"I didn't even know who you were before returning to Silver City!" Irene practically spat the words out. "God, you really think the whole world revolves around you, don't you? The only reason I even know Haven Enterprise exists is because of that stupid luggage tag." She didn't bother hiding her contempt. "Hate to bruise that massive ego of yours, but you're not that special. Though I suppose I should thank you for watching my daughter."
"Oh, really?" Adam's laugh was pure ice. His hands tightened on his wheelchair armrests until his knuckles went white. "The switched luggage, this specific hotel, the elevator, and now your daughter? That's quite a collection of *accidents*, Ms. Sterling."
"Yeah, shocking news - not everyone spends their days plotting ways to get close to Adam-whatever-your-title-is." Irene's eye roll could've won awards. "I know this might blow your mind, but some women actually have better things to do than chase rich guys." She pulled Lily closer, her voice dripping sarcasm. "Sorry to disappoint your little conspiracy theory, but we're done here."
Alex and Lucas shared one of their looks - the kind that usually meant trouble brewing. But before Irene could deal with that, Thomas stepped in front of the door.
Irene's gaze swept from Thomas to the security detail hovering near the walls. Her lips curved into a razor-sharp smile. "What now? Planning to keep us here by force?" She turned back to Adam, voice heavy with mockery. "Is that how you handle everyone who bruises your ego?"
"Ms. Sterling." Thomas quickly stepped forward, hands raised in a placating gesture. His tone was perfectly polite but firm. "We need to clear this up first."
She almost felt bad for the guy. Here he was, just trying to protect his boss from potential threats. If he only knew how ridiculous this whole situation was.
"Fine." She pulled out her credentials with maybe a bit more attitude than necessary. "Check whatever you want. If I'm lying about anything, I'll take whatever consequences you throw at me."
The room went quiet. Then Lily's small voice broke the silence.
"I'm sorry," she said, looking up at Adam with those striking eyes - *his* eyes, though nobody had figured that out yet. "I didn't mean to scare you by following you. It's just..." Her fingers twisted in her dress hem. "Sometimes when I see men in nice suits, I wonder if one of them could be my daddy. Mom never mentions him, and..." Her voice got smaller. "I just wanted to know what it feels like, having someone who'd protect me like Thomas protects you."
The honesty in her voice hit Irene right in the gut. God, had she really missed this? Been so focused on proving she could do everything on her own that she'd never noticed how much her daughter wanted a father?
Something flickered across Adam's face - like someone had cracked that perfect CEO mask for just a second. "You can leave," he said, his voice actually sounding human for once. But apparently he couldn't help adding, "Just don't lie about your motives."
That's when Irene caught it - the way he held himself in that chair, the tension in his shoulders when he moved. A professional smile spread across her face as everything clicked into place.
"For someone so worried about other people's motives," she said, letting her doctor's instincts take over, "you sure seem desperate." Her eyes lingered deliberately on his wheelchair. "Wonder why?"
His knuckles went white on the armrests. "Careful, Ms. Sterling." His voice dropped dangerously low. "You're crossing a line."
"Oh?" A smile tugged at her lips. She'd dealt with enough cocky patients to know exactly which buttons to push. "Funny. I thought you were the one looking for... what was it? A certain medical specialist?" She swung her bag onto her shoulder, enjoying how his jaw clenched. "Good luck with that search. And hey - remember what you said today about people with hidden motives."
The look he gave her could've melted steel. "Get. Out."
"Thomas," she turned to the assistant, back to pure professionalism. "Would you mind coming next door to get your luggage?"
She gathered the kids, who were being suspiciously well-behaved, and headed for the door.
Okay, something about Irene was seriously bugging Adam. The way she'd looked at him before leaving, like she knew something he didn't? Yeah, that was getting under his skin.
Whatever. He had bigger problems than some mysterious hot mom with an attitude.
"Thomas, grab our stuff from next door," he said, trying to focus on actual work instead of replaying that weird moment in his head.
Thomas practically bolted out the door, probably glad to escape the tension crackling through the presidential suite. He came back five minutes later, clutching their suitcase like it contained the crown jewels.
Everything seemed fine until Thomas's phone buzzed. His face went from excited to "oh crap" in about two seconds flat.
"Um, sir? That specialist we've been trying to get? They just... turned us down. Like, totally shot us down."
"They *what*?" Adam's voice went deadly quiet.
Thomas winced. "Yeah, after saying yes yesterday and everything. Just sent a flat-out 'no.' Who does that?"
Adam's jaw clenched. Oh hell no. Nobody jerked him around like this. If someone was playing games...
"Find out why," he ordered. "Now."
\---
"Alright, you three little masterminds." Irene crossed her arms, giving her best mom-means-business look to the triplets lined up in front of her hotel bed. "Spill it."
Her kids were doing their best innocent-angel routine. Which, honestly? Was about as convincing as a chocolate-covered toddler claiming they didn't touch the cookies.
"We just thought he seemed nice!" they chorused, all big eyes and cherubic faces.
"Nice?" Irene couldn't help snorting. "*Nice* is not the word I'd use for Mr. High-and-Mighty CEO who just accused us of running some elaborate scam."
The kids shuffled their feet, looking appropriately guilty. Well, mostly guilty. Alex had that gleam in his eye that usually meant he was already plotting Plan B.
"Seriously, you guys." She softened her tone a bit. "I know you mean well, but this matchmaking stuff has got to stop. I am one hundred percent *not* in the market for a boyfriend. Got it?"
"Yes, Mom," they mumbled, totally not meaning it.
Lucas, ever the drama king, decided to switch tactics. "But Mooooom," he whined, "what about the money? That was like, a huge consulting fee! Now we're gonna end up living in a cardboard box!"
He clutched his chest like he was auditioning for a soap opera. "Is this how it ends? The Sterling heirs, reduced to selling pencils on street corners?"
"Oh my god, you ridiculous child." Irene couldn't help laughing. Like mother, like son - they both had a flair for the dramatic. "We are not going to be homeless. We'll just... rent something. It's not the end of the world."
She grabbed her phone and flopped onto the bed, pulling up rental listings. Might as well start looking now.
The triplets did that creepy telepathic communication thing they were so good at, exchanging looks that clearly said "Mom is being impossible again." Alex's face got that determined set to it, the one that meant he was cooking up something that would probably give her gray hair.
An hour of scrolling later, Irene finally found a good place. The virtual tour looked decent enough - actual working appliances and everything! She called the agent right away and transferred the deposit before someone could snatch it up.