate our contract?”

His hesitation said more than his words ever could. He shifted in his chair, straightened his cuff. “I… heard a rumor,” he finally said. “That your system had been compromised. That there was a hacker in your network pulling client names.”

My jaw tightened, but I forced my voice to stay steady. “That rumor is false. No such breach has occurred. My team and I are monitoring every inch of our infrastructure in real-time. If someone had accessed client data, I would’ve known. Immediately.”

He didn’t respond, and I leaned in slightly.

“I believe someone is feeding false information in an attempt to sabotage us. We recently gained a high-profile client with powerful enemies, and now, suddenly, rumors are circulating? It’s not a coincidence.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow. “And who exactly is this enemy?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Nicolas Moreau.”

His eyes widened slightly. Even through the screen, I saw the recognition flash there–the quiet alarm that came with hearing a name that carried weight in all the wrong ways. “That explains it,” he muttered, more to himself than me. “Not a man I’d want against me.”

“No,” I agreed. “He’s not. But I can assure you, we’re handling it. And your company was never at risk. I would stake my name, my business, and my life on that.”

Arthur exhaled slowly, drumming his fingers against his desk. Then, after a long pause, he nodded. “Very well. I’ll have my team reinstate the contract and pull the article. You’ve never given us a reason to doubt you, Adela. I suppose I should’ve asked questions before I reacted.”

“Thank you,” I said, the tension between my shoulder blades easing just slightly. “That means a lot.” The call ended with a mutual nod, and I sat back in my chair, barely suppressing the adrenaline still buzzing in my veins.

“Well,” Laura’s voice chimed behind me, smug and satisfied, “if I didn’t already love you, I would now.”

I turned to see her leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, grinning like the devil herself. “You just stared down Arthur Grayson and made him blink first.”

I gave her a small, exhausted smile. “He was easier than Rafe.”

Laura snorted. “ Everyone’s easier than Rafe.”

We both laughed, but even as the sound echoed through the office, I couldn’t shake the lingering shadow of Moreau’s name hanging in the air like smoke.

I had won today.

But this definitely wasn’t over.

***

I stormed through the mansion, my heels striking the marble with sharp, angry clicks. My blood was still hot, my mind still spinning from the day’s disaster. Moreau had crossed a line, and I was done playing defense.

Rafe wanted me to stay here, hidden away, while my company took the hit. While the reputation I’d built with blood and sweat crumbled under a calculated attack. I wasn’t going to let that happen.

And I wasn’t going to let Rafe control me either.

The door to his office was cracked open. I didn’t bother knocking. I pushed inside, finding him exactly where I knew he’d be–behind that massive desk, phone to his ear .

“I don’t care how you do it,” he said, his voice cold and low. “Find out who fed Moreau that information. And when you do–” His eyes flicked up, meeting mine. The dark intensity there stole my breath. “–make them fucking regret it.” He hung up without another word.

“Do you have everything under control, then?” I asked, my tone sharper than I meant it to be. I crossed my arms over my chest to steady the riot inside me. “Or should I just stay out of the way while you fight my battles for me?”

His jaw tightened. “Adela–”

“No,” I snapped, stepping closer. “ My company is under attack. My people are losing trust because of this. Because of him. And while you’re playing whatever game you’re playing, I’m the one who has to clean up the goddamn mess.”

His eyes flashed. “And I’m the one keeping you alive.”

I froze. The words hung heavy between us. “I wouldn’t even be in this mess if it weren’t for you.” I said flatly.

“No,” he agreed, pushing back from his desk. He stalked toward me. “You wouldn’t. But I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”

My heart thundered in my chest as he closed the space between us. He didn’t touch me, but his proximity was overwhelming.

“You think you can fix this from your office?” His voice was a low growl. “You think Moreau will stop with your reputation? With your clients? He’s drawing blood, Adela. And you’re giving him a perfect target if you walk out there and try anything.”

I tilted my chin up, refusing to back down. “I won’t hide.”

“You should.”

“I won’t. I don’t know what kind of women you are accustomed to, but you’re fucking with a powerful bitch now. And that comes with knowing she doesn’t stand down.” My voice dripped with the kind of venom that made men shrink away from me .

He stared at me for a moment. Then, his hands came up, framing my face, gentle and rough all at once. His thumb brushed my jaw, and his touch calmed me even if my body burned from anger.