Chapter 569

Chapter 569:

So I had let her go. Not because I wanted the breakup, but because she needed space to decide for herself.

And I was confident. Mira might waver, but she would return. The answer would be yes.

“If there is nothing further,” I said at last, my tone final, “this meeting is adjourned p>

Chairs scraped back reluctantly. The shareholders filed out, muttering in low voices. None of them looked me in the eye. The door clicked shut behind the last of them.

A knock followed almost immediately.

“Come in,” I said.

Dominic Everett slipped through the door, his dark suit immaculate as always. He leaned close, lowering his voice. “She’s here p>

I frowned. “Who p>

“Mrs. Laurent. I mean, Miss Vance. She’s downstairs p>

The receptionist gave me a rehearsed smile, polite and immovable.

“I’m sorry, Miss Vance, but you’re not on Mr. Laurent’s schedule today. Do you have an appointment p>

The words nearly slipped out: “I’m his wife p>

Then reality caught up with me. I wasn’t. Not anymore.

I was still fumbling for an answer when another voice cut across the lobby.

“It’s all right, I’ll take care of it. Miss Vance, why don’t we step this way p>

The hairs prickled at the back of my neck. I turned and found myself face to face with Lea.

Blonde hair fell sleek around her shoulders, her fitted dress in a shade designed to command attention without looking like it tried, her makeup immaculate. She looked as though she had stepped out of one of those glossy magazines featuring formidable businesswomen.

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“Ash is in a meeting,” she said smoothly, already heading for the glass doors. “I don’t think he wants to be disturbed. Let’s take this to the café opposite, shall we p>

Ash. The way she said it grated. As if the name belonged to her alone, as if she had the right to toss it out so lightly, like a private nickname only old friends shared. And they were old friends, but still.

I considered brushing past her, heading straight for the lifts, daring the receptionist to stop me. But then I thought better of it. If Lea wanted to talk, I might as well find out what game she was playing. I followed her out of the lobby.

The café was busy, filled with the clink of cups and the low hum of conversation. Lea chose a table near the window, sat down with unhurried grace, and ordered a flat white as if she had all the time in the world. I ordered coffee too, though my appetite for it was gone.

When the drinks arrived, she stirred hers leisurely, then lifted it to her lips. There was no rush in her movements.

I leaned forward. “Why did you want to talk to me p>

Her lips curved. “I thought I made my point clear enough on the cruise ship p>

“You want Ashton p>

“I thought that was obvious p>

“Yet when he was missing at sea, when his life was uncertain, you tried to steal his company. Hardly the kind of thing someone does if they love him p>

Lea’s expression barely shifted. “You see, that’s the difference between you and me. Ashton would understand. If you want something, you go all in. You spare no effort. And the only way to win is if you hold all the cards. If Ashton had died at sea, I would have made sure LGH continued to prosper. That’s his legacy. He trusted me with Titanova, the first company he built. That shows how much faith he has in me. And if Ashton returned safely, wouldn’t he be glad to find his company in capable hands during his absence? Either way, I made the right call p>