Chapter 106 Harrington Confidence

Chapter 106 Harrington Confidence

The drive to the cottage took forty minutes. Alex parked the black sedan in the graveled driveway, turned off the engine, and stepped out into the cool night air. The continuous hum of the highway was gone, replaced by the quiet sound of the wind moving through the trees surrounding the property.

He walked up the wooden steps of the porch, unlocked the front door with his key, and stepped inside.

The lights in the hallway were dim, but he could see a bright line of light coming from the kitchen. He took off his jacket, hung it on the hook by the door, and walked toward the light.

Sarah was sitting at the wooden dining table. Several blueprint sheets for the Veridian Gardens project were spread out in front of her, alongside her digital tablet and a legal pad covered in handwritten notes.

Her blonde hair was tied up in a loose knot, and her blue eyes looked tired as she stared at the screen. She was tapping her pen against the edge of the table, a clear sign that she was completely absorbed in her thoughts.

Alex walked into the kitchen, his heavy footsteps alerting her. Sarah looked up, and a brief wave of relief crossed her face before her expression tightened again with visible stress.

"You're late," Sarah said, leaning back in her chair. "I expected you half an hour ago."

"I got caught at the site after the press conference, and then traffic near the plaza was gridlocked," Alex said. He walked over to the table, stood right behind her chair, and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders.

He could feel the tight knots of tension in her muscles. He began to rub her shoulders with steady, deep pressure.

"What are you doing? The press conference went exactly how we wanted it to. The foundation is set."

Sarah let out a long breath, but she did not relax under his touch. She reached up and placed her hand over his, stopping his movement. She turned her head to look up at him.

"Richard called me twenty minutes ago," Sarah said flatly.

Alex’s hands went still on her shoulders. His dark eyes narrowed slightly. "My father called you? Why? We have an agreement. The truce over Veridian Gardens is signed."

"He didn't call to break the contract, Alex," Sarah said, standing up from the chair and turning to face him fully. She crossed her arms over her chest, her professional demeanor returning as she tried to handle the anxiety rising in her chest.

"He called to tell me that the public interest in this project is shifting away from the corporate side. The local news stations are already running segments about the press conference. They aren't just talking about the clinic or the construction lot. They are asking questions about us."

Alex stood his ground, his tall frame dominating the space between the table and the counter.

"Let them ask. I told the reporters at the site that my private life is private. It doesn't change the work we are doing."

"It changes how people perceive my company, Alex," Sarah countered, her voice rising slightly before she forced it back down to a disciplined whisper.

"Your father told me that two major investors for the commercial sector of the project asked him if the rumors about his son and the lead designer were going to create a public relations issue. Richard managed to quiet them down for now, but he wanted me to know that our relationship is still a target. He said he won't intervene to protect my firm if the scandal starts affecting the project's valuation."

Alex took a step closer to her, closing the distance until he was looking directly down into her blue eyes. His authoritative presence filled the room, refusing to let her slide back into her old pattern of panic and withdrawal.

"My father is playing mind games because he lost the business war, Sarah," Alex said, his voice low and completely steady. "He accepts the truce because he has to, but he still wants to see if he can shake your confidence. Look at me."

Sarah looked up at him, her lips parted slightly.

"I am not going anywhere, and my father cannot touch your company anymore," Alex told her with absolute certainty. "We won the Veridian Gardens project through fair competition and my own leverage. The investors care about profit, not who is sleeping in my bed. Stop letting his phone calls undo what we built."

Sarah sighed, her shoulders dropping as some of the tension left her body. "It is not just your father, Alex. Mark texted me today."

Alex remained silent, waiting for her to continue. The mention of his best friend always changed the room's energy.

"What did he say?" Alex asked.

"He asked if the press conference was over," Sarah said, looking down at the legal pad on the table. "He didn't ask how I was doing, and he didn't ask about the company. He just wanted to know if the public announcement went well. He is still staying at his cousin's place, but the fact that he texted at all means he is watching the news. He knows what people are saying about us, Alex. He sees the comments online mocking the age difference. I don't want my son to feel ashamed of his mother because of the public gossip."

Alex reached out, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her firmly against his chest. His hands were possessive and unyielding, locking her in place so she couldn't turn away from the reality of his commitment.

"Mark is making amends, Sarah. He is becoming less judgmental every day, just like the outline of this entire situation proved," Alex said, his dark eyes staring directly into hers. "He walked away because he was hurt, but he is looking for a way back. If he texted you about the project, it means he respects the work you are doing. He isn't going to let the internet comments dictate how he feels about his mother."

Sarah placed her hands against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "Sometimes I look at you and I remember you are twenty-two, and then you speak to me like this, and I forget everything else."

"Good," Alex commanded, his tone dropping into that dominant register that always broke her resistance. "Forget the news. Forget my father. I am the one who handles the Harrington name now. If any investor has a problem with the lead architect, they can discuss it with me in the boardroom."

Sarah looked at him for a long moment, seeing the absolute resilience in his eyes. The fear that had been building up in her since Richard's phone call began to dissolve under his absolute confidence. He was younger than her, but he was the anchor she needed to survive the public fallout.

"You are very stubborn," Sarah murmured, a small, genuine smile finally appearing on her lips.

"I am determined to keep what is mine," Alex replied. He leaned down and pressed a firm, lingering kiss against her lips, sealing his promise. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with desire. "Now, put the blueprints away. The business day is over."

Sarah nodded, turning back to the table to stack the papers neatly.