Guarded King (Empty Kingdom #3)

Chapter 54

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

ROMAN

“ I don’t care about your excuses. Just get it done.” The man on the other end of the phone stutters in his attempt to assure me that he’ll get the issue sorted.

Every damn thing is coming to a head. The grand opening for Genesis-1 is almost upon us, Ellis will be in town next week, and we’re days away from formally submitting our acquisition bid. On top of that, my re-interview with Forbes , where they’re going to drill into the nightmare that is my father’s death, is next week.

Everything we’ve been working for—everything I’ve been working for—is coming to fruition, but instead of any sense of satisfaction, I feel nothing. I’m fucking numb.

I roll my neck and will my mind not to linger on Chloe. It kills me, knowing she isn’t sitting outside my door. That she won’t walk into my office, filling it with her presence, her intoxicating scent, her warmth, or her humor.

She won’t be at my apartment tonight, or in my bed.

I did the right thing by moving her in the wake of those tabloid reports. Within hours of my decision, our lawyers threatened legal action against the tabloids. It helped assuage my fears, but not as thoroughly as knowing the two of us won’t be caught together by another long-range lens. Though even that level of relief can’t ease the constant damn ache in my chest.

Because despite her assurance that the break was temporary, it feels anything but. It feels like an ending.

My intercom buzzes, and though I know it’ll be Sophie on the other end, not Chloe, my heart thumps in a damn Pavlovian response.

I press to answer. “Yes?”

“Your brothers are on their way for your meeting. Do you want me to pick you all up some lunch?”

“Thanks,” I say. “Could you order a couple of pizzas?”

“Pizza?” Her tone is pure surprise.

I’d laugh if my damn masochistic tendencies weren’t threatening to be the end of me. “Phillip knows where to go and what to get.”

“Okay, sure.”

In seconds, my brothers have arrived. I stand and lead the way to the couches, needing to get away from my desk and the memories it holds.

I take one couch, and they sit on either end of the other.

“Exciting times,” Tate says.

I grunt an acknowledgment. That’s about all the excitement I can muster.

“Share prices are shooting up,” Cole adds.

“Good.”

“Dad’s returned from the dead and is going to stage a takeover,” Tate casually throws in.

Eyes narrowed, I huff.

The laugh that escapes him is too loud in the quiet space. “Just checking to make sure you’re actually here with us.”

“I’m here.” I shove my fingers through my hair again.

“Really? Because it feels like your soul left your body the day you made the spectacularly stupid decision to send Chloe away.” Cole’s voice is too blasé for my liking.

“What should I have done, then?” I growl. “With all the attention on us, there was no point in giving anyone extra ammunition.”

“I get that seeing those photos was a shock, but do you think sending her away was the answer?”

Every muscle in my body goes rigid. “Another scandal is the last thing we need.”

“You think Roman King finally falling in love would be considered a scandal? Or the CEO of the King Group being outed as a human rather than a workaholic robot?”

My exhale is harsh. “The stories would be about how the new CEO is no better than the old one. The media would label me a predator like Dad. The whole industry would believe that nothing’s changed at the King Group except the name on the company ledger.”

Tate barks out a laugh. “None of those things are true, and you know it.”

I zero in on him, anger burning in my gut. “I don’t get to be as cavalier as you about things.” I snap. “No one cared when you screwed around because no one ever compared you to dad.”

Instantly, his expression shutters.

Fuck .

I slump back in my chair and heave out a sigh. “I’m sorry, Tate. I didn’t mean that.”

He shrugs and cracks a grin. “We never said you weren’t an asshole. But you’re our asshole, so…”

Incredibly, I find myself grinning back. That’s my brother, quick to forgive, even an asshole like me. Except, of course, any person who threatens Violet. Then forgiveness isn’t an option.

“Look.” I lean forward and clasp my hands, forearms on my knees. “It’s not just the company. Neither of you would let anyone hurt your women. I don’t want Chloe to be hurt. What do you think people will say about her?”

Tate cocks a brow. “I guess that’s up to you, isn’t it?”

I scrub my hands over my face. I’d give anything for my mind to be as clear and focused as it used to be. Not torn between competing priorities.

Cole laces his hands together over his stomach and leans back. “What did she say when you told her you were moving her?”

My body tenses like it does every time I picture the hurt in her expression. “That we should take a break.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“No. I wanted to do damage control. She suggested a break so we could figure out our priorities.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

Fuck. When did my brother turn into a goddamn shrink? “I feel like shit. Is that what you want to hear?” Hands in my hair, I tug, relishing the pain. “But I need to get the company through all these big changes. We have to navigate these next few months, then Chloe and I can bring our relationship into the spotlight on our own terms.”

“And will she still be waiting once those things happen?” Tate asks.

My stomach lurches sickeningly. The possibility that she won’t be isn’t something I want to contemplate.

He props an ankle over a knee and drapes an arm along the back of the couch. “Because it sounds to me like you already know what your priority is. And it doesn’t seem like it’s Chloe.”