Chapter 19 Cassian
CASSIAN
“This is a lot of resources for one woman,” Declan says.
We’re in my office going over the details of the business proposal I’m about to present to the Vances. Real estate development partnership. Legitimate investment opportunity that actually makes financial sense.
It’s also completely unnecessary for my operations and costs more than it’s worth.
But it gets me in a room with Aurelia.
“The resources are fine,” I say, reviewing the contract one more time.
“You’re using three shell companies, two law firms, and a business broker just to set up a meeting. The Vances are going to see through this eventually.”
“By the time they do, it won’t matter.”
Declan leans against my desk. “And if Julian finds out you’re using legitimate business as an excuse to get close to his sister?”
“Then we’ll deal with it.”
“He could pull out of the partnership, and we could lose the investment.”
“I don’t care about the investment.”
“That’s my point.”
I set down the contract and look at him. “Do you have an actual concern, or are you just here to tell me things I already know?”
“My concern is that you’re burning business capital for personal reasons. That’s not like you.”
“It is now.”
Declan studies me for a moment, then shakes his head. “The meeting is confirmed for tomorrow. Two p.m. at the Carlyle. The Vances accepted the proposal. They’re sending representatives to discuss terms.”
“Who?”
“Nadia Vance and one other family member. They didn’t specify who.”
Aurelia.
It has to be Aurelia. Julian is trying to bring her into the family business. He wouldn’t send Nadia alone to a meeting this significant.
“Good,” I say. “Make sure everything is ready.”
Declan leaves, and I spend the rest of the day preparing. Not for the business proposal. That’s solid, my lawyers made sure of it. I’m preparing for the moment Aurelia walks into that room and realizes I’ve maneuvered her exactly where I want her.
The Carlyle Hotel has private meeting rooms designed for exactly this kind of negotiation. Neutral ground, expensive enough to signal serious business, discreet enough that no one pays attention to who’s meeting with whom.
I arrive fifteen minutes early and take a seat at the head of the conference table.
The room is elegant. Dark wood, leather chairs, windows overlooking the city. My lawyers are setting up documents at the far end, and Declan is by the door reviewing something on his phone.
“They’re here,” he says at exactly two p.m. “Coming up now.”
“Good. You can leave.”
“You sure?”
“This is a business meeting. I don’t need security.”
Declan doesn’t look convinced, but he leaves anyway.
I’m alone when the door opens.
Nadia Vance enters first. Blonde hair pulled back in a neat bun, sharp blue suit that fits like it was made for her. Julian’s wife moves like someone used to being the smartest person in the room. She’s carrying a leather portfolio, and when her eyes meet mine, it’s pleasant but guarded.
Then Aurelia walks in behind her. And freezes.
Our eyes meet across the room, and I watch all the color drain from her face.
“Ms. Vance,” I say, standing. “Thank you for coming.”
Nadia looks between us, and I can see her registering the tension. The way Aurelia has stopped moving. The way I’m watching her sister-in-law like a predator that’s just cornered its prey.
“Mr. Rourke,” Nadia says carefully. “This is unexpected.”
“Is it? The proposal came through proper channels. I assumed your people would have done their due diligence.”
“They did. But the name on the proposal was different.”
“Shell companies. Standard practice for investments of this size.”
Aurelia still hasn’t moved. She’s standing just inside the door, hands clenched around her own portfolio, looking like she’s deciding whether to run.
“Please, sit,” I say, gesturing to the chairs across from me.
Nadia moves first, taking a seat and setting her portfolio on the table. Aurelia follows slowly, sitting as far from me as possible while still being at the same table.
“Shall we begin?” I ask.
The meeting proceeds professionally. I present the proposal.
Real estate development in lower Manhattan, a partnership between Rourke and Vance interests, with a profit-sharing arrangement that benefits both families.
It’s legitimate business, which is what Julian wants in order to move the Vances toward.
Nadia asks questions that show she’s clearly involved in this side of the family operations, understands the financials, and knows how to negotiate.
Aurelia says almost nothing.
“This seems very generous,” Nadia says after I’ve finished the presentation. “What’s your stake in this beyond the financial return?”
“I’m diversifying my investments. Moving into legitimate operations. Same as you.”
“And this has nothing to do with my sister-in-law?”
Aurelia’s head snaps up, and she looks at Nadia with something close to panic.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say evenly.
“I think you do, Mr. Rourke. The timing of this proposal, the fact that you’re here personally instead of sending representatives. This isn’t just business.”
She’s perceptive. I’ll give her that.
“My personal interest in Ms. Vance doesn’t change the validity of this proposal,” I say. “The terms are fair. The investment is sound. What happens outside of this business arrangement is separate.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
Nadia looks at Aurelia. “What do you think?”
“I think we should discuss this with Julian before making any decisions,” Aurelia says, her voice tight.
“Agreed. We’ll need time to review the details.”
“Of course. Take all the time you need.”
Nadia starts gathering her documents, clearly preparing to leave.
This is it. If they both walk out now, I’ve wasted resources on nothing.
Aurelia glances at me, and I see the conflict in her eyes. She wants to leave. Wants to run. But she also wants to stay.
Nadia stands. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Rourke. We’ll be in touch.”
“Actually,” Aurelia says suddenly, “I’d like to stay and go over some of the financial projections. Just to make sure I understand the numbers before we present this to Julian.”
Nadia stops. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. You should head back. Julian is expecting you.”
Nadia looks between us again, and I can see her weighing options. She knows something is happening here that has nothing to do with business. But Aurelia is an adult, and this is technically a professional meeting.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Nadia says carefully.
“I’ll be fine,” Aurelia insists.
The reassurance doesn’t seem to help, but Nadia finally nods. She picks up her portfolio and heads for the door. Before she leaves, she turns back to me. “If anything happens to her—”
“Nothing will happen to her. You have my word.”
Nadia doesn’t look convinced, but she leaves anyway.
The door closes, and we’re alone.
Aurelia doesn’t move. Just sits there staring at the documents spread across the table.
“That was risky,” I say.
“I know.”
I stand and walk around the table. She tracks my movement but doesn’t back away.
“Why did you stay?” I ask.
“Because you’re not going to stop. You’re going to keep calling, keep showing up, keep pushing until you get what you want.”
“And what do I want?”
“Me.”
“That’s part of it.”
“What’s the other part?”
“The truth. About why you really disappeared, and what you’re hiding.”
Her expression closes off. “I’m not hiding anything.”
“Yes, you are. And eventually I’m going to find out what it is.”
She stands abruptly. “This was a mistake. I should go.”
I step in front of her, blocking her path to the door.
“Move,” she says.
“No.”
“Cassian—”
“You stayed because you wanted to. Because you feel the same thing I do. Stop pretending you don’t.”
“Being with you is reckless.”
“You’ve already been with me a few times. What’s one more time?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is exactly that simple.” I reach out and cup her face, and she doesn’t pull away.
I kiss her, and she responds immediately, hands fisting in my shirt, pulling me closer. The kiss is desperate, angry, exactly like every other time we’ve touched.
“We can’t do this here,” she says against my mouth.
“Then where?”
“I don’t know. Somewhere else. Anywhere else.”
I pull back and grab her hand. “Come on.”
We leave the conference room and take the elevator down to the parking garage. My car is on the lower level, away from most of the traffic. I unlock it and open the back door.
She hesitates.
“Aurelia.”
She looks at me, and I can see her making the decision. Weighing risk against want.
Then she gets in, and I follow.
The door slams shut behind me, and the dim garage light cuts off almost completely, leaving only the faint glow from the dashboard.
She’s moves, climbing across the back seat with no hesitation, knees sinking into the leather as she straddles my lap.
Her dress rides up her thighs from the motion alone, and my hands find her waist instantly, yanking her down hard so she lands flush against me.
She feels it immediately, and her breath stutters. Her fingers dig into my shoulders, nails sharp even through the fabric. “You planned this,” she says, voice low and accusing, but her hips roll forward anyway, grinding once, deliberate.
“Every fucking step,” I admit against her mouth, and then I kiss her, no preamble, no gentleness. Teeth clash, tongues slide rough and hungry. She moans into it, the sound vibrating straight through my chest.
Her hands drop to my belt, tugging impatiently, metal clinking as she gets it open.
I shove her dress higher, bunching the soft fabric around her waist in rough fistfuls until her thighs are bare against my trousers.
She reaches between us, frees my cock, and wraps her fingers around me—hot, tight, no teasing. A low groan rips out of me.
“Christ, Aurelia.” My head falls back against the seat for a second. “You feel how hard you make me? All it takes is one look from you.”