Chapter 21 21
Blair barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, something dragged her right back—
Lucas collapsing,
his blood on her hands,
his voice whispering Have we met before?
the weight of his head on her lap.
By dawn, she wasn’t sure if she had actually slept or just drifted in and out of a nightmare.
Maverick stirred beside her, small and warm, and she instantly pulled him into her arms—
clutching him like he was the only thing anchoring her to the world.
He mumbled sleepily, “Mama… too tight…”
She loosened her hold, brushing his hair back.
“Sorry, baby. Mama’s just… tired.”
But her hands still trembled.
She got him ready slowly, forcing herself through the motions:
bath, uniform, breakfast, the soft kiss on his forehead before they stepped out.
She kept stopping, staring at him like she was memorizing every feature.
Because the more Lucas’s face flashed in her mind…
the more she saw the resemblance.
By the time she dropped Maverick at school and watched him run to the nanny, she felt hollow.
She whispered, “Be good, sweetheart,”
even though he was already gone.
The moment she turned away, she let out a long, shaky breath and pressed her fingers to her temples.
She had work.
She had to pretend everything was normal.
So she straightened her clothes, wiped the exhaustion from her face, and forced her feet to move.
The company building looked too tall today.
As she stepped inside, the receptionist gave her a polite smile—
which she returned with one that didn’t reach her eyes.
Her badge beeped green.
The elevator doors slid closed.
And for the first time since yesterday, she let the fear sink into her chest again:
What if Lucas remembered?
What if he asked for her?
What if last night… meant something to him?
Blair closed her eyes as the elevator rose, her knuckles white around her bag strap.
She whispered under her breath,
“Please… let today be normal.”
Blair had barely set her bag down behind the counter when a worker rushed in—
red-faced, breathless, and clearly stressed.
“Rivers!”
She stiffened, heart already kicking up.
“Yes?”
He leaned over the counter.
“Coffee for Mr. Brooks’ investors. They’re in the conference room waiting. Like—right now.”
Her stomach dropped.
Investors.
On this morning.
When her hands were still shaking.
She swallowed hard. “O-okay. I’ll get it done.”
The worker didn’t even wait—he spun off, already muttering about how the investors were “getting impatient” and “Mr. Brooks wasn’t in the mood today.”
Blair pushed the boardroom door open with her shoulder, balancing the tray carefully. The investors were already seated —
She kept her head down as she moved from seat to seat.
“One cappuccino… an espresso… flat white…”
Her voice was steady, even though her hands weren’t.
She reached the last chair and turned slightly to place the final cup when—
the door handle clicked.
The room shifted.
Lucas Brooks stepped inside.
A dark suit fitted perfectly on him.
Only the bandage on his hand broke the illusion.
He didn’t speak.
He didn’t greet anyone.
His eyes found her instantly.
Blair froze mid-movement, cup still between her fingers.
Her breath stilled in her chest.
He looked at her like he was searching for something—
or remembering something he wasn’t supposed to.
A few investors greeted him.
“Mr. Brooks.”
He didn’t look away from her until he absolutely had to.
Then, with an exhale, he walked to the head of the table and sat down—
ignoring the chair being pulled out for him, ignoring the murmurs, ignoring everything except…
Her.
Blair swallowed hard, placed the last cup, and turned to leave—
but her legs felt like paper.
As she reached the door, she could feel it:
Lucas’s gaze still burning on her back.
The meeting began smoothly at first.
Lucas opened his laptop, the polished click echoing across the table.
The projector flickered to life, casting a glow over the investors’ faces.
A clean blue presentation screen filled the wall.
Blair reached for the door handle quietly.
Lucas tapped a key.
And suddenly—
the screen changed.
Not to charts.
Not to graphs.
Not to projections.
But to a dimly lit office video feed.
Their office.
Last night.
The footage showed Lucas coughing violently… Blair rushing toward him… his blood on her hands… and then—
Him collapsing on her.
Her holding him.
His head on her lap.
Her shaking.
Gasps shot across the room.
“What the—?” one investor muttered, leaning forward.
Blair froze mid-step.
Her stomach dropped so hard it felt like the floor tilted.
Her entire body went cold.
Lucas’s jaw clenched, confusion slicing through his expression.
He hadn’t put this there.
His manager whispered urgently, “Sir, this… this isn’t part of the file—”
Another investor murmured, “Is that your staff? Why does she look terrified? Was there… an incident?”
R
Blair’s breath stopped.
Her heart hammered so loud she felt dizzy.
Lucas’s eyes traveled from the screen—
—to her.
Blair couldn’t move.
Couldn’t think.
Couldn’t breathe.
Lucas slammed the laptop shut.
The footage disappeared instantly.
“Meeting adjourned,” he said, voice like ice cracking.
The investors exchanged looks — shocked, wary, whispering to each other.
The meeting had barely begun when Lucas leaned back in his chair, jaw tight, eyes flicking once more toward Blair’s retreating figure.
Finally, he stood.
“Meeting adjourned.”
The investors blinked in confusion.
“Sir? We haven’t—”
“I said adjourned.”
The room fell silent.
His secretary, Ms. Hale, scrambled to her feet, clutching her tablet.
“Mr. Brooks, we still have three presentations pending—”
“Move them,” he said, already walking out.
“But sir—”
“Move. Them.”
Ms. Hale rushed after him, whispering apologies to the stunned investors as the door swung shut behind her.
—
Outside the boardroom, the corridor erupted with noise—
reporters had flooded in from the press lobby, cameras raised.
The moment Lucas stepped out, microphones shot forward like weapons.
“Mr. Brooks, is it true you have a secret relationship with one of your staff?”
“Sir, rumors say you were seen holding a woman last night—can you confirm this?”
“Is the woman in question the new barista? The petite brunette?”
“Mr. Brooks, are you protecting her?”
Flash. Flash. Flash.
Lucas’s jaw clenched. His bandaged hand twitched.
Ms. Hale tried shielding him.
“Please step back! Mr. Brooks will not be answering—”
But the reporters surged again.
“Is there an affair, sir?”
“Did you pull her into the company because of personal involvement?”
“Why did you abruptly end the meeting? Was she the reason?”
“Is she living with you?”
Lucas stopped walking.
The entire hall froze.
He turned slowly, eyes icy, dangerous.
“Ask one more question about my staff,” he said quietly, “and I will make sure your entire company loses access to this building.”
The reporters fell silent—fearful, but thrilled.
A headline in the making.
Ms. Hale gently tugged his arm.
“Sir, your office. Now.”
Lucas allowed her to lead him away, but his expression didn’t soften.