Chapter 96
Chapter 96:
Brinley’s thoughts slowly untangled, each past case sparking a little more clarity—until an idea struck like lightning.
She snatched up a pen, her hand moving in quick, decisive strokes across a fresh sheet. This time, the lines poured out without resistance, solutions surfacing where she had been stuck for three relentless days.
Watching from the side, Austin felt the tight knot of worry ease from his chest, his gaze softening with quiet tenderness.
He pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message to Miguel. “Tell the butler to make some soup and take it over to my wife’s office p>
Austin understood Brinley’s stubborn streak better than anyone. Once she committed to something, there was no stopping her halfway.
He didn’t intend to talk her out of the grind—his role was to build her a cushion, to make sure she felt protected and supported while she drove herself forward.
𝗗𝘪ѕ𝗰ov𝘦r nе𝘸 ѕ𝘵𝗼𝘳іe𝗌 on 𝘨𝘢𝗹ոo𝘷𝖾𝗅ѕ.𝗰о𝗆
Outside, the sunlight mellowed, its warmth spilling across the desk in a hazy wash of gold.
Setting her pen aside, Brinley studied the proposal—almost finished at last—and let out a slow, steady breath that loosened the tension in her shoulders. She turned toward Austin and found him slumped in the chair, fast asleep, her discarded drafts still clutched loosely in his hand.
He must have come straight from company matters, exhausted and short on rest.
Brinley rose silently, fetched a blanket, and draped it gently over his shoulders.
Her gaze lingered on the hard line of his brow, furrowed even in sleep. Almost without thinking, she reached out, her fingers hovering, wanting to smooth that stubborn crease.
But at the last instant, she drew back, startled by her own impulse.
Brinley sank into her chair again, her eyes brightening at the flawless connection plan glowing on her screen. A faint, satisfied smile tugged at her lips.
Two days before the bidding proposal’s deadline, she finally sent off the completed file.
That left forty-eight precious hours before she would have to stand onstage at the bidding conference and defend it.
For once, she allowed herself to clock out early.
As she pulled into the Hillcrest Villa drive, her eyes landed on a polished black car parked by the garage.
“Mr. Moore returned earlier than usual today,” the butler said warmly as he accepted her bag, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “He mentioned how hard you’ve been working and went so far as to cook soup himself p>
Brinley froze in the entryway, caught off guard.
Austin rarely had a spare moment to breathe, let alone cook. He must have known she’d be home earlier today, which explained his early return.
With that thought lingering, she quickened her steps toward the kitchen. Through the frosted glass door, a shadow shifted.
The moment she pushed it open, the rich fragrance of mushrooms drifted out to greet her, washing away the heaviness of her long day.
Austin stood over the stove in comfortable loungewear, sleeves pushed up to his forearms, the light catching on the smooth lines of his wrists.