Chapter 93 Lessons in Romance

Chapter 93 Lessons in Romance
Julian's POV

James looked up from his tablet with an expression I could only describe as carefully neutral, which meant he was trying very hard not to look surprised by my question. "Well, sir," he began slowly, as if testing whether this was actually a conversation we were having, "most people start with flowers. Or maybe making a reservation at a nice restaurant. Bringing her favorite dessert."

I frowned, turning the suggestions over in my mind. Flowers seemed pointless—they died within days. But dessert... I knew Briar had a weakness for sweets.

The realization hit me with uncomfortable force that was literally all I knew about her preferences. I could tell you her exact schedule down to the minute, knew which suppliers she trusted and which competitors she considered threats, could predict her business decisions with unsettling accuracy. But ask me what kind of flowers she liked, what music she listened to, whether she preferred coffee or tea in the morning, and I would draw a complete blank.

"Flowers," I said, mostly to myself, testing how the word felt. If it could make her smile the way she had when she won that bid, if it could earn me even a fraction of the warmth she showed to people who didn't deserve it, then maybe it was worth trying. "If it makes her happy..."

"I could arrange for a delivery to her office," James offered. "There's an excellent florist in downtown Seattle who—"

"No." The word came out sharper than I intended, and I saw James take a small step back. I forced myself to moderate my tone. "I'll handle it myself."

James nodded quickly and made a note on his tablet.
---

I had scheduled this meeting weeks ago, back when securing development rights for the prime commercial district seemed like a straightforward negotiation. The bureau chief had been eager to work with Shadowmoor interests, practically falling over himself to accommodate my schedule.

So when I walked through the main entrance and spotted Aiden Smith and Kieran Ashford standing in the lobby like they owned the place, I felt my jaw tighten with immediate suspicion.

Aiden saw me first and offered a diplomatic smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Julian. Funny running into you here."

"Not that funny," I replied, keeping my voice level. "I had an appointment."

"So did we," Kieran said, his tone carrying that particular brand of casual arrogance that made me want to rearrange his face. He was leaning against the reception desk like he had all the time in the world, dressed in an expensive suit. "Seems like we're all interested in the same piece of property."

Before I could respond, the bureau chief emerged from the elevator, took one look at the three of us standing in his lobby, and went noticeably pale. "Gentlemen," he said, his voice pitching slightly higher than normal. "I apologize, but I just remembered an urgent matter that requires my immediate attention. Perhaps we could reschedule for—"

"No need," Aiden cut in smoothly. "We're all reasonable people. I'm sure we can work something out."

The bureau chief looked like he wanted to argue, glanced between our faces again, and apparently decided that whatever urgent matter he had just invented was more appealing than mediating between three territorial alphas. "Of course. Please, make yourselves comfortable in the conference room. I'll just... be right back."

He practically ran for the elevator.

I watched him go and then turned my attention back to Aiden and Kieran. The gold flecks in my vision sharpened slightly, that familiar warning sign that my control was slipping. I forced myself to breathe slowly, to push down the violent impulse that wanted me to simply remove both of them from the equation permanently. "What do you want?"

"To talk," Aiden said reasonably. "This doesn't have to be complicated. Why don't we grab dinner tonight? Discuss things properly, away from nervous bureaucrats."

"One hour," I said finally, my voice coming out colder than I intended. "You get one hour of my time. Don't waste it."

Kieran's mouth curved into something that might have been a smile. "We'll make it count."

I left them in the lobby and headed for my car, my mind already running through possible angles they might be playing. The parking garage was mostly empty at this time of day, my footsteps echoing off the concrete as I walked toward where I had parked.

Behind me, I heard Aiden's voice carrying across the space, pitched just loud enough that I could catch the words even as I kept walking. "Still so independent. Some things never change."

I didn't stop, didn't acknowledge that I had heard, but my hearing picked up Kieran's response anyway. "I don't know, I always thought that whole lone wolf thing was kind of attractive. Very mysterious."

"Mysterious is one word for it," Aiden replied, and I could hear the concern creeping into his tone. "But we're plotting against his father here. You sure Dominic won't figure it out?"

I reached my car and unlocked it with perhaps more force than necessary.

---

The restaurant Aiden had chosen was predictably upscale, the kind of place where they served tiny portions on oversized plates and charged accordingly. The private dining room he had reserved was elegant in that understated way that screamed money—dark wood paneling, soft lighting, a round table that seated six but currently held only three.

Kieran sat across from me, his posture carefully casual in a way that suggested he was just as aware of the tension in the room as I was. Aiden occupied the space between us, literally and figuratively trying to play mediator. The silence stretched out uncomfortably as we waited for our food to arrive.

"So," Aiden began, clearly unable to stand the quiet any longer. "I heard you've been expanding into pharmaceutical distribution. That's a significant—"

"Emerald Forest just acquired VitaChain Pharmacies," I interrupted, keeping my tone neutral but pointed. "And your brother's new projects are barely off the ground. You're already overextended."

Aiden's diplomatic smile faltered slightly. "What's your point?"

I leaned back in my chair and met his eyes directly. "My point is that trying to compete for this development project on top of everything else you have going on is either incredibly ambitious or incredibly stupid. Which one is it?"

"Too many cooks spoil the broth," Kieran drawled, cutting in before Aiden could respond. "But two chefs? They make magic happen. Simple math."

I shifted my attention to him, letting a hint of gold bleed into my eyes. "Two chefs also fight over the kitchen. That's even simpler."

"Not if we're all working toward the same goal," Aiden interjected quickly, shooting Kieran a look that clearly said 'stop antagonizing him.' "Look, let's just eat first. We can discuss business after."

The food arrived then, expensive cuts of meat and carefully arranged vegetables that probably tasted fine but registered as completely flavorless to me. These two hadn't arranged this dinner just to share a development project.

We were halfway through the meal when Aiden's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and I saw genuine relief flash across his face. "I'm sorry, I have to take this. Family emergency."

He was out of his chair and heading for the door before Kieran or I could respond, leaving the two of us alone in the private dining room. The silence that fell was different from before, heavier with unspoken challenge.

I set down my fork and looked directly at Kieran. "Drop the act. What do you actually want?"

Kieran's easy smile sharpened into something more genuine, more calculating. "I heard you have an exceptional emerald in your collection. Raw stone, museum quality. I want it."

I felt my expression go cold. The emerald he was talking about had been sitting in my private vault for three years, waiting for the right moment, the right purpose. I had already commissioned the design, already approved the platinum settings and moonstone accents. The entire set was sitting in my seaside villa right now, waiting to be presented to exactly one person.

"It's already been set," I said flatly. "Commissioned into jewelry. You're too late."

Kieran's eyes narrowed with interest. "For someone special? Must be, if you're willing to turn down what I'm offering in exchange."

I stood up, done with this conversation and whatever game he thought he was playing. "That's none of your business. We're finished here."

With that, I walked out of the private dining room without looking back.