Chapter 519

Dennis Lane pouted, cheeks puffed out in annoyance as he glared menacingly at Emily Blair. “I don’t care what you say!”
Emily shot him a sidelong glance and replied coolly, “I don’t have time for this. I’m leaving.”
Just a brat, she thought. No need to rush-she could take her time.
Without another word, Emily strode off, leaving Andrew Lane and Dennis behind as she headed upstairs alone.
Seeing her go, Dennis’s eyes widened in outrage and he bolted after her. “No! You can’t go up there!”
Andrew Lane exchanged a look with the nearby housekeeper, who immediately caught on and placed a firm hand on Dennis’s shoulder. “Dennis, let’s listen to your father, okay? Let’s not go upstairs.”
Dennis started to struggle, but Andrew’s deep, commanding voice rumbled above him, heavy with authority. “Dennis Lane, you’re getting more and more out of line.”
Andrew’s gaze was so sharp that Isabella Austin felt a sudden wave of unease. She hurried over and wrapped her arms protectively around Dennis. “Alright, honey, listen to Dad. Don’t go making trouble, okay?”
Dennis turned away, sulking, deliberately presenting the back of his head to Andrew in protest.
Emily heard the commotion behind her but didn’t look back.
“Emily Blair, you’re still angry.”
Andrew had caught up to her without her noticing, his words low and close to her
ear.
Emily’s voice was calm. “If you’re willing to sell me the rights to Black and White Rabbit, I’d have nothing left to be angry about.”
Andrew called her bluff. “You’re lying.”
She let out a soft laugh. “Well, if you think I’m lying, Mr. Lane, why not test me?”
Emily climbed the stairs, aware of Andrew’s shadow falling across her as he looked down at her.
“Mr. Lane’ this, ‘Mr. Lane’ that. Emily Blair, what have you learned all these years?” His tone was sharp.
She gave him a wry smile. “What would you prefer I call you, then?”
His dark eyes were cold and cutting, his gaze pressing down on her. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what you used to call me before?”
Before.
She used to call him Andrew.
But now? Emily couldn’t imagine saying his name like that. She’d sooner see her own company collapse and burn.
She turned to him with a polite smile. “You’re a married man now, Mr. Lane. It’s better to keep things professional.”
She added, “Besides, I remember you once told me not to get any foolish ideas about you.” Emily’s smile was edged with irony. “I might be stubborn, but I remember that very well. If I ever slipped up, you’d probably throw me out in front of everyone again.”
Andrew’s eyes were as steady and unreadable as ever, not a flicker of emotion showing.
Emily was already bored with this pointless trip down memory lane and was about to change the subject when Andrew spoke again. “So you’re drawing the line with me, but not with Tristan Davis?”
For a heartbeat, Emily’s eyes met his, searching his expression.
Andrew had to be around thirty by now, but time had only refined his looks. He wasn’t any less handsome than before if anything, the faint lines at the corners of his eyes only made his features more striking. His brow was strong, his jawline sharply defined.
No doubt, he was still devastatingly attractive. She imagined Isabella Austin had put in plenty of effort over the years—after all, with Andrew’s looks and wealth, there was no shortage of people eager to win him over.
Of all the men Emily had ever met, only Tristan Davis could stand on equal footing with him.
Andrew was even more composed now than he’d been in the past. The harshness of his youth had faded, replaced by a quiet, unyielding authority. Storms might rage around him, but his expression never wavered; you could never tell what he was really feeling.
Emily realized that the Andrew Lane standing before her now was far more formidable than the one she’d known years ago.