Conor and Parker returned to the hotel under the cover of darkness, their footsteps heavy with the burden of what they had witnessed. The lobby was quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by an oppressive silence that mirrored the weight in their hearts. The elevator ride to the suite felt interminable, and neither man spoke a word. The events of the night clung to them like a shadow.As they entered the suite, they found Kerrigan pacing the floor, her movements frantic, eyes wide with a mix of fear and anger. The moment she saw them, she rushed forward, her emotions unraveling all at once."Conor!" Her voice cracked with a mixture of relief and fury as she reached him. "What happened? Why did you send me away? I was terrified—ye charged right into danger without me! I should have been there!"Conor looked at her, his face pale and drawn. The horrors he had seen were etched into his mind, and for a moment, he couldn't find the words to respond. The room felt too small, too suffocati
Elena Marchand moved with purpose as she addressed the room, her tone measured and confident. "The plan will work. We have this under control," she assured the team, her sharp eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. "Kerrigan, it’s vital that you stay out of the spotlight. You need to be seen carrying on with business as usual. We can’t afford for you to be drawn into this, not with what’s at stake."Kerrigan’s expression was calm, though a shadow of doubt flickered in her eyes. “I understand. Evelynn, Gabriella, you’ll accompany me to Dragon Corporation. I’ll be in my office, out of sight, and keeping to the day’s agenda.”Evelynn nodded, already mentally preparing for the task. “We’ll make sure you’re safe and out of the media’s reach.”Gabriella added, “We’ll keep things low-key. No one will even know you’re there.”Elena held up a finger. “Almost. We need people to know she is there. Business as usual. Nothing out of the ordinary.”Kerrigan gave a curt nod of approval before turning
Seated at the head of the conference table, her expression as composed as ever, Elena Marchand could feel an underlying tension in the room. Conor and Natalie sat across from her, each of them aware that the situation was reaching a critical point."The media is circling like sharks," Elena said, her tone measured. "They’re looking for a story, and they won’t stop until they find something they can sink their teeth into. We need a new face to give them—someone who can manage the narrative without drawing too much attention to Dragon Corporation."Natalie leaned back in her chair, considering her words. "A lawyer speaking to the press only raises suspicions. It makes it look like we’re hiding something, like there’s legal trouble brewing. We need someone who can handle the media without it feeling like damage control."Elena nodded. "Exactly. We need a spokesperson, someone not directly tied to the corporation, but with enough credibility to handle the pressure. Do either of you have a
The morning sun filtered through the large windows of Kerrigan’s office, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Despite the warmth of the sunlight, the atmosphere in the room felt anything but bright. Kerrigan sat behind her desk, her posture rigid, her fingers gripping a pen with undue force as she stared at the latest report from her public relations team.Across from her, Evelynn and Gabriella stood at attention near the door, ready to respond to any command. But they, too, could sense the storm brewing just beyond the walls of Dragon Corporation.“Countess Lokir.” The words were printed boldly across the top of the latest Friday morning news article, the title glaring up at her like an accusation. For years, Kerrigan had worked to build her identity as a business leader, separate from her noble heritage. But now, with the media’s relentless pursuit of the story, that carefully constructed image was crumbling.“They’re starting to connect the dots,” Kerrigan said, her voic
Kerrigan sat with her head down on her desk, exhausted. The day had been relentless—meeting after meeting, each one more draining than the last. The weight of her responsibilities pressed heavily on her shoulders, and she longed for the day to end. She felt like she had been dodging the media all week, forcing herself to stay focused on running Dragon Corporation amidst the chaos. But as the evening began to close, Kerrigan allowed herself a moment to breathe, a brief respite before the next storm inevitably hit.Just as she began to relax, the crackle of Evelynn’s radio disrupted the silence. Kerrigan looked up, her senses immediately on high alert.Both of her guard’s faces were series, meaning the message had to be urgent.Evelynn pressed the radio’s ear piece with her finger, listening intently. Kerrigan watched her closely, noting the way Evelynn’s expression shifted from curiosity to surprise.“The Duke has sent a helicopter to pick you up,” Evelynn relayed, her tone calm but w
Conor woke early in the morning to soft beams of light filtering through the thin curtains the the sparse room. His sleep had been restless and filled with troubled dreams. The events of the previous evening still weighed heavily on his mind, particularly Kerrigan’s hesitant words: "I… I don’t know about us."He sighed and sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the narrow bed. The room was small, much smaller than the others had been shown to the night before. It was plainly furnished, with a simple bed, a single chair, a tiny writing desk and a small dresser. Put simply, a servant's quarters. Whether it was a deliberate slight or a simple oversight by the Duke's staff, Conor couldn't tell, but while the room fit his needs, it stung all the same. It felt like a tangible reminder of his place—or lack thereof—in Kerrigan’s world.He had expected some form of discomfort during this visit, but the reality of it was more unsettling than he’d imagined. Conor had been at Kerrigan’s side
The Duke rose from his seat, indicating for them to follow him. He led them to a smaller, more intimate sitting room just off the main dining hall. The room was richly furnished, with deep, comfortable chairs and a large fireplace that crackled softly with a fresh fire.Once they were seated, the Duke wasted no time. “Kerrigan, you’ve done well with Dragon Corporation, despite the challenges you’ve faced. But your role as President is not the only duty you carry. As Countess Lokir, you have a responsibility to this province and to our family. That includes making decisions that go beyond the business world.”Kerrigan nodded, her expression composed. “I understand, Grandfather. I’ve been doing everything I can to uphold our family’s legacy.”"Are you?" He questioned. He then unfolded a news paper and held out the front page. "Three of my men are dead..."Kerrigan paled, the tone of this meeting already going south. The duke sighed heavily. "They were good men Kerrigan, but they died f
Conor trailed behind Kerrigan as they left the Duke’s private sitting room, his mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions. The Duke’s words had cut deep, leaving Conor with a gnawing sense of inadequacy that he couldn’t shake. The weight of the conversation bore down on him, and he felt more out of place than ever.As they walked through the long, ornate corridors of the Duke’s estate, Kerrigan finally slowed her pace and turned to Conor and Natalie. Her expression was calm, but Conor could see the tension in the way she held herself, the slight furrow in her brow.“Well,” Kerrigan began, her voice carefully controlled. “What did you think?”Conor hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The Duke’s probing questions about marriage and the future had left him feeling unsettled, and he wasn’t sure he could offer anything constructive without revealing the doubts swirling inside him.Before he could find the right words, Natalie spoke up, her tone thoughtful. “I think the Duke has a positive vie