Chapter 7: Business Conspiracy
645words
"Ready to go?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe.
He looked up, seeming surprised to see me. "Go?"
"Dinner? The reservation you made?" I raised my eyebrows. "Or did the great CEO forget his own plans?"
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Give me five minutes."
While waiting, I wandered the executive floor of Blackwood Enterprises. The offices were mostly empty this late, but voices from a conference room caught my attention.
"Thorne already lost his legs. Now he's losing his grip on reality." Kieran's voice was unmistakable. "The board needs to see he's unstable. His erratic behavior, these mood swings—"
"And the wife?" another voice asked.
"A desperate attempt to appear normal. Trust me, it's a sham marriage. Once I take control, she'll be gone faster than his ability to walk."
I pressed myself against the wall, heart pounding. *So the prince became a snake after all.*
In the car ride home, I sat closer to Thorne than usual, studying his profile. The hard line of his jaw was tense, his eyes distant. Without thinking, I placed my hand over his on the leather seat between us.
He startled, looking down at our hands, then up at me with questioning eyes.
"Tough day?" I asked softly, suddenly afraid he might pull away.
He sighed, but didn't move his hand away. Instead, his fingers slowly intertwined with mine. "Board politics. Nothing new."
"Kieran?"
His thumb absently stroked the back of my hand. "Among others."
At dinner, I tried lightening the mood with stories about Sophie. "She asked if you'd come back to tell more mountain stories," I said, passing him the bread basket. Our fingers brushed, lingering a moment too long. The brief contact shouldn't have affected me so strongly, yet I felt heat rise to my cheeks.
"I might," he said, his eyes softening. "She reminds me of someone."
"Who?" I leaned forward, drawn by this glimpse into his past.
"Myself, before..." He gestured vaguely at his wheelchair, a shadow crossing his features.
"Stubborn and full of questions?" I offered gently, wanting to pull him back from that dark place.
"Fearless," he corrected, a real smile finally emerging. It reached his eyes this time, crinkling the corners. I found myself smiling back, something warm unfurling in my chest. In that moment, I realized I would say almost anything to keep that smile on his face.
Later that night, I found him still working, rubbing his temples in obvious pain. I made two cups of tea and brought them to his study.
"You need rest," I said, setting the tea beside him.
"CEOs don't rest. Especially ones with nephews circling like sharks." Despite his words, exhaustion lined his face.
I hesitated, then moved behind his wheelchair. Gathering my courage, I placed my hands on his shoulders and began gently massaging the knots of tension. His body went rigid for a moment before relaxing under my touch.
"Kieran's planning something," I said quietly. "I overheard him today. He's telling investors you're unstable, that our marriage is just for show."
Thorne's muscles tensed again. He turned his wheelchair to face me, his expression unreadable. "This isn't your battle, Lyra."
"It is now." I met his gaze steadily, surprised by the fierce protectiveness I felt. When had his problems become mine? "We're a team, remember?"
He studied me for a long moment, then reached for my hand. His thumb traced slow circles on my palm, sending shivers up my arm.
"You're a surprising woman, Lyra Blackwood."
It was the first time he'd used my married name. Somehow, in his deep voice, it sounded right.
