"As if we would," Julian scoffs, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand.
"We've known for a few days," Alex continues. "We wanted to be absolutely certain before we took action."
Something in his tone makes me look up sharply. "What kind of action?"
The three men exchange another loaded glance before Alex leans forward, elbows on his knees. "We're going to destroy her. Professionally. Completely. By the time we're done, no one will want to hire her."
I stare at Alex, absorbing his words. The intensity in his expression is both frightening and thrilling—a quiet, calculated rage carefully contained behind his composed exterior.
"Destroy her?" I repeat.
"She's made this personal," Julian says, his usual playfulness replaced by something harder. "She's targeting you, trying to hurt you."
"We protect what's ours," Tristan adds simply.
I look at my three men and I feel safe and protected. The realization washes over me like warm water—these powerful,complicated men have built a fortress around me, shielding me from a world that doesn't understand what we've created together and I can’t believe how lucky I am.
Chapter 37
Alexander
"Are you ready for this?" I ask Camille, my voice low.
She nods. "More than ready."
The security guard recognizes me immediately—I've been here for consultations with Fiona before, back when I was considering hiring her. Before Camille. Before everything changed. He waves us through without question.
The elevator ride is silent. Julian stares at the floor numbers as they light up, while Tristan remains perfectly still beside him. Camille's hand finds mine, her fingers cool against my palm. I squeeze gently, a wordless promise. No one hurts what's mine.
When the doors slide open on the fourteenth floor, Fiona's receptionist looks up from her computer, recognition flickering across her face.
"Mr. Kingsley, do you have an appointment? I don't see you in Ms. Astor's calendar today."
"We don't need one," I reply, not breaking stride as we walk past her desk. She knows better than to protest as she takes in my expression.
Julian reaches the door first and pushes it open without knocking. Fiona sits at her desk, phone pressed to her ear, laughing at something. The laughter freezes on her face whenshe sees us. Her eyes widen, darting from me to Camille to Tristan to Julian, and back to me again.
"I'll call you back," she says into the phone, her voice tight. She sets it down carefully. "What a pleasant surprise. I don't believe we had an appointment scheduled for today though."
"We don't," I say, moving to stand directly in front of her desk. Tristan positions himself by the door—blocking it, though he makes the stance look casual. Julian leads Camille to one of the chairs opposite Fiona's desk, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this... unexpected visit?"
"You've had a lot to say about us," I say, my voice dropping to the register I use when I'm about to destroy someone in a negotiation. "Now we'll do the talking."
Her smile falters but doesn't quite disappear. "I'm not sure what you mean."
I take my time, unbuttoning my suit jacket and taking the seat beside Camille. "Let's not waste time with games, Fiona. We know you've been feeding stories to the tabloids. We know you've been orchestrating this entire media circus and trying to damage Camille's reputation."
A muscle in her jaw twitches, but she maintains her facade. "That's a serious accusation. And completely unfounded."
"Is it?" I reach into my inside pocket and withdraw my phone. "Because we have evidence that suggests otherwise."
"Those tabloids make up their own stories. That's what they do." Her voice rises slightly, fingers drumming on her desk.
"You'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" Julian interjects, his usual playfulness replaced with something harder. "Considering you've been on their payroll."
Fiona's eyes narrow. "I don't have to sit here and listen to these baseless accusations. I think you should leave."
