Sebastian sat back down, rubbing the bridge of his nose, feeling the first headache building in his temples.

His chest tightened. It was the first time he'd raised his voice in the office. Years of control, all thrown out the window.

Vivienne had always been ruthless—elegant in public, vicious behind closed doors. He should have known better than to think she’d stay away, even after he made it clear he wanted nothing to do with her. She wasn’t just persistent—she was powerful. As the heiress of the wealthy Marlowe family and the major shareholder of the company, Vivienne Marlowe had the kind of leverage that made board members sweat and junior execs scramble. And she knew it.

She didn’t mind reminding Sebastian, either. Threats wrapped in honeyed words had become her speciality—whispers about sabotaging deals, leaking confidential documents, pulling funding just to watch the company bleed. All because she couldn’t stand the idea of him slipping out of her control. If she couldn’t have his heart, she'd settle for owning everything around it.

He'd seen the look in her eyes too many times before—the one that said, If you won’t be mine, I’ll burn it all down with you in it.

She always left as if she’d won something. But today, he was certain she hadn’t.

Sebastian glanced up at the wall behind his desk, where a massive photo of him and his son hung.

He picked up the phone, punching the number quickly. It rang once before the other end answered.

“Yeah, boss?” Gerald, the CEO, answered without missing a beat.

He was a capable man, loyal to a fault, and smart enough to stay in Sebastian's favor.

If there was a coup, Sebastian would know about it. And if anyone was plotting against him, Gerald would find out.

Sebastian didn't mind having a few rats in the company. If anything, it helped him know who his enemies were. And when it came to rats, Gerald was the most reliable one.

"Find out what the board is planning. And who is pushing for the merger. Find out everything," he said coldly.

"You got it."

“Also,” Sebastian added, his tone dropping into something darker, “keep an eye on Vivienne. Discreetly.”

There was a beat of silence on the other end before Gerald replied, his voice low. “You think she’s making a move?”

“I think she’s already made one. Showing up today wasn’t about coincidence—it was a warning. She’s baiting me.”

Gerald exhaled sharply. “You want me to stall the merger talks?”

“No,” Sebastian said, fingers tapping against the desk. “Let her think I’m considering it. Let the board chatter. I want to know who’s on her leash.”

“Understood. I’ll feed the usual suspects just enough to keep them wagging their tails.”

“And Gerald,” Sebastian added, pausing briefly, “if anyone so much as breathes the word ‘hostile takeover’—I want their name and their price.”

“Already on it, boss.”

Sebastian gave a curt nod, even though no one could see it. “Good. Call me when you have something real.”

He ended the call without another word, the sharp click of the receiver echoing in the quiet room like a gun cocking.

As he hung up the phone, the gears were already turning in his head. He had a few days before his next meeting with the board, and he wasn't going to waste a single one of them.

There was no way he was letting his company, his legacy, fall into the wrong hands. Not now, not ever.

But Vivienne wasn't wrong. As much as he hated to admit it, the board was starting to push back, and he'd ignored the pressure for far too long.

If they were looking for an excuse to get rid of him, they were going to find one.

It was only a matter of time.

He glanced down at the file in his hand. It contained information about a woman with no name and no past.

Until he found out the truth, she was his secret. His weapon. And his weakness.

No wonder Vivienne had smelled blood.

Sebastian sighed and ran a hand over his face, trying to rub the frustration out.

He'd kept his family out of the city and the company for a reason—so that nothing could touch them. Now he was dragging them both into the fray.

The girl was a risk. A big one. And there was no guarantee she would be worth it.

But if Vivienne thought she could bully him, or intimidate him, or manipulate him, then she had no idea who she was dealing with.

She was right. He'd hidden his son away, protected him from the spotlight and the sharks circling below the surface. But that didn't mean his son wasn't ready.

His son was the one thing in this world he took the most pride in—his greatest joy. A man of strength, intellect, and character. He’d been raised with a sharp understanding of how the world truly worked. He knew the weight of loyalty, the worth of honest labor, and the art of striking a deal that mattered.

He glanced back at the picture. It had been taken on his yacht, years ago, and his son was still young, grinning at the camera.

He glanced back at the picture. It had been taken on his yacht, years ago, when life still had a bit of light in it. His son had been no more than twelve, barefoot and sun-kissed, grinning at the camera with a wide, fearless smile. His hair was tousled by the sea breeze, and one hand rested on the wheel like he was already captain of the world. That was before the boardroom wars, before the betrayals, before everything turned to stone.

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. So much had changed—but that boy… he was still in there somewhere. Wasn’t he?

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but it didn’t last.

And then, as if summoned by the very thought, his phone lit up and buzzed sharply against the desk.

Julian Everett Lancaster.

Speaking of the devil.

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, staring at the name flashing on the screen for a moment. It had been weeks. The silence after their last heated conversation, the one that ended with Julian slamming a door.

Sebastian picked up with an unreadable expression. “Yeah?"

“You’re finally answering your phone,” came the clipped reply.

“You finally decided to call,” Sebastian shot back, leaning into his chair.

Julian snorted. “I guess we’re both terrible at apologies.”

“I don’t recall asking for one.”

“Yeah,” Julian muttered. “Didn’t expect one either.”

Silence stretched between them—tense, unfinished, familiar.

Then Julian spoke again, quieter this time. “I heard you were back. In the city.”

“I’m in and out,” Sebastian said vaguely. “Just taking care of unfinished business.”

Julian paused. “You’re not exactly easy to find these days. People are talking.”

“Let them,” Sebastian said flatly. “They always do.”

Another beat of silence. Then Julian exhaled. “We should meet. Just talk.”

“About what?”

“Family. The company. Whatever’s left of either.”

Sebastian’s eyes flicked back to the photo on his desk.

“I’ll send a time.”

He ended the call before Julian could answer, the weight of unspoken things settling back into the room like dust.

But secrets never stayed buried for long, especially not the one he was hiding on the island, one that wouldn’t stay buried for long.