Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“The Maldives deal is dead,” I announced as I walked into the boardroom for our seven o’clock meeting.
I wasn’t surprised when silence settled across the room. It was most likely everyone assessing where I planned to take Hawk Crown Reserve from here.
I stood at the head of the onyx table as Colton leaned back slowly in his chair.
Colton and Wyatt might have sat casually around the table, but legal was reacting quite the opposite.
The entire team, minus the bastard I fired two weeks ago, immediately shifted their attention to the financial projections illuminating the wall screens.
“That leak destroyed my leverage. Once word got out we were pursuing the acquisition, the sellers immediately inflated their valuation.” I paused. “Now, they’re asking twenty-two percent more than they were six days ago.”
“It was fifteen percent last week,” Wyatt informed the room. “Interesting how that works, right?”
“Greedy bastards,” Colton said.
“Predictable bastards,” I corrected. “Once the second acquisition interest becomes public, people stop negotiating intelligently and start fantasizing about extortion.”
Colton gave a slight smirk in response. “So, we walk,” he said.
“We absolutely walk,” I answered without hesitation. “Emotional attachments or not, the deal is dead.”
The first thing that killed any business was its weaknesses, and emotional attachments were nothing but weakness.
“The market noticed us killing it, too,” I added calmly. “I’m not rewarding inflated positioning because someone overheard a casual conversation at a restaurant.”
Interesting that legal had nothing to say during this meeting. Good. Maybe they’d finally learned a lesson because they were lucky I didn’t fire the entire team over what one of their members fucked up.
Wyatt crossed his arms loosely. “I say we go for Seychelles.”
I glanced over at him.
“The outer islands,” he continued. “Less saturated than the Maldives. More exclusive. Better long-term privacy positioning for Crown Reserve.”
Colton nodded. “I actually agree with Wyatt for once,” he muttered. “The conservation protections alone increase prestige value.”
I looked back toward the Newport skyline, quietly imagining it. Thirty private villas. Ultra-elite access. Complete isolation. Hawk Crown Reserve wasn’t being built for ordinary wealth anymore. It was being built for people powerful enough to disappear entirely from the world.
And honestly? I had to agree with Wyatt for the first time, too. Seychelles fit that vision better anyway. Why the hell didn’t I think to explore this location before?
Nobody interrupted Hawk Enterprise’s board meetings, which was why I ignored the subtle vibration of my phone against the conference table behind me as I continued to envision my project coming to life at this suggested location.
Then it vibrated again. Annoyance flickered through me briefly before I finally turned back to the table and glanced down. It was a single message from my receptionist for the executive floors.
Elizabeth: Ms. Catalina Veléz is here to see you. She said there’s no rush and she’s happy to wait until your meeting concludes
Instantly, silence settled in my head. I hadn’t heard a word from the woman since she was able to be by her sister’s side after Amelia nearly lost the baby. I had texted John twice to ensure all was well, leaving Cat and her sister alone to recover.
Across the table, Colton kept talking about projected expansion margins while my attention wandered completely for the first time in nearly two weeks.
Cat was here. At Hawk Enterprise. Voluntarily. Holy shit.
I looked toward legal. “We’ll finish this tomorrow.”
The entire room went still because I never postponed board meetings. Ever.
“Everything okay?” Wyatt asked.
“Yes,” I answered simply before gathering my tablet from the table.
The room stayed unusually quiet as several executives watched me far too closely.
Good, let them wonder.
Without another word, I exited the boardroom and crossed the executive floor toward Elizabeth’s desk.
The second she looked up, she immediately recognized that something had shifted. “Please call down to security and approve Ms. Veléz for executive access,” I instructed.
“Yes, sir,” Elizabeth nodded quickly. “I’ll have someone escort her up.”
“No.” That word stopped her instantly. “I’ll retrieve her myself.”
For the first time since Elizabeth had worked for Hawk Enterprise, the woman looked surprised.
The private executive elevator descended in silence through Hawk Enterprise as morning sunlight spilled across the glass-and-steel structure surrounding me.
Every inch of this building had been deliberately designed to intimidate.
Black imported stone. Towering glass walls overlooking Newport Harbor.
Architectural water features. Matte steel.
It was controlled luxury, expensive enough that it spoke for itself.
Hawk Enterprise wasn’t simply a headquarters; it was a statement. One that reminded everyone entering it exactly who built the empire surrounding them.
Normally, I appreciated that reaction from people. The hesitation, the intimidation, and the awareness that power operated differently within these walls, but today, my focus stayed entirely elsewhere.
The elevator doors opened directly into the lower executive lobby, and the atmosphere shifted the second several employees noticed me stepping out unexpectedly from the private executive elevators.
Anyone who knew me in this building knew that I never came downstairs to greet people. Not for anyone.
Quiet movement continued throughout the massive lobby as sunlight reflected across the sleek marble flooring, with the towering glass walls overlooking the harbor beyond.
The executives crossed the space in tailored suits, carrying tablets and coffees, while discreet security remained positioned carefully enough to blend into the architecture itself.
But that’s not what caught my attention. Seated near the wall of windows overlooking the water was Cat.
Jesus Christ.
The woman somehow looked both exhausted and beautiful at the same time.
She wore a soft cream sweater, tan slacks, and dark sunglasses resting on top of her head.
Her long, dark hair cascaded in thick, relaxed waves down the center of her back.
I noted she also had an untouched coffee beside her hand, and what appeared to be architectural layouts partially tucked inside her bag.
She must’ve heard my approach because she turned and immediately locked eyes with me. For one brief second, everything in the lobby disappeared completely.
It was very interesting how a woman could somehow command more attention than the entire empire surrounding her. I continued to cross the marble floor toward her, while nearby staff failed miserably at pretending not to stare.
Cat stood the second I reached her. “Well,” she said lightly, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. “This seems mildly excessive.”
One corner of my mouth pulled up slightly despite my best efforts to prevent it.
“You walked into Hawk Enterprise unannounced,” I answered calmly. “What exactly did you expect?”
“Honestly?” she admitted softly. “At least an hour or three of waiting downstairs.”
I tilted my head to study her beautiful chestnut eyes. “Any other guest who showed up unannounced, perhaps?” I kept my eyes locked on hers. “You? Not a chance.”
Something subtle shifted across her expression at that. I really didn’t care because it was the damn truth. There wasn’t a chance in hell I was leaving Catalina Veléz unattended in my lobby once I knew she was here.
“Listen,” she said. “I haven’t had a chance to properly thank you for helping my sister and me.” Her eyes were filled with heartwarming sincerity.
My God, how could she be even more beautiful to me right now than ever?
“It was truly nothing,” I answered. “I’m thankful she and the baby are safe, and that you were able to get to her side by the time she woke the next morning.” I shifted where I stood. “Perhaps you’d like to come up to my office?”
“That won’t be necessary,” she answered.
Her eyes peeled away from me as she rubbed her forehead.
“Is everything okay?” I questioned.
She smiled at me, allowing me to experience a vulnerable side of the woman I didn’t know existed.
“Everything is fine. It’s just that you didn’t have to go through all of that for us.” She licked her lips, and I couldn’t tell if she was flustered or frustrated.
“I know that, but I am truly grateful I could help her,” I smiled warmly.
She exhaled. “Thank God she got the buildings confused,” Cat said with a nervous laugh.
Shock nearly forced a laugh out of me. This woman, of all the fucking women, was nervous? I didn’t think she possessed the emotion.
“Indeed,” I answered. “I have no idea how she managed that, but I’m glad she did.”
She pushed her hair over her shoulder. “She told me that instead of looking at the building address, as soon as she saw yours, she figured that was the place I would’ve chosen to run a business like mine.”
“Well, if I hadn’t been foolish with my proposals, perhaps that would’ve been the case,” I chuckled.
Surprisingly, she laughed too.
“Well, I wanted to repay the favor in any way I could,” she said. “Of course, I won’t be leaving the country for any events until things are fully settled with my sister, but if you need me to arrange—”
“First of all,” I cut her off. “There is no need to repay the favor,” I confirmed. “Secondly, you don’t have to take on any of my events just because I helped. I know it is unlike you to abandon your clients, and I don’t expect any special treatment as a favor.”
“Well, that’s the thing,” she said, looking sad. “I won’t leave my sister, so I’ve been forced to cancel on many anyway, unless they’re having local events.”
I stood there trying to figure out what the hell she was trying to say.
“So, you’re canceling clients, then?” I questioned.
“All overseas events for now,” she confirmed. “Everyone appears to understand, and the planners taking them over for me are allowing me to pick up their local events.” She shrugged, “We’re sort of trading business, so I can stay in Southern California.”
“You truly are an amazing woman, Ms. Veléz, and your sister appears the same. I see you are more loyal to family than business.”
“I never knew it until my family needed me,” she half-laughed at herself. “No matter how much it costs.”
I smiled. Fuck. This woman was going to be my undoing.
“Forgive me for prying, but will this be a burden financially?”
Shit. Why would I ask that? Of course it would. During the summer months, all of us elites had our events and galas overseas. Not in Southern California. She would be lucky to host an event once a month.
“I will be fine, Mr. Hawk,” she said, becoming more formal because I was speaking as if I had somehow earned this woman’s trust.
“Of course you will,” I said, glancing at the blueprints in her bag. “I see you may already have an event planned?”
“Lowell Jameston is hosting an event next weekend,” she replied.
I immediately felt every nerve in my body tighten. Of course, that piranha would be first in line to secure her, since she’s not going overseas for events.
“Perhaps there is something you can do as a favor to me,” I said.
I swear on everything that is holy that I am innocent of schemes at this moment. I just don’t want that greasy bastard anywhere near you, I thought.
“Okay,” she said, almost as if waiting for the punchline.
I wanted to tell her to cancel on Jameston, but that was the selfish side of me she already knew. I wanted to secure her for as long as she wanted to stay in Southern California and host all my events here this summer, just so she wouldn’t take the financial hit.
I had no idea why the sudden urge to pull this woman into my arms hit me so hard. Maybe it was because beneath all her ambition, composure, and beauty, Cat loved with the same fierce loyalty my mother always had.
Family before everything. Even herself.
Instead, I smiled and said, “You can treat me to dinner tonight if you’re available.”
“Dinner?” she said, as if I’d lost my mind.
“If that’s too awkward, I can take lunch with you,” I chuckled.
“You confuse me so much,” she laughed. “I imagined something else after everything you’ve been trying to do to secure me as your planner? But, no, you don’t want that; you want lunch or dinner?”
“I would take breakfast too,” I winked, took her hand, bent to gently kiss the back of it, then rose. “But no, Ms. Veléz, I won’t be taking advantage of you by doing the one thing you’ve fought hard not to do.”
“And that is?” she asked, breathless, and I loved it.
“Allowing me to cut to the front of the line and have you cancel on a client for my events.”
“Titus, you sent your jet and your drivers. You stayed at the hospital until John told you to leave. You used…”
“I know,” I said. “Tell me. Will you feel better if I asked you to dismiss a client so I could hire you?”
“No,” she laughed.
“I didn’t think so. That’s why my only request is to have dinner with you. I would prefer to take you myself, though I don’t believe you would allow it.”
“Fine,” she arched an eyebrow at me. “If you’re comfortable with a woman driving you around,” she smiled, and that fire in her eyes was back, damn if it wasn’t doing something to me right now. “Then I’ll pick you up at eight tonight.”
“Very well, I’m planning to be here until then,” I said, stepping back. “You can pick me up here, and perhaps tonight you and I can discuss something that doesn’t involve contracts for once.”
Her eyes widened, but in a good way.
“Have a good rest of your morning, Ms. Veléz. I’m happy you, your sister, and the baby are well.”
I turned, leaving her with a smile and nothing more to say. In fact, it was the only way I wanted to leave her.