“She really dared to do that?” Samuel’s expression twisted with anger.
19
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MAYIN
His fists clenched, jaw tight, as his face grew darker with every word that came out of Roni’s mouth.
“She pped you?” he asked again, his voice low and sharp.
Roni nodded, still touching his cheek. “And she called me your dog. He told me to tell you to crawl back to her if you wanted forgiveness.”
Samuel exhaled sharply through his nose and muttered something under his breath, his voice barely audible. “ying hard to get…. Always has to make things difficult.” He knew Emery was doing it on purpose–trying to throw him off bnce, stress him out before the wedding. She had done this before, disappearing just long enough to make him panic. But after a little coaxing, she always came back and beg for him to take her back.
Only this time felt different. This wasn’t the moment to gamble on her return.
“I can talk to her again,” Roni offered. “If you want, I can convince her toe back. She’s just emotional right now. I’m sure if I-”
No.“”
“No.” Samuel cut him off. “Don’t mind that. I’m going.”
He grabbed his jacket and stepped out from behind his desk just as the door opened.
A woman stepped inside without knocking.
Samuel’s face immediately shifted into a frown. “What are you doing here?”
Talia Arden closed the door behind her and walked further into the room. She didn’t stop until she was only a few feet from him.
“What do you mean, what am I doing here?” she asked, ncing around the office. “<b>I </b>came to visit my fiancé.”
Samuel didn’t respond. He studied her carefully <b>as </b>she walked toward him. As always, Talia looked polished- too polished.
She ced her purse on the corner of his desk. Her gaze flicked toward Roni, who hadn’t moved. “Is this a bad time?”
Samuel didn’t answer the question. “How did you get past the assistant?”
Talia shrugged and sat on the edge of his desk. She crossed her legs. “She was busy talking on the phone. I didn’t think I needed an appointment.”
Samuel narrowed his eyes slightly. He didn’t speak, but his fingers drummed against the back of a nearby chair.
Talia tilted her head and smiled. “So… where were you going?” she asked. “You looked like you were in a rush.”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he nced at Roni
Rom immediately took the hint. “I’ll wait outside,” he said, and quietly slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Once they were alone. Talia looked at Samuel again. “Well?” she asked “You didn’t answer me.”
Samuel walked over to his desk and picked up the papers he had left there eather. “Just a meeting”
“With who?”
“Someone from thepany”
She raised an eyebrow. “You mean someone like Emery Vaughn<b>?</b>”
His eyes <b>flicked </b>to her
Talia leaned forward slightly “Don’t look so surprised”
“I told you-”
“I told <b>you </b>to end it,” Talia said with a smile. “She’s <b>a </b>problem, and problems like that need to <b>be </b>pulled <b>out </b>at the rout. Don’t you <b>think </b>so, Samuel?<b>” </b>
12:34 AM P p
Samuel pursed his lips. He stared at the beautiful woman before him. “I already did.”
T
N
“Yet, here you are… panicking just because she didn’t go home the other night.”
Samuel narrowed his eyes. “How did you know that?” His tone was low, dangerous.
However, Talia didn’t answer his question. Instead, she leaned even closer. “I know a lot of things, Samuel.
Samuel’s jaw flexed as he stared at her. Talia was always like thisposed, calcted, smug. She didn’t even flinch when he questioned her. That confidence, the way she acted like she had control over everything, only made his blood boil.
He turned away, breathing slowly through his nose. Don’t do anything stupid, he told himself. This wasn’t just about him anymore. It was about thepany, the investment, the board. Her father had connections that could double the firm’s valuation overnight.
Talia stood and walked around the desk, her heels clicking softly against the floor. She stopped in front of him, folded her arms, and smiled like she already knew what he was thinking.
4
“I’m here to remind you,” she said. “To keep your skeletons in the closet. Whatever mess you’ve made with Emery Vaughn, keep it far from me. Don’t drag my name into it.” She paused. “Because if you do, I will make you regret it.”
Samuel’s Samuel’s eyes flicked to her, but he said nothing.
Talia stepped even closer. “y the caring boyfriend,” she said. “Smile for the cameras. Show up to the wedding. Be the doting soon–to- be husband. That’s all I need. Once the deal <b>is </b>done, my family’s investment will go through.”
She leaned in, her eyes locked on his. “You can keep a mistress somewhere, I don’t care. But if I find out about it–if she shows up again, if anyone even hints at your dirty little secret–I will do things you can’t even imagine.”
Samuel’s face darkened. His fingers curled around the edge of the desk. But he didn’t argue.
Talia nced down at his clenched hand, then gently reached for his arm. She ran her fingers down his sleeve like she was wiping something off.
“I’m here for lunch,” she said. “I’m starving. And I’m sure the baby can’t wait any longer.”
She touched her belly and smiled.
“I already booked the restaurant,” she added. “Shall we go now?”
“Look will <i>you </i>just stop being stubborn and answer his calls?” James Be red at his younger sister as he continued slicing the steak for her. “Father misses you these days. Can you at least visit him?<b>” </b>
“And do what?” Emery’s lips thinned. “Tell him I’m not marrying someone I don’t even know? I hate arguing with him.”
James kept his eyes on the te. “You made a deal, Em. You lost. The agreement was to marry the man Dad picked.”
Emery snorted. “Yeah, well, that’s impossible now.” She only needed a few weeks. If the procedure was <b>a </b>sess, then her father would never let her inarry a man just for the sake of his business. But if it fails…..
James sighed, set his knife down, and leaned back in his seat. “Then at least visit him once everything settles down. He’s not asking you to <b>move </b>back into the house.”
Emery didn’t respond. She looked down at her te and moved the food around with her fork
Seeing her lost in thought, James picked up his ss. “So <b>what </b>are you nning to do with your investments in Samuel’spany?” Emery let out a quiet breath. She opened her mouth to answer, but a voice cut through the low chatter of the restaurant.
<b>“</b>Emery?”
She turned her head.
Samuel was standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets. He <b>wasn’t </b>alone. Talia Arden stood next to him, still holding onto his arm. Roni followed a step behind, but <b>it </b><b>was </b>Talia who moved first.
Before anyone at the table could react<b>, </b>Talia lifted her hand slightly. “Mr. Be? <b>What </b><b>a </b>coincidence.”
12:34 AM P <b>P </b>
Talia let go of Samuel’s arm and stepped forward with a smile. “My father’s always enjoyed speaking with you. He mentionedst week how much he misses your conversations. He said you should y Go again sometime.”
James stayed seated. “That was a long time ago.”
“Well, he remembers it clearly.” Talia reached their table and looked from James to Emery, “I’m sure he’d be happy to see you again.”
James. “Anyway,” she continued lightly. “This is
Her eyes moved between Emery and James, her smile still in ce.
Talia looked at Emery, tilting her head just enough to make it noticeable.
Samuel gave a slight nod. His eyes flicked to Emery, but he didn’t say anything.
She nced at Samuel, who remained where he was, then turned her attention back my fiancé, Samuel Dwight. I’m sure you’ve heard of him before?”
<b>10 </b>
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“We’re having lunch,” James said.
“Perfect,” Talia replied. “Then you won’t mind if we join you, right? Unless of course… this is something more private?”
<b>8/3 </b>