Chapter 4 - The Shadow of the PastThe following morning, the front page of the New York Financial Gazette featured a massive headline: STERLING & VANCE SHATTERED IN MORNING RAID: MORETTI EMPIRE PULLS PLUG. Beneath it was a blurry photo of Bradley Hayes stumbling away from the grand hotel gala, his career reduced to ash in less than twelve hours.
Chloe sat at the marble kitchen island in Leo’s penthouse overlooking Central Park, scrolling through the digital edition on her tablet while sipping lemon water.
“You didn’t have to destroy an entire firm just because an ex-boyfriend was an idiot,” Chloe said without looking up as footsteps echoed across the hardwood floor.
Leo, dressed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, poured himself a cup of black coffee. “I didn’t destroy the firm. I reallocated assets. Sterling will find new clients. But Hayes will never work in this city again.”
“You’re ruthless.”
“I’m efficient.” He leaned against the counter, watching her over the rim of his mug. “How is the nausea today?”
“Better. The lemon water helps.” She paused, lowering the tablet. “Leo... why are you doing all this?”
“All what?”
“This.” She gestured vaguely around the sprawling, heavily guarded penthouse. “The doctors, the security, the public declarations, destroying Bradley’s life. According to our original contract, I was just supposed to carry an heir, deliver the child, and quietly walk away with my brother’s debt cleared.”
Leo’s expression darkened slightly. The casual posture vanished, replaced by an intense, brooding stillness.
“Contracts can be rewritten, Chloe.”
“That wasn't the deal.”
“Deals change when the parameters change,” Leo said, setting his mug down with a sharp clack. He walked over to her, stopping just inches away. He reached out, his warm palm pressing gently over the green silk of her lounge pants, right against her lower belly.
Chloe gasped softly, her hand instantly flying down to cover his.
“Four months,” Leo murmured, his voice dropping an octave, becoming a low, hypnotic hum. “Every night I sit in my office reviewing security reports, and all I can think about is that inside you, there is a heart beating with my blood and your spirit. Do you really think I’m going to let you walk away and hand my child to a nanny while you live in some two-bedroom apartment in Queens?”
“That was the agreement!” Chloe argued, though her voice lacked conviction. Her skin burned wherever his fingers touched her.
“Agreements made under duress—when your brother was stupid enough to steal from a casino—don't account for reality,” Leo said fiercely. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. “You are staying here. With me. As my wife.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. “Your... what? We never talked about marriage!”
“We are talking about it now.”
Before Chloe could formulate a reply, a sharp, urgent chime echoed from the hallway.
Leo straightened up instantly, his alpha composure locking back into place. He walked to the wall console and tapped the intercom.
“Speak,” Leo commanded.
“Boss,” came the frantic voice of his head of security, Marcus. “We have a breach at the perimeter gates. It’s not an assassin. It’s... it’s the girl’s brother. Danny. And he’s dragging someone with him.”
May you like
Chloe’s blood ran cold. “Danny? What is he doing here?”
Leo’s eyes narrowed into black ice. “Let them in. Bring them to the library.”
