Chapter 10
The library felt a little smaller with five people crowded around the massive table. Petra sat at the head with Katja to her right, while Herr Kessler, Frau Weber, and Herr Braun arranged themselves along the opposite side with briefcases and document folders spread before them like battle plans.
Which, Petra supposed, was exactly what this was. A battle fought with paperwork instead of weapons.
“As you can see from section twelve, subsection four,” Herr Kessler was saying, his voice as dry as the documents he was explaining, “the manufacturing facilities in Munich are held under a separate corporate structure. Kettering Enterprises GmbH operates independently from the personal holdings, though the shares are wholly owned by the estate.”
Petra nodded, trying to focus on his words rather than the view outside the window.
She’d caught a glimpse of Seth earlier that morning while she and Katja had breakfast in the smaller dining room.
He’d been walking the perimeter of the castle, dressed in dark tactical clothing that made him look dangerous and capable.
Conducting his security assessment, just as he’d promised.
Knowing he was out there, watching and protecting, made it somehow easier for her to breathe.
She pulled her attention back to Herr Kessler with some difficulty.
He had moved on to banking arrangements.
Katja was taking notes, occasionally interjecting with questions that made the estate lawyers pause and reconsider their phrasing.
“The Luxembourg accounts,” Katja said, her pale eyes fixed on Herr Kessler. “What restrictions exist on Ms. Haas’s access?”
“None, once the transfer of ownership is complete and the proper authorizations are signed.” Kessler adjusted his steel-rimmed glasses. “However, some accounts require two-factor authentication and in-person verification for large transactions.”
“Define large.”
“Transfers exceeding five hundred thousand euros.”
Katja made a note. “And the Swiss accounts?”
Frau Weber shuffled through her papers. “Similar protocols. The private banking relationships Herr Kettering maintained were based on personal trust and discretion. Those relationships will need to be reestablished with Ms. Haas.”
Petra’s mind wandered again despite her best efforts.
Seth had looked so confident this morning, moving across the grounds with the easy grace of someone completely comfortable in his own skin.
She’d watched him from the window longer than she should have, admiring the way his form-fitting black shirt emphasized his broad shoulders and the controlled power in his movements.
She was being ridiculous. Seth was helping her because it was his job. Because Sam Kinkaid and Mark Peppard were paying him to monitor the situation. Not because he had any personal interest in a mousy librarian who’d stumbled into a mess she didn’t understand.
Men who looked like Seth—handsome, confident, dangerously competent—didn’t normally notice women like her.
Not really. Not beyond professional courtesy.
She was realistic enough to know that whatever small flutters she felt when he smiled at her were entirely one-sided and probably made her pathetic in the extreme.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t look twice at her.
“Ms. Haas?”
Petra jerked her attention back to the table.
Herr Kessler was looking at her expectantly.
She’d noted absently that all the estate’s lawyers had followed Katja’s lead in using the English honorific instead of calling her Frau Haas.
She liked Ms. Haas a lot better, but they were still all so stiff and formal.
She’d honestly tuned out a lot of their conversation and felt a small blush steal over her face at getting caught.
She brazed it out and cleared her throat, then spoke.
“I’m sorry. Could you repeat that?”
“The Monaco property requires some immediate decisions regarding maintenance and staffing. The current caretaker’s contract expires at the end of the month.”
“I’ll need time to review all property management contracts before making staffing decisions,” Katja interjected smoothly. “Please provide copies of all current agreements, including compensation structures and termination clauses.”
“Of course.” Kessler made a note.
The meeting dragged on. Banking arrangements bled into investment portfolios, which led to discussions of corporate governance and shareholder agreements.
Petra’s head was spinning with information, but Katja remained focused, catching details Petra would have missed entirely.
She was so glad the other woman was there.
On her own, Petra would have been completely bamboozled by now into doing whatever the estate lawyers wanted.
After what felt like hours, Herr Braun pulled out another stack of documents. “These are the signature authorizations for the various accounts and corporate entities. Once Ms. Haas signs, the transition of control will be complete.”
Katja held up one elegant hand. “I’ll need to review each document before advising my client to sign anything. How long did you anticipate this meeting would take?”
Kessler glanced at his watch. “We had blocked out the entire morning. It’s nearly noon now.”
“Then I suggest we break for lunch,” Katja said. “You can leave the signature documents with me. I’ll review them this afternoon and contact you with any questions or concerns before we proceed.”
There was a moment of tension. Kessler clearly hadn’t expected Katja to put the brakes on the signing process. Frau Weber’s expression remained neutral, but Petra caught the quick glance she exchanged with her colleague.
“Certainly,” Kessler said finally. “Though I should mention that some of these authorizations are time-sensitive. The longer we delay, the more complicated the transition becomes.”
“I understand.” Katja’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Nevertheless, my client will not be signing anything without proper review. I’m sure you appreciate the need for caution given the complexity of the estate.”
“Of course.” Kessler began gathering his papers with stiff movements. “We’ll await your call this afternoon.”
The three lawyers filed out with Herr Müller escorting them. The moment the library door closed behind them, Petra slumped back in her chair.
“That was exhausting,” she said.
“Welcome to high-stakes estate law.” Katja was already flipping through the signature documents, her sharp eyes scanning each page with practiced efficiency. “They were trying to rush you. Get everything signed before you had time to think or question.”
“Did you see anything suspicious in the documents?”
“Not overtly. But I need to read the fine print carefully. There may be clauses buried in here that limit your authority in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
” Katja set down the first document and picked up another.
“The good news is that everything appears to be standard so far. The bad news is that ‘standard’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘in your best interest.’”
A knock at the door interrupted them. Herr Müller appeared. “Luncheon is served in the dining room, madam. Your security consultant has also arrived and is waiting.”
Petra’s heart did an annoying little skip. “Thank you. We’ll be right there.”
They gathered the documents and made their way to the dining room.
Seth stood near the windows, hands clasped behind his back, studying the gardens with apparent casualness, but Petra had learned to recognize the signs of his constant vigilance.
He was cataloging every detail, noting potential vulnerabilities, and probably thinking three steps ahead.
He turned as they entered, and his face shifted into that easy smile that made her stomach flutter. “How did the meeting go?”
“It was long,” Petra said. “But productive. I think.”
“Very productive.” Katja took her seat at the table. “We’ve successfully delayed any signatures until I can review the fine print. The estate’s lawyers weren’t pleased, but they accepted it. They had no choice, really.”
Seth sat across from Petra, his dark eyes moving between them with quiet assessment. “Good. Did they push back hard on the delay?”
“Herr Kessler tried the ‘time-sensitive’ angle,” Katja said. “But it was a weak play. Nothing we’re dealing with today is so urgent it can’t wait twenty-four hours for proper review.”
The maids brought in lunch then. There was a light soup, fresh bread, and a salad that looked like it belonged in a magazine.
Petra picked up her spoon, very aware of Seth’s presence across from her.
He’d changed from the tactical gear into dark jeans and a charcoal henley that somehow looked both casual and expensive.
The fabric stretched across his shoulders in a way that made it difficult not to stare.
She determinedly focused on her soup.
“I’ve completed the initial security assessment of the grounds,” Seth said once the maids had left.
His tone was professional, but Petra caught the underlying tension.
“There are several vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. I’ve called in a few people to assist with implementing improvements.
They should arrive within the next few hours. ”
Katja nodded, understanding the subtext. Reinforcements were coming. Seth’s team would be arriving soon to help secure the castle against whatever threats might emerge.
“How extensive are the vulnerabilities?” Petra asked.
“Significant enough to warrant immediate attention.” Seth’s gaze held hers for a moment. “But nothing we can’t handle with the right resources and personnel.”
There was something in the way he looked at her that made Petra feel safer than she had any right to feel. She wanted to believe it was personal, that the warmth in his eyes meant something beyond professional concern.
But that was foolish. Seth was a shapeshifter who probably worked with beautiful, competent people all the time. Women who knew how to handle themselves in dangerous situations, who didn’t need their hands held through every scary moment. Women who were in his league.
Not librarians who’d spent their entire lives avoiding confrontation and hiding in the stacks.
Petra looked down at her soup, pushing away the disappointment that threatened to surface. She needed to focus on survival first, silly crushes later. Or preferably never, since acting on her attraction to Seth would only lead to embarrassment when he politely let her down.
“I’d like to review your security recommendations after lunch,” Katja said. “We should coordinate the improvements with the legal strategy.”
“Agreed.” Seth broke off a piece of bread. “I’ve also arranged for a technical specialist to arrive tomorrow morning. He’ll conduct a thorough sweep of the castle’s systems.”
Systems. Meaning the surveillance equipment. Petra understood.
They ate in relative silence, the conversation carefully neutral.
Petra found herself stealing glances at Seth despite her best intentions.
She found herself enthralled by the way his hands moved, and enchanted by the slight crinkle at the corners of his eyes when Katja made a dry observation about German inheritance law.
She admired the easy strength in his posture, like he could spring into action at a moment’s notice.
He caught her looking once, and smiled. Just a small upturn of his lips, nothing dramatic. But it sent warmth flooding through her anyway.
Stop it, she told herself firmly. He’s being nice because it’s his job. Don’t read more into it than that. But her traitorous heart didn’t seem to be listening.
“The estate’s lawyers will expect to hear from me this afternoon,” Katja said, setting down her napkin. “I’ll call them around three o’clock with initial questions. That gives me a few hours to review everything properly.”
“What should I do in the meantime?” Petra asked.
“Rest, if you can. This afternoon may bring more complications, depending on what I find in the documents.” Katja stood. “I’ll be in my room working. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call.”
She left with her usual brisk efficiency, leaving Petra alone with Seth. The dining room suddenly felt much smaller.
“I understand you did well this morning,” Seth said quietly. “Staying calm, and letting Katja handle the legal matters.”
“I barely said a word,” Petra admitted. “I mostly just sat there trying to follow what everyone was talking about.”
“That’s exactly what you should do. You hired Katja for her expertise. Let her provide it.” Seth leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed despite the circumstances. “Trust your instincts, Petra. They’ve served you well so far.”
Her instincts were currently telling her that she wanted to reach across the table and touch his hand. She was desperate to feel the warmth of his skin and maybe hold on for a moment longer than strictly necessary.
She kept her hands firmly in her lap.
“Thank you,” she said instead. “I don’t think I’ve said that enough, but I mean it. You didn’t have to help me like this.”
“Yes, I did.” Something flickered in his dark eyes but he said nothing more.
The moment stretched between them, heavy with things left unsaid. Petra wanted to ask if he felt even a fraction of the pull she was experiencing. But before she could find the courage, Seth stood.
“I should get back to work. My team will be arriving soon, and I need to brief them on the situation.” He paused at the door, looking back at her. “Try to get some rest. Tonight might be busy.”
Then he was gone, leaving Petra alone in the too-large dining room with her thoughts spinning in directions they had no business going.
She was being absolutely ridiculous. Seth was gorgeous, competent, and completely out of her league.
Whatever small kindnesses he had shown her were professional courtesy, nothing more.
The sooner she accepted that, the better.