Back in the main living area, Archer guided her to sit at the kitchen island while he prepared brunch. Morgan watched with fascination as he moved efficiently around the kitchen, gathering ingredients and cookware with the confidence of someone comfortable in their space.
“You cook?” she asked, genuinely surprised.
“I have many hidden talents,” Archer replied, a smile evident in his voice, “However if you’re hoping for something grand, it’s just scrambled eggs. Pretty much the only thing I can cook without burning the place down. My mother figured eggs were enough of a complete meal that she called quits on the cooking lessons once I stopped burning them. ”
“Tell me about your family,” Morgan asked while he cracked a few eggs.
“Not much to tell,” Archer replied, as she watched him whisk the eggs. “My parents died when I was in my twenties. No siblings. A few distant relatives I rarely see.”
“I’m sorry about your parents,” Morgan said softly, remembering her own loss.
“It was a long time ago,” Archer said, his tone suggesting the wound had scarred over but never fully healed. “What about yours? You mentioned they passed away recently?”
“Two years ago,” Morgan confirmed. “My dad had a heart attack, and my mom followed a few months later with cancer. They were together for thirty years, completely devoted to each other.”
“They sound like remarkable people,” Archer observed.
“They were.” Morgan smiled at the memories. “My dad was an architect, my mom a pediatric nurse. They taught me about work ethic, about integrity, about not compromising on the things that matter.”
“They would be proud of you,” Archer said with conviction. “Standing up to Richard, refusing to be manipulated.”
“I hope so,” Morgan said, a lump forming in her throat. “I keep wondering what my dad would advise me to do with this work situation.”
“What do you think he’d say?”
Morgan considered the question. “He’d tell me to fight. Dad never backed down when he knew he was right.” She paused, then added, “But he’d also tell me to be strategic, to understand the battlefield before charging in.”
“Sounds like a wise man,” Archer commented. “And your mother?”
“She’d remind me to take care of myself in the midst of the fight,” Morgan said with a sad smile. “Mom was always worried I’d burn myself out trying to prove myself.”
They fell silent, each lost to their own thoughts. Morgan found herself missing her parents with a fresh intensity, wishing she could introduce them to Archer, wondering what they would make of her unusual relationship.
“Breakfast is ready, let’s bring it up to the terrace to eat.” Archer said as he handed her a plate with more eggs than she could possibly hope to eat herself with a side of some cut fruit he’d pulled from the fridge.
“This looks amazing,” she said, genuinely impressed.
They carried their plates outside, settling at the table overlooking the city. As they ate, Morgan found herself repeatedly struck by the strangeness of their situation—sharing an intimate meal in a beautiful setting, all while one of them remained partially hidden from view.
Archer had developed a system, she noticed. He would turn slightly away, pull down his face covering just enough to take a bite, then return to their conversation. It was clearly practiced, efficient, but nonetheless a constant reminder of the barriers still between them.
After they finished eating, Morgan’s phone rang—Alexandra Winters’ direct line flashing on the screen.
“I should take this,” she said apologetically.
“Of course,” Archer replied, standing to clear their plates. “Take all the time you need.”
Morgan answered the call, moving to a quiet corner of the terrace. “Alexandra, hello.”
“Morgan, I have an update on your situation,” the attorney said without preamble. “The injunction was granted. Vertex Creative cannot destroy or alter any records related to the accounts you identified.”
“That’s good news, right?”
“It’s a start,” Alexandra confirmed. “But there’s more. I’ve been researching Vertex’s corporate structure and recent activities. The company is indeed in play for acquisition. Several larger firms have submitted bids.”
Morgan’s heart raced. “So the theory about Richard trying to cover up embezzlement before the acquisition goes through could be accurate?”
“It’s certainly plausible,” Alexandra agreed. “Financial irregularities often come to light during due diligence. If your boss has been siphoning funds, he’d need a scapegoat before the new owners start asking questions.”
