Chapter 29 Double Insurance
Lucian's POV
I turned toward the rest area where Reginald had settled in earlier. Through the glass walls, I could see the old man already comfortable in one of the leather chairs near the windows. I made my way inside and took the seat across from him, accepting a cup of tea from a passing server.
Reginald looked up with that familiar gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. "That girl of yours is something else," he said without preamble. "Sharp as a tack and twice as stubborn."
I kept my expression neutral, though something warm flickered in my chest at the casual possessiveness in his phrasing. "She impressed you, then."
"Yeah, impressed me enough," Reginald said, fixing me with a pointed look. "Though I have to say, Lucian, you spent an awful lot of time during our ride defending her capabilities. That little girl really as reliable as you claim?"
I set down my teacup with deliberate care. The question wasn't really about Briar's business acumen, and we both knew it. Reginald had been watching me carefully all afternoon, noting every time I'd steered the conversation back to Vance Botanicals' potential.
"She needs this money to push forward with the Apex bid," I said evenly. "Don't drag your feet on the timeline."
Reginald nodded slowly. "After meeting her today, I have to admit my impression is quite favorable. I've decided to transfer the funds directly to Vance Botanicals' account this afternoon."
The word "today" sent quiet satisfaction through me, though I kept it from showing. Briar would have the capital she needed by tomorrow morning, giving her team enough runway to finalize their presentation without the constant pressure of looming bankruptcy. My mouth curved in the barest hint of a smile, gone almost before it appeared.
Reginald took another sip of whiskey, then waved his free hand dismissively. "Actually, you know what? You don't need to put up that one-point-five million. I'll cover the full amount myself."
I straightened slightly, my hand pausing halfway to my teacup. "No," I said quietly. "I'm still putting it in."
Reginald blinked, clearly caught off guard. He set down his glass with a soft clink. "What are you doing, Lucian? My money is already enough for her needs."
I met his gaze steadily. "It's insurance. A safety net."
Reginald's eyes widened slightly. He sat back in his chair, regarding me with sharp assessment. "You're giving her double protection," he said slowly. "I thought you were planning to just hand Apex's contract directly to her."
"Apex Bio-Solutions isn't solely my company," I said, my tone measured. "There's a board of directors and other shareholders to consider. I won't let personal relationships override sound business principles or make decisions based on sentiment rather than merit."
It was the truth, as far as it went. Apex's board would never approve a contract award based on favoritism. But what I didn't say was that I'd structured the entire bidding process to give Briar's team the best possible chance to win on their own merits, that I'd personally reviewed their research data and knew exactly how strong their Lunar Stabilizer formula was.
Reginald was quiet for a long moment, studying me over the rim of his glass. When he finally spoke, his voice carried knowing amusement. "Lucian, what exactly is your relationship with this Vance girl? I've known you for how many years now, and I've never seen you make exceptions like this for anyone."
The question hung in the air between us. My mind flashed to a conversation from several days ago, Kai cornering me in my office at Apex with that same penetrating look.
"Boss," Kai had said, arms crossed as he leaned against my desk. "You pushed for this competitive bidding process. You've been tracking Vance Botanicals' progress like a hawk. Are you really going to tell me there isn't at least some part of you that's doing this to help Briar?"
I'd chosen silence then, deflecting with paperwork and strategic topic changes, but the question had burrowed under my skin. Now, facing Reginald's shrewd assessment, I knew the direct answer.
I lifted my teacup, taking a slow sip. "She's worth the investment," I said finally, my voice quiet but certain.
It wasn't a lie, but it also wasn't the complete truth, and from the knowing look in Reginald's eyes, he understood exactly what I wasn't saying.
Reginald shifted topics with practiced ease. "Speaking of which," he said, his tone turning deliberately casual, "Lea called you last week when she was drunk, didn't she? How did you handle that?"
I kept my expression neutral. "I answered. But I didn't say anything."
Reginald sighed, the sound carrying fondness and exasperation. "That girl has been infatuated with you since she was young. I suppose I should stay out of you young people's business." He paused, calculation in his eyes. "But this Briar, she's not inferior to my granddaughter in terms of capability or appearance. How about I help set you two up?"
I set down my teacup with deliberate care. "Reginald, I appreciate the thought, but emotional matters are best left to develop naturally. Let's not scare her off."
The words came out more protective than I'd intended, and from the way Reginald's eyes gleamed, he'd caught the slip. He smiled knowingly but chose not to press, instead shifting gears.
"Fair enough," he said, taking another drink. His expression darkened. "Speaking of business relationships, your father has been particularly ruthless lately. Dominic practically stole that North Seattle property right out from under me. Sterling Pharmaceuticals' expansion is getting more aggressive by the quarter."
At the mention of Dominic, I felt my jaw tighten. I forced myself to relax. "That's always been his style," I said, my voice carefully neutral. "He only sees profit margins and control. Everything else is irrelevant."
Reginald leaned forward slightly. "Apex has been making some significant moves lately. You can't hide it from Dominic forever, can you?"
The question touched on the precarious balance I'd been maintaining for years. Dominic's intelligence network was extensive, and sooner or later, he would connect Apex Bio-Solutions to his estranged son.
"I'll keep it hidden as long as I can," I said quietly.
Reginald studied me with penetrating assessment. When he spoke again, his voice was gentle but direct. "Lucian, do you really never plan to return to the Sterling family? With your capabilities, the Alpha heir position should rightfully be yours."
The question cut deeper than any business negotiation could. I felt my body shift forward slightly, my eyes meeting Reginald's with intensity I usually kept controlled. In the depths of my gray-green irises, the wolf rose, and my eyes flashed with fierce golden light.
"Go back and become another Julian?" The words came out low and harsh. "Let Dominic control me with Alpha commands, turn me into another chess piece in his endless power games?"
I could feel my hands clenching on the armrests. "I watched Julian get molded into exactly what that man wanted. I saw him twisted by that toxic environment until he became the cold, calculating person he is now. I watched Dominic destroy everything human in him." My voice dropped even lower. "I couldn't stand even one more day in that house."
I forced myself to lean back, to breathe. When I spoke again, my tone had returned to controlled calm, but the steel underneath was unmistakable. "I have no interest in competing with Julian for the Alpha heir position. I don't need the Sterling name or the power that comes with it. Apex is something I built with my own hands. That's what's real. That's what actually belongs to me."
Reginald looked at me for a long moment. Finally, he nodded slowly, respect crossing his weathered features. "You and Julian are completely different people."