Nadia looks at the closed door to the twins’ room. “Sometimes I watch them and think about what it would be like if they were mine. If I’d been able to carry a pregnancy to term. If Julian and I had our own children running around this house.”
“You’d be an amazing mother.”
“I already am, in a way. To them.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I know they’re yours. I’m not trying to replace you. But being with them helps. Does that make sense?”
“It makes perfect sense.”
We stand there in the quiet hallway, two women bound by circumstances neither of us chose.
Then Nadia hugs me briefly and heads downstairs.
19
CASSIAN
“This isa lot of resources for one woman,” Declan says.
We’re in my office going over the details of the business proposal I’m about to present to the Vances. Real estate development partnership. Legitimate investment opportunity that actually makes financial sense.
It’s also completely unnecessary for my operations and costs more than it’s worth.
But it gets me in a room with Aurelia.
“The resources are fine,” I say, reviewing the contract one more time.
“You’re using three shell companies, two law firms, and a business broker just to set up a meeting. The Vances are going to see through this eventually.”
“By the time they do, it won’t matter.”
Declan leans against my desk. “And if Julian finds out you’re using legitimate business as an excuse to get close to his sister?”
“Then we’ll deal with it.”
“He could pull out of the partnership, and we could lose the investment.”
“I don’t care about the investment.”
“That’s my point.”
I set down the contract and look at him. “Do you have an actual concern, or are you just here to tell me things I already know?”
“My concern is that you’re burning business capital for personal reasons. That’s not like you.”
“It is now.”
Declan studies me for a moment, then shakes his head. “The meeting is confirmed for tomorrow. Two p.m. at the Carlyle. The Vances accepted the proposal. They’re sending representatives to discuss terms.”
“Who?”
“Nadia Vance and one other family member. They didn’t specify who.”
Aurelia.
It has to be Aurelia. Julian is trying to bring her into the family business. He wouldn’t send Nadia alone to a meeting this significant.
“Good,” I say. “Make sure everything is ready.”
Declan leaves, and I spend the rest of the day preparing. Not for the business proposal. That’s solid, my lawyers made sure of it.I’m preparing for the moment Aurelia walks into that room and realizes I’ve maneuvered her exactly where I want her.
