Chapter Seven
Rowan
Cade’s phone suddenly rings, the sharp sound slicing through the heavy silence between us.
I try to step back, needing even an inch of space, but Cade’s hand immediately slides to the back of my neck, firm and unyielding, anchoring me in place.
My forehead drops against his shoulder with a quiet sigh.
He’s still warm from everything that just happened, and I can feel the steady thrum of his pulse beneath my brow.
“Yeah?” Cade answers, voice low and clipped, all business again.
I can feel the shift in him instantly… the familiar tension of work stress bleeding into his body, shoulders tightening, breath changing. The gentle man who just wiped tears from my face is gone, replaced by the commanding face of the company.
“Ask Jenny,” he says curtly into the phone.
My heart is hammering stupidly fast now that the adrenaline has started to fade. All that’s left is the relentless loop in my head:
You’re gay, Rowan. You. Are. Gay.
And then, worse… a traitorous little voice whispers from the darkest corner of my mind:
For your stepbrother.
I make a strangled, involuntary noise in the back of my throat and straighten up so fast that Cade’s grip falters. I slip free, catching the quick frown that crosses his face as he says, “She’s busy?”
He looks visibly annoyed at whoever’s on the other end of the line.
I turn away from him, moving toward the large window that overlooks the city skyline.
My hands shake slightly as I tuck my shirt back in properly and slide them into my trouser pockets.
I stare out at the glittering buildings, jaw clenched tight.
Christ. I’m on the executive floor, a grown man running an important division, and yet Cade somehow makes me feel younger, smaller, obedient… and completely confused.
“Fine. I’ll be down soon,” Cade says, then hangs up without another word.
The office falls quiet for a long, heavy heartbeat, before the warm weight of Cade’s hand settles firmly on my shoulder. I flinch hard at the sudden contact, my entire body jolting with the unexpected touch.
“I’ve got to head back,” he murmurs.
I nod, clearing my throat before I manage to speak. “Yeah… you should do that.” My voice comes out steadier than I expected, which feels like a small victory.
“Rowan…” he starts.
I shake my head quickly, still refusing to turn around. I can’t look at him right now. This is all too much… too raw and overwhelming.
Cade sighs, then his voice drops into that demanding tone I’m starting to recognise, laced with something darker and more possessive. “Fire her.”
I freeze, eyebrows scrunching together. I turn my head just enough to see him in my peripheral vision. “What?”
He steps closer until his chest presses against my back, his head dipping so his mouth is almost at my shoulder. “Fire your so-called assistant. Now.”
“But she’s…”
Cade growls low in his throat, the sound vibrating through me. “I don’t want to see her again, Ro.”
I swallow hard, throat tight, and finally nod.
“See you at home,” he says quietly.
Then he turns. I listen to the sharp click of his smart boots across the floor until the door opens and closes behind him with a soft, final click.
The moment he’s gone, I let out a long, shaky sigh and immediately cross the room to lock the door. The bolt slides into place with a loud, satisfying thunk. I walk around my desk on unsteady legs and sink into my chair, elbows braced on the polished wood, head dropping into my hands.
Fucking hell.
…
I sit at my desk for what feels like forever, staring at the screen, trying to force myself back into work mode.
There are dozens of emails waiting for replies, and contracts that need reviewing.
I open the first email, read the same sentence three times, then give up.
My hands won’t stop shaking. Every time I try to type, my fingers tremble over the keys, and the shame sitting heavy in my chest makes it impossible to focus.
I lean back in my chair and drag both hands down my face.
How the hell am I supposed to sit across from Cade at a family dinner now?
How am I supposed to look my mother and David in the eye, while the memory of what just happened in this office plays on repeat in my head?
And when will Cade’s place be finished with renovations?
Is there any possible way I can avoid him until then?
No… of course there isn’t. But there’s no way that can ever happen again.
But fuck… it felt so good. I’ve never felt anything like that in my life.
I reach forward and shut my computer down completely.
There’s no point pretending I can get any work done right now.
I grab the folder David sent up, stand, and straighten my suit jacket, buttoning it with fingers that still refuse to cooperate.
I cross the office, open the door, and step out into the quiet hallway, locking it firmly behind me.
This office is the only truly private space I have left, and right now it feels like the only safe one too.
My assistant’s desk is still empty. Thank God.
I can’t fire her though… not when David personally chose her and she’s apparently one of his friend’s nieces.
That would look terrible. But I also have no idea what Cade will do if he sees her up here again.
I’ll have to move her somewhere else in the firm.
Jeremy on the third floor just lost his assistant for incompetence; he needs someone efficient.
She might even prefer working with the design team.
I walk down the long hallway toward David’s office at the far end. His assistant, Marge, is at her desk. She’s an older woman with a perpetually warm smile that always makes the top floor feel a little less sterile.
“How are you, Marge?” I ask, managing a small smile as I approach.
“I’m very well, thank you for asking,” she replies kindly, her eyes flicking to the folder in my hands. “Is it all signed?”
“All ready to go,” I say, handing it over. I know it’ll be safe with her.
She taps the folder once and nods. “I’ll get it to him first thing in the morning.”
“Thanks, Marge.”
I turn and head back toward the elevators.
When the doors slide open, I step inside and lean against the side wall, pressing the button for the third floor.
I pull my phone out, hoping the screen will discourage any polite small talk if someone else joins me.
This elevator is rarely empty, but today I can’t handle forced smiles or casual conversation.
The elevator keeps stopping and starting as it descends, people stepping on and off with quiet murmurs.
Thankfully, most of them notice I’m staring down at my phone and assume I’m busy, so they leave me alone.
I’m not actually doing anything useful, just pretending to scroll through my calendar, checking and re-checking appointments I already know by heart, anything to avoid looking up and making eye contact with anyone.
The lift stops again. I know it isn’t my floor yet, but before I can glance at the panel, I hear that deep, familiar voice cut through the small space. “Jenny, ground floor.”
“Of course, sir,” Jenny replies brightly.
My entire body freezes. Cade and his assistant have just stepped into the elevator. Fuck. My heart immediately starts doing stupid, erratic things, pounding hard against my ribs.
The air feels too quiet now. I keep my eyes glued to my phone, hoping Jenny can’t sense the thick, awkward tension suddenly filling the small metal box.
Cade clears his throat. “Going somewhere, Ro?”
I lift my head slowly. Jenny is standing beside him, completely oblivious, offering me a polite, professional smile. “Hello, sir.”
I manage to return it. “Hi, Jenny.”
I straighten up properly and finally meet Cade’s gaze. “I’ve got business on the third floor.”
Cade frowns, a small crease forming between his brows.
Jenny’s face lights up. “Oh, I love Jeremy! Isn’t he a wonderful man? He keeps all of our products looking so sleek.” She says it with genuine enthusiasm, clearly admiring the head of design.
I nod, forcing a small smirk. “He’s a good man.”
Cade crosses his arms over his chest and raises one brow, his expression darkening slightly. I study him for a second, trying to read what I’m seeing. Is that… jealousy? Annoyance? Whatever it is, it sends an uncomfortable flutter through my stomach.
The elevator finally dings on the third floor and the doors slide open. I step out quickly, relieved to escape the confined space.
Jeremy is nearby, leaning over someone’s desk and pointing at their screen. When he hears the elevator, he looks up and breaks into a wide grin. “Mr. Adley!”
He walks over and pulls me into one of his usual friendly hugs, the kind he gives everyone without hesitation. I laugh softly and pat him on the back, but over his shoulder I catch one last glimpse of Cade’s face just as the elevator doors begin to close. Oh… that is not a pleasant expression.
I shake the thought off and force myself into business mode. There’s no time to dwell on whatever that look meant. Right now, I need to talk to Jeremy about taking on a new assistant.
…
Half an hour later, I step back into the elevator and press the button for the parking garage.
I can’t stay in this building any longer.
My anxiety is through the roof, and the shame sitting heavy in my chest makes it impossible to focus on anything productive.
Every time I close my eyes, I see Cade on his knees or feel the ghost of his mouth on me, and it sends another wave of heat and mortification rolling through my body.
To be fair, the time I spent with the design team wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
Jeremy was more than happy to take Sarah on as his new assistant.
He knows she’s been with me for a while and has always been a hard worker.
Still, I can’t shake the quiet worry that she might try the same thing with him that she did with me.
If she does, Jeremy won’t hesitate to fire her on the spot.
For now, the plan is simple: I’ll send her an email explaining the change.
I’m too much of a coward to face her in person after that embarrassing scene in my office.
Once the email is sent, I’ll have my most trusted security team go up and clear her desk of all personal belongings, then change the top-floor access code so she can’t return.
I’ll give her the rest of the week off to gather herself, and starting next week she’ll report to Jeremy on the third floor.
I’ll word the email carefully, framing it almost like a promotion…
even though her salary will be lower. It’s still better than losing her job entirely.
The elevator doors open into the dimly lit parking garage.
The cool, concrete-scented air hits me as I step out and head straight for my Jeep.
My footsteps echo softly in the quiet space.
All I want right now is to get home, lock the door behind me, and hide in my own apartment.
With any luck, Cade won’t notice I’ve left early.
Hopefully he won’t be back until well after six.
I unlock the Jeep with a soft beep, climb in, and grip the steering wheel for a moment before starting the engine. The familiar rumble fills the garage, but it does nothing to settle the storm still raging inside my chest.