Chapter 16

Emily's POV

I sat by the window, hugging my knees to my chest as I watched Stefan through the frosted glass. He was outside finishing the snowman we'd started that morning before my stupid body had given out on me. The afternoon sun caught in his dark hair while he meticulously positioned twigs for the snowman's arms, his face set in concentration.

God, he looked different when he thought no one was watching. The perpetual scowl was gone, replaced by an almost childlike focus. I couldn't help smiling at the sight of New York's most intimidating businessman carefully adjusting a carrot nose.

"This is the first time I've seen him do something so... normal," I whispered to myself, not wanting to disturb the moment.

My heart did a little flip, and I immediately slapped it down. Don't be an idiot, Emily. Remember why you're here. Remember what you're doing.

As if sensing my thoughts, Stefan suddenly looked up toward the window. When our eyes met, he did something that shocked me—he waved, motioning for me to join him. I hesitated, remembering how earlier he'd carried me inside when I'd gotten too cold, his face tight with something that looked suspiciously like concern.

I rose slowly, still feeling a bit weak. Before I reached the door, it opened and Stefan appeared, snowflakes melting on his shoulders.

"What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice gruff. "You can barely stand."

"I wanted to—"

Without warning, he bent down and scooped me into his arms. "If you catch pneumonia, you'll be even more useless than usual."

His words were harsh, but his arms were gentle. I could smell the cold winter air on his skin mixed with his cologne. My face heated despite the chill.

"I can walk," I protested weakly.

"Shut up," he replied, carrying me outside. But instead of setting me down by the steps, he walked straight to the snowman and carefully placed me beside it.

"What are we doing?" I asked, confused.

Stefan pulled out his phone. "Taking a picture," he said simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I stared at him. "You... want to take a picture? Of us?"

"Of the snowman," he corrected, but the tips of his ears were red, and I didn't think it was from the cold.

Stefan fumbled with his phone, holding it awkwardly as he tried to frame the shot. He kept cutting off either the top of the snowman or my head, and his growing frustration was almost... cute?

"Here, let me—" I reached for the phone.

"I know how to take a damn picture," he growled, but moved closer to show me the screen.

His shoulder pressed against mine as we looked at the previous attempts, his body heat radiating through my coat. I could feel his breath on my cheek, and something fluttered in my stomach.

This is dangerous, Emily. Don't forget he's just a means to an end.

---

Back in the warmth of the master bedroom, I curled up on the sofa under a blanket, scrolling through the photos Stefan had taken. In most of them, either the snowman was headless or I was half out of frame, but there was one—just one—where we both looked... happy. It didn't even look like us. Just two normal people enjoying the snow.

My phone pinged with an email notification. The International Jewelry Design Competition results. My heart rate picked up as I opened it, mentally crossing my fingers. "Please let it be enough to make Kate happy," I whispered.

The competition had two stages: judge scoring and then a final presentation round with audience voting for the top ten designs. I scanned the email quickly, my eyes widening when I saw the results. Kate was tied for first place with Anna Pembroke, a British designer.

I stared out at the snowy night, mentally counting down. Three... two... one...

My phone rang. Kate's name flashed on the screen.

I took a deep breath and answered. "Hello?"

"Did you see the results?" Kate's voice was tight, vibrating with barely controlled rage.

"Yes, congratulations! First place tie is amazing—"

"Tied? TIED?" she shrieked. "I need to be absolute first! Not sharing the spotlight with some nobody from London!"

I held the phone away from my ear, wincing. "The design clearly impressed the judges, Kate. This proves—"

"Don't pretend you're not secretly thrilled," she hissed. "You think you're so clever, don't you?"

My fingers tightened around the phone. "I don't understand—"

"If you try to sabotage me, I'll make sure my father marries you off to that nouveau riche pig before you can blink." Her voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "And if you don't help me win the presentation round, I'll throw every picture of your parents out of the house. Every. Single. One."

My body went cold, but not from fear—from rage. Those photos were all I had left of my parents. I forced myself to breathe evenly, to keep my voice steady.

"Actually," I said softly, "I have an idea that could help you stand out in the presentation."

There was a suspicious pause. "What idea?"

"Record a video using the Blood Tear rubies from the Rogers collection," I suggested, keeping my voice neutral. "Show the theme of 'Jewels and Women' with you modeling the pieces. No other contestant can access gems like that."

"That's... not terrible," Kate admitted reluctantly.

"If you film it tomorrow and the next day, you could release teasers on social media to build anticipation," I continued. "The judges would be impressed by your access to such exclusive pieces."

"You actually sound like you want me to win," Kate said, suspicion heavy in her voice.

"I just want peace," I lied. "I have no interest in jewelry design."

After hanging up, I immediately opened my laptop and typed a quick email to an unnamed recipient: "Kate will be accessing the Rogers family vault tomorrow and the day after to remove the 'Blood Tear' ruby collection - not to be confused with the singular ruby necklace I gave Stefan. This is Uncle Richard's prized set, the centerpiece of the Rogers jewelry empire he built after destroying my parents' business. Everything is proceeding as planned."

The reply came moments later: "All preparations are in place. No need for concern."

I closed my laptop and picked up my phone again, looking at the snowman picture. My finger traced Stefan's face on the screen, his rare smile making something twist inside me.

The Rogers family will be first to fall, I thought, remembering how my uncle had watched my parents' company crumble while he secured the family jewels for himself, renaming the most valuable pieces the "Blood Tear" collection. Let Uncle Richard watch as his precious treasures and daughter destroy their family name.

The next day, Stefan surprised me by suggesting we go shopping for New Year's supplies. I nearly dropped my teacup.

"You... want to take me shopping?" I asked, certain I'd misheard.

"Don't make me repeat myself," he said, already heading for the door.

At the mall, I carefully selected reasonably priced decorations, conscious of not appearing extravagant. Stefan watched me with narrowed eyes as I put back a crystal snowflake I'd been admiring.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"It's too expensive," I explained, reaching for a plastic one instead.

Stefan grabbed the crystal snowflake and dropped it into our cart, along with every other item I'd considered but not taken. "We'll take all of them."

"That's wasteful," I protested.

"It's my money," he said flatly. "I decide what's wasteful."