“Perfect. I’ll clear my schedule to focus on them.”
She walked toward her office with that confident stride he’d come to adore, and Leander forced himself to turn away before he did something foolish like follow her and lock the door behind them.
In the sanctuary of his own office, he settled behind his desk with practiced efficiency. The silence and isolation felt heavier than usual this morning. His mind kept drifting to Camille and the warmth of her presence, and it took all his restraint not to go to her office and just sit and watch her work today. He needed grounding and redirection at this moment. His fingers found his phone before conscious thought could intervene.
“Leander?” His mother’s voice carried surprise and warmth in equal measure. “What a lovely surprise, darling. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you with the Lexington project keeping you so busy.”
“Hello, Mother,” he replied with genuine warmth. “How are things at the estate? Everything holding up well?”
“Oh, you know how it is. The gardens are flourishing, though the groundskeeper insists the east wing needs new shutters before winter. But that’s not why you’re calling.” Her tone shifted, becoming more perceptive. “You sound different, sweetheart. More relaxed, which seems surprising given how challenging this project has been for you.”
Leander leaned back in his chair, a smile tugging at his lips despite himself. His mother had always possessed an uncanny ability to read him, their bond too strong for deception or careful omissions. The years hadn’t dulled that maternal radar one bit.
“I found her, Mother.”
Silence stretched across the line for a heartbeat before she drew in a sharp breath.
“Your fated mate?”
“Yes.” The word carried weight, finality, and a wonder he couldn’t quite suppress. “She’s actually my new assistant.”
Her delighted laughter bubbled through the phone. “Oh, that seems rather fortunate and convenient. Almost too convenient, if you ask me.”
“It may not have been entirely random,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “Travis hired Gerri Wilder to find my assistant this time around.”
“Ah, that explains everything. That dear woman has a one hundred percent success rate at finding fated mates, even when she’s not specifically asked to do so.”
Leander shook his head, though his irritation was more fond than genuine. “I should have seen it coming. But Mother, it’s turning out better than I ever expected. It’s Camille St. James.”
The sharp intake of breath on the other end told him his mother recognized the name immediately. “The socialite? The one who’s always in the society pages? Leander, that’s quite surprising. But I’m happy for you, darling.”
“She’s nothing like what you’d expect from her reputation,” he said quietly, his voice carrying protective undertones. “She’s brilliant, passionate about architecture, and she’s been living a life that never belonged to her. Her parents just kicked her out for refusing to quit working for me.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” His mother’s voice gentled with understanding. “She’s living with you temporarily, then?”
Heat crept up his neck. “Yes. And Mother... we may have already...”
“Leander Drake, please tell me you didn’t sleep with that poor girl on her first night in your home, especially when she’s vulnerable and displaced from family drama.”
“She made the first move,” he said quickly, then cleared his throat. “I was showing restraint. But the bond, Mother—it’s incredibly strong. And she’s not some fragile flower. She’s fierce and independent and exactly what my lion has been waiting for.”
His mother’s sigh carried both exasperation and affection. “I suppose I should be grateful you found your mate. But darling, getting involved with the St. James family drama could complicate things significantly.”
“I can handle whatever comes,” he said firmly. “She’s mine now, and I protect what’s mine.”
“Well then, I suppose you’d better bring her here so I can meet the woman who’s finally tamed my stubborn son. Why don’t you both come to the Hamptons tomorrow? A long weekend away might be exactly what you need.”
Leander blinked. “Tomorrow is Friday, Mother.”
“And? You’re the CEO. You can take a day off to introduce your mate to your mother. Besides, the estate is beautiful this time of year, and she might need time to decompress from all this family upheaval.”
The idea settled into his mind with surprising appeal. Three days away from the city’s chaos, from Damian’s schemes, from the constant demands of the business world. Three days to explore this new bond without interruption, to show Camille the place where his lion could run free.
“Alright,” he conceded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
After ending the call, Leander turned his attention to the Lexington blueprints spread across his desk. He marked problem areas with quick, efficient strokes, genuinely eagerto see what insights Camille’s fresh perspective might offer. Her architectural instincts were sharp, and he suspected her solutions would be far more elegant than anything he’d managed to devise. Minutes later, the walk to her office next door felt charged with anticipation. When he knocked and entered, the sight of her bent over her computer, completely absorbed in work, sent heat through him.
“I have those blueprints ready,” he said, setting them on her desk. “But I also have something else to ask you.”
