Chapter 130 The Birthday Invitation
Briar's POV
Richard slid the renewed contract across the table. "Your crisis management was impressive. We're ready to resume our partnership."
"I appreciate that," I said. "But I hope VitaChain will show more trust next time before jumping ship at the first sign of trouble."
Richard looked slightly embarrassed. "Fair point. The energy bar production line and exclusive supply commitment are confirmed?"
"Absolutely. Eric is overseeing quality control personally."
The meeting wrapped up smoothly. But as my car pulled away, the composure I'd maintained started to crack.
The car turned onto Sterling Boulevard, and my attention snagged on the Sterling Pharmaceuticals building. Through the tinted window, I caught a glimpse of two figures standing near the entrance. Julian's distinctive posture was unmistakable, but it was the other man that made my breath catch.
Tall, broad-shouldered, the way he stood looked exactly like Lucian.
The car moved too quickly for me to be certain. I twisted in my seat, trying to see more, but they'd already disappeared from view. I opened my mouth to tell the driver to turn around, then stopped myself.
What was I doing? Chasing shadows because of a vague resemblance? If I confronted Lucian with accusations based on a two-second glimpse from a moving car, I'd destroy the fragile trust we'd been rebuilding.
But the unease settled in my chest anyway, heavy and cold.
Eric sat beside me in the back seat, reviewing something on his tablet. He looked up and said, "Chloe's design mockups came through. New product samples will be ready next Monday."
I forced myself to focus on work, offering suggestions about the marketing timeline. He nodded, then hesitated before speaking again.
"I'm thinking of reaching out to Kira for product testing," he said carefully. "Full disclosure, she was my college mate. We haven't talked in years. She doesn't know I work at Vance Botanicals."
I heard the hesitation in his voice, saw the way his fingers tapped against the tablet case.
"Your call," I said. "No pressure if it's awkward."
---
The grocery store was too bright and too crowded. I pushed my cart through the baking aisle, loading it with flour, sugar, cocoa powder, everything I'd need for Lucian's birthday cake tomorrow.
At the checkout counter, my phone buzzed with an incoming text from an unknown number: [Tomorrow night, 7 PM. Sterling Estate. Come see the one you've been wanting to see.]
My blood went cold. I read it three times, then deleted it with shaking fingers. A prank. It had to be a prank.
But the words burrowed under my skin anyway.
I drove home on autopilot and started baking with mechanical determination. The first attempt burned. The second collapsed in the middle. The third came out lopsided. The fourth was too dry.
By two in the morning, I finally produced something acceptable, chocolate layers with cream filling, slightly imperfect but made with care. I collapsed into bed, but that text message kept replaying in my mind.
---
The morning meeting at Vance Botanicals should have been routine.
The meeting dissolved into organized chaos. I worked straight through lunch, approving designs, calling distributors, putting out small fires. By six o'clock, I grabbed my purse and the carefully packed birthday cake, heading for the hospital.
I dialed Lucian as I reached my car. "Hey," I said when he picked up. "I'm heading to the hospital now. Should I pick up dinner?"
"I'm not at the hospital right now." His voice sounded distant. "Had to take care of something."
I frowned. "What about Ash? You left him alone?"
"There's a nurse with him. He's fine."
"Lucian." I couldn't keep the edge out of my voice. "What's so important that you'd leave your brother alone in a hospital?"
"It's complicated. I'll explain later." Background noise filtered through, something that sounded like classical piano music. "You don't need to come by tonight."
"I'm already on my way. I'll wait for you there."
"Briar, really, you don't have to—"
I ended the call, irritation flaring hot. He was hiding something. The evasiveness, the background music that wasn't hospital sounds, it all pointed to secrets.
My car merged into traffic while my mind raced. That text message surfaced again: Tomorrow night, 7 PM. Sterling Estate.
Tomorrow was Lucian's birthday. Tomorrow night at seven.
What could be important enough to pull him away from Ash? What was he not telling me?
The hospital came into view ahead, but I thought about that figure outside Sterling Pharmaceuticals, about Lucian's evasive answers, about the classical music in the background.
"Change of plans," I told my driver. "Take me to Sterling Estate instead."
He glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "Ma'am?"
"Sterling Estate. I need to see something."
Just a quick look, I told myself. Just to prove I was being paranoid. Just to make sure the man I was falling for wasn't keeping secrets that would destroy us both.
---
Lucian's POV
I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at the ended call. Around me, the Sterling Estate garden party continued, string quartet playing Vivaldi while pharmaceutical executives mingled under expensive lighting.
Julian's idea of a birthday celebration. More accurately, Dominic's idea of a public relations opportunity.
I walked away from the main gathering, following stone pathways toward the ornamental fountain at the garden's edge. The musical water feature cycled through Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, jets choreographed to the music.
"Leaving your own party?" Julian's voice came from behind me.
I didn't turn around. "Just needed air."
"Father's watching, by the way. Probably should look like we're having a brotherly conversation."
I finally looked at him. Julian stood with his hands in his pockets, expression carefully neutral. "This was your idea?"
"Father's. I just went along with it." Julian's smile didn't reach his eyes. "He thinks if he throws enough parties, we'll magically become the sons he always wanted."
We stood in silence, watching the fountain. The party continued behind us, laughter and conversation floating on the evening air.
I pulled out my phone, checking for messages from Briar. Nothing. The silence felt wrong.
"Daniel Cross keeps staring at you," Julian said.
I followed his gaze to where Sterling Pharmaceuticals' Chief Financial Officer stood near the terrace, watching our conversation with unusual intensity. Daniel was maybe fifty, distinguished gray at his temples.
"You know him?" I asked.
"Father's most trusted advisor. Handles all the sensitive financial matters." Julian's tone carried layers of meaning. "If Dominic trusts anyone with the real numbers, it's Daniel."
I studied the CFO more carefully. There was something familiar about him, the way he held himself, the angle of his jaw. I'd seen him before, but couldn't place where or when.
Movement near the garden entrance caught my attention. Willow had arrived, immediately drawing attention from executives. She made her way toward us, expression pleasant and unreadable.
Julian's posture changed subtly, straightening with alertness. When Willow reached us, she smiled at him, then turned that same professional warmth on me.
"Lucian. Happy birthday."
"Thank you, Ms. Davenport."
"Please, call me Willow. We're practically family."
I excused myself and wove through clusters of executives, accepting birthday wishes and deflecting questions about Sterling Pharmaceuticals. My phone buzzed with an email from my mentor.
Lucian, Happy birthday. I have a colleague interested in partnering with American biotech firms. Mentioned you might be open to investment opportunities? Let me know if you want an introduction.
I read it twice, understanding the real offer. Foreign investment meant diluting control of Apex, bringing in partners who wouldn't care about my vendetta against Dominic. It would make the company more resilient against interference.
It would also mean losing some of the power I'd built.
I closed the email without replying. This decision couldn't be made impulsively.
I checked my messages again. Still nothing from Briar.