Page 43 of Silver Fox's Christmas Scandal

By the time I reached my apartment, one thing was clear—our arrangement had shifted into something far more complicated than either of us had bargained for. And I had no idea what came next.

12

LUCIAN

Blake stood in my office doorway wearing a thousand-dollar suit and an expression that suggested the world owed him everything.

At nineteen, he already carried himself with the arrogance I recognized from my own younger self, but layered with an entitlement I'd never possessed. Old money confidence mixed with new money ambition.

"Dad." He strode forward and shook my hand firmly, like he'd practiced it just to impress or intimidate me.

"Blake, you look well."

He did look well. Tall, lean, expensively groomed. The kind of young man who'd never questioned whether doors would open for him.

I felt a familiar pang of guilt watching him—this polished stranger who happened to share my DNA.

I hardly knew him now, though I knew his expense account and where his money was spent. It was a bitter spot in my thoughts, but I pushed it aside to appreciate that he was here.

"Tessa should be joining us shortly," I said, gesturing toward the sitting area. "I want you to meet her before we discuss your summer plans."

"The assistant?"

The dismissive tone in his voice set my teeth on edge, but I kept my temper in check. "Executive assistant. She keeps this place running."

Blake settled into the leather chair across from my desk, his posture relaxed but his eyes calculating. "I'm sure she's very capable." He looked a lot like his mother, which turned my stomach.

But he couldn’t help where his DNA came from. And I wouldn’t penalize him for my poor choice in a partner years ago.

The words were polite enough, but something in his delivery suggested he found the entire conversation beneath his interest. I was about to respond when Tessa knocked on my office door.

"Come in," I called, and she entered wearing a charcoal dress that was both professional and flattering, her chestnut hair pulled back in a neat braid. She walked in seeming confident, but I caught the slight tension in her shoulders.

Meeting my children was new territory for both of us. It was a necessary evil if Blake was going to be working here, but that wasn't what made me nervous about this meeting.

"Blake, I'd like you to meet Tessa Wynn. Tessa, this is my son Blake."

Blake rose from his chair as was expected of him, but his handshake was perfunctory at best. A brief squeeze and release, his attention already shifting back to me.

"Nice to meet you," he said without looking at her directly.

"It's a pleasure, Blake. Your father speaks of you often."

"Does he?" Blake's eyebrows rose slightly. "How interesting."

I gestured for both of them to sit, noting how Blake positioned himself to face me rather than include Tessa in our conversation circle.

The subtle dismissal was deliberate, and if I were a better father, maybe I'd have pointed it out. But guilt still gnawed at my chest. I had no idea how to encourage my son to act more human.

"Blake is considering joining Cross Capital after graduation," I explained to Tessa. "I thought it would be valuable for him to understand how our executive team functions."

"Of course. I'd be happy to explain any of our processes."

Blake's smile was polite but cold. "That's very generous, but I think I'll be working more closely with actual management once I'm here."

The words hit their target. I watched color rise in Tessa's cheeks, saw her hands tighten slightly in her lap. But her voice remained steady when she responded.

"Naturally, though, you might find that understanding support functions gives you better insight into overall operations."