2026-07-07 21:34:38
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CHAPTER SEVENTY -SIX
Nobody heard him… “Ms. Cree” That was spoken with the same crisp precision which Lara knew represented both of them and the chasm which divided them. “Mr. Yorke.”Time stopped for both of them; both frozen in the instant. Carlos closed his eyes, rubbed them with his fingertip and let out a sigh as if this was the first exhalation a person was able to take when an extremely long, difficult day had been extended for an extra hour or two. “The strategy meeting will commence in fifteen minutes.” He stated, his eyes sweeping across the detailed grid calendar behind the door to the conference room. “I expect that you have all familiarized yourselves with the relevant documentation. “I have.”“Excellent. I did anticipate that.”Their eyes met for a breath and the ancient recognition in both was quickly contained and dismissed and would most certainly soon be contained again if something old and familiar would develop into something… and with a brisk, tight nod Carlos left them and turn
CHAPTER SEVENTY -FIVE
There was always a subtle, almost palpable, shift in the atmosphere of the King’s Corporation headquarters the day after the annual charity gala. The change would have been invisible to the outside world, never to appear on any quarterly report or to be mentioned at a shareholder’s meeting, but to those who walked its corridors, it was as inevitable as the turning of the seasons. Decorum had loosened its grip just enough for personalities to finally seep through the veneer of corporate stiffness-executives who had communicated solely through their assistants suddenly remembered each other’s first names; partnerships that had only existed in spreadsheet columns transformed into hushed, giggling discussions over Champagne and foie gras.New material was uncovered which would fuel the company rumor mill for another year.This year, however, there seemed to be a different kind of hum throughout the building. By 8:30 AM, the executive lobby was already a veritable hubbub of activity. Regio
CHAPTER SEVENTY -FOUR
Carlos walked in with a few thick folders piled under his arm. He stopped just inside the door frame and looked, first at Ansel, then at the screen of his laptop, on which a photo sat in his inbox. Carlos let out a heavy sigh. “So, we’re doing this now.”Ansel slammed the lid of his laptop shut. “Did you need something?”Carlos raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Deflection. Very creative.”Ansel offered nothing more. Carlos continued his progress into the room and placed his stack of files on the large desk. “Just FYI half the company is sure that Lara and Daniel are an item,” he stated casually, as he laid the last file down. It was as though those words were thrown like little darts into Ansel’s chest. “People like to gossip,” he responded, trying to keep his expression even and aloof. “True,” Carlos agreed. His eyes remained fixed on Ansel’s. “But this isn’t about gossip, is it?” Ansel was silent. Carlos knew him too well. He’d observed him for years. “You know what’s f
CHAPTER SEVENTY -THREE
A comfortable silence hung between them for a minute or two, then Daniel lowered his gaze to the top of his mug before lifting it to her face again.A subtle shift in expression which instantly drew her attention. ‘Lara,’ he began, his voice softer now, almost intimate and the unfamiliar intonation instantly made her eyes fly to his. ‘Yes?’He took a slow, steady breath. ‘There’s something I have to tell you.’ All the levity of the last few minutes evaporated and Lara leaned back in her chair, the unfamiliar nervousness tightening her stomach. Daniel met her gaze directly. ‘I like spending time with you.’ The words were simple, and so direct they almost took her breath away, the subtext enormous and complicated and she stayed quiet, allowing the meaning of his words to settle in. ‘I look forward to seeing you each morning,’ he continued, his voice unwavering. He paused, then smiled gently at the edges of his mouth. ‘I love making you laugh. And I’ve discovered that it gives me a
CHAPTER SEVENTY -TWO
The day after the gala came and went with a quiet dignity. The sun streamed through the massive windows of King’s Corp HQ, painting long shadows and streaks of gold across the polished marble floors and the gleaming glass walls, as the day shift arrived for work in various stages of sleep, with their respective coffees, their laptops, and the still unresolved conversations of the previous evening clutched between their teeth and their toes. All in all, the charity gala had been, by most measurements, a stunning success. Donations were more than expected. The press was almost entirely positive. The investors had been dazzled. The Board, most importantly, had been appeased. And in terms of pure numbers, the gala had done precisely what it was designed to do. Of course, it is generally rare for a corporation to concern itself with quantifying the kinds of things that employees will likely be talking about amongst themselves. By 8:30 A.M., the first photos from the event were already
CHAPTER SEVENTY -ONE
"Oh my god, my feet are killing me!" Sophia announced, pulling off her heels the second the door had closed behind them as they walked toward the living room.Ansel stopped in his study doorway, turning around. "You should rest.""I will."Sophia watched him unfasten his bow tie, and the next thing he knew, he was off toward his study as he usually was, even after any social function.She often wondered when the last time he had truly worked less. "Ansel."She stated, as if they had a prior conversation, stopping him in the door with surprise on his face and his head slightly tilted. "Yes?"Sophia forced a weak smile, "Can you stay with me for a little while?" He blinked, then gave a small chuckle, "I hadn't planned to do any work tonight, what's up?" she glanced over at his study door. "That's what you always say."He glanced between his door and her for a moment, then clicked the door shut with a gentle noise and walked into the living room.He settled himself across from her on the
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