Seeing the lady with the wool cap turn to look at him, a small smile found its way to Tyler's face, his right hand reaching forward before he could stop himself, “Miss Grey, The Owner, what brings you here?" Her blue eyes sparkled at the mere sound of his voice. Those unique eyes made her unmistakable anywhere she went, and her striking white hair, which she had hidden inside the wool cap on purpose, just to surprise Tyler.Tyler was almost lost in her gaze, remembering how she had stressed him to the brink when they first met. It was as though had gone crazy when she tried setting the room on fire, but here she was, glowing under the morning sun.She rolled her eyes and slapped his hand away, "I've told you to stop calling me that. I'm Fae. And drop that Owner title. It makes me uncomfortable." He maintained his smile, “But you're my landlord–”Warmth filled his torso and spread into every corner of his body when she threw herself into his arms, resting her head on his chest.He fl

"You're calling me a waste of time?” Elena was already fuming.Tyler rubbed the side of his face with a sigh, "See, Elena, in less than a week, we'll sign the divorce papers and be separated forever. You're more or less my ex wife at this point. So, going through the stress of making you jealous is just a waste of time. That's what I'm trying to say." Elena couldn't even talk at that point. She continued fuming.This gave him the chance to add more fuel to the fire, “I'll take that as your understanding face. Stop interfering with my life, it no longer concerns you. I believe I made this clear in your office last night.”Shaking her head, Elena chuckled dryly, “So, that's how it's gonna be, huh?" With stoic eyes, Tyler responded, "Yes. That's how it is.”"Tch. Fine. Have it your way,” she tossed the envelopes on the table. “I came here to make you sign these." “Sign what?" Tyler asked, already picking up one envelope. He pulled out the stapled files and furrowed his brows.“The div

The Grand Bellmont's lobby was quiet at that hour, all soft lighting and marble floors, with a single receptionist glancing up briefly before returning her attention to her screen. Tyler kept his hold on Fae steady as he approached the desk, muttering something about needing a room for a friend who'd had too much to drink. Money changed hands quickly enough, no questions asked, and within minutes he was in the elevator, watching the floor numbers climb.He glanced down at her the whole way up. She hadn't stirred once, her breathing slow and even against his chest, and if he were being honest with himself, that worried him more than it should have. He didn't know exactly how much she'd had, only that it had been enough to knock her clean out before they'd even left the restaurant.The room was modest but clean, a single bed pushed against the far wall, curtains drawn over a dark window. Tyler crossed the room carefully and lowered her onto the mattress, one hand still cradling the back

"A timer?" Tyler repeated, still trying to catch up. "You mean they've already picked someone?""Picked, groomed, and probably already told half their social circle about," Fae said, waving a hand like it was the most mundane thing in the world. "His name is Preston Kane. His family owns half the shipping routes on the east coast, and mine owns most of the logistics companies that depend on those routes. Put the two families together, and you've got a very tidy little empire.""So this isn't just about pressure to date someone," Tyler muttered slowly. "This is an actual arranged marriage.""Bingo." She said it lightly, but something in her eyes didn't quite match the tone. "They haven't announced it publicly yet, but it's already been discussed at length behind closed doors. Dinners have happened. Photos have been taken for the society pages. It's only a matter of time before they expect me to just… agree."Tyler leaned back in his chair, studying her more carefully now. The playful,

Tyler kept half an eye on Jerry as he made his way toward the station entrance, but the old man made no move to approach. Instead, he stayed exactly where he was, hands still tucked into his coat pockets, watching with an expression that seemed almost thoughtful rather than intrusive.Tyler decided not to make a thing of it. If the man wanted to talk, he'd come over eventually. For now, there was a shift to get ready for, and he had more immediate things to focus on than a stranger loitering in the parking lot.He clocked in, exchanged a few easy greetings with the rest of the crew trickling in for the morning rotation, and helped run through the usual truck checks before the day really got moving. Twice more he caught sight of Jerry through the station's front windows, still standing in roughly the same spot, occasionally shifting his weight but never actually leaving.By the time Tyler stepped back outside for a supply run, curiosity finally won out over his usual habit of minding h