I sneak a glance at Theo. He’s leaning his head against the window. His tie is loosened. I take in the weary slope of his shoulders, the exhaustion etched into the lines around his closed eyes. He’s trying so hard to look composed, but I can see the strain beneath.
“You’re thinking about work again,” I say.
He hums. “You make it sound like a crime.”
“It is. Technically.” I fold my arms. “You’re supposed to be off the clock.”
“I’m salaried. I’m never off the clock,” he says, opening his eyes. “But if there were an exception, being in London would be it.” Then his gaze shifts back to me, and the corners of his mouth soften. “But tonight, I reallyamtrying to shut it all off.”
I reach over and rest a gentle hand on his knee. The fabric of his slacks is cool, but I can feel the tension in the muscle beneath.
“When I’m back in Orlando next week, I’ll start to delegate more. Anya’s doing a cracking job in my place right now. I should’ve trusted her with more of what’s on my plate sooner.”
I watch him for a moment, the question that’s been simmering all day finally bubbling to the surface. “Why do you let your father push you like this, Theo?” I ask softly. “Why haven’t you gone to a company where you’d actually be free of him?”
He glances out the window, looking out at the darkened River Thames. “I promised my grandmother I’d keep an eye on my father.”
His lips twist into a faint, weary smile that doesn’t hold any humor. “But I’ve done a poor job of it. He’s too ambitious. He’s run the company into the ground to pay for it.” He drags a hand over his face. “If things keep going the way they are, Excelsior Parks will be bankrupt within a year. My grandfather would be rolling in his grave if he could see what’s happened.”
The words knock the breath out of me. “What does he have to do with all this?”
Theo sighs, eyes distant. “He founded Excelsior.”
My heart twists. I thought it was bad enough he was trying to hold together something that was already breaking, but hearing that Excelsior Parks is his grandfather’s legacy makes it ten times worse.
“You haven’t done a rotten job, Theo. You’ve gone above and beyond,” I say quietly. “Have you spoken to your grandmother about it?”
“I can’t.” He looks over at me, eyes tired but steady now. “Hearing about my father’s choices upsets her too much. I don’t want to burden her further—not after everything she’s already lost.”
If what he says is true—if Excelsior is actually spiraling—then Mr. Harris’ earlier comment about me being influential with the Tanaka Group suddenly makes a horrible kind of sense. A partnership with Tanaka wouldn’t just be awin. It would be the capital injection that keeps the company afloat. It could be the answer to everything Theo’s been fighting for.
And yet, the idea of helping Mr. Harris makes me physically ill. Saving Excelsior would mean handing a victory to the man who treats his own son like a failing asset. I’d be strengthening the very person who’s been tearing Theo down and making his life a living hell.
The cab slows. “Here we are, sir,” the driver says, pulling to a smooth stop.
I glance out the window. An airfield stretches out ahead of us, the tarmac gleaming under floodlights. A low hum of engines fills the night air as a private jet taxis in the distance, its lights blinking in rhythm. Near the far end of the runway, a sleek black helicopter sits waiting, its rotors glinting faintly beneath the floodlights.
My brows knit together. “What are we doing at an airport?”
“Catching our ride to dinner,” Theo says smugly.
I didn’t think he’d manage to leave me speechless, but here we are.
Cold air rushes in as he steps out and circles around to open my door. The scent of jet fuel mingles with the crisp night breeze. He offers me his hand, the faintest spark running through me when our fingers brush. I’m at a loss for words. All that comes out is a few strained sounds.
He looks at me, eyes bright with something that feels dangerously close to mischief. “Come on, Kaori,” he says. “You’ve seen London from the ground. Time to see it properly.”
Kaori
Sato-san, I just wanted to warn you that I may be a little harder to track, but I promise I’m safe.
Sato
Your highness?
Kaori
I’m about to step onto a helicopter.
