ohnson

ment, and you know how he gets when he's hungry," I asked th

streaked with gray now, show

table is all set," Alicia

ch me immediately," I instructed, sitting

bowing slightly before

yan hadn't been home for months, and with eac

son was, but I also k

from my thoughts. "Ma'am, Sir Bry

. "I'm coming," I replied, he

ing on the couch with headphones

d hair, this reminded me of the man

by," I cal

d offered me a faint smile, the

a reminder that he wasn't the boy wh

prepare your favorite dishes," I sa

ate, as though he were walking into a meetin

been hiding in this time?" I asked, tryi

ways, eating with the precision o

isn't why you called me here," he said, his to

nd, a familiar voice

do we h

strolled into the room, his p

r and forgot all about his responsibilities to this f

k at his father. His focus remained on

ying to diffuse the tension.

ning the family business by now? Instead, he's out there

g loudly against the floor. Without a w

at my h

e," I hissed, standin

ching up to him just as he w

rply, turning to face me. His tone ma

id get to you, sweetheart. He

e over the business someday. Or do you want y

family business, and you

an enough to buy any company I

you!" I cried, tears

he business, everything your father and I built wil

through his hair. "So, w

right where I wanted. Bryan c

oing to the company. It's time to le

he scoffed, his

e. She'll be sent to your mansio

e," he growled, h

eaded, letting the te

e, if not fo

heavily,

er. But I'm only d

nto his car, and hi

smile spread

M

earlier led me to a room and ca

rrassed at the thought,

lly, I

thing, though I couldn't

white robe, one of the maid

l," she said politely, settin

tered, eyeing the

couldn't shake the thought that

ded to take the risk. As soon as I ta

edible, the best

aned back and sipped the juice

en," I murmur

cold wave. "Why was I here? Wha

n was setting, and the soft glo

s strange mansion, with

f the maids asked, s

ly, watching as sh

ing?" I blurted out b

ed. "Of

hat he wants from me?" I aske

ly Lord Bryan can answer that," sh

y, exhaustion w

ikely from the stress

bed, pulling the so

ught lingered in my mind; I ho