Kerrigan sat at her desk hours later, the morning’s tension still weighing heavily on her as she tried to focus on the work at hand. The journal, with its mysterious inscription and the apple blossom, rested on the corner of her desk where she could glance at it from time to time.She had spent the better part of the morning poring over documents, pretending she was trying to wrap her head around the mess Kelan was causing, but all she was managing was to distract herself from the turmoil of her emotions.Just as she managed to find some semblance of focus, the door to her office burst open, and Kelan Benedict strode in as if he owned the place. Kerrigan’s heart sank at the sight of him, his broad shoulders filling the doorway, his confident smirk practically daring her to protest his presence.“Kerrigan, my dear,” Kelan announced grandly, as if he were addressing a ballroom full of admirers instead of a single, very unimpressed woman. “I’ve come to sweep you off your feet!”She barel
Kerrigan sat at her desk, her pen hovering over the first page of the journal. The words Dear Conor stared back at her, and for a moment, she felt paralyzed. She didn’t know where to start or what she wanted to say. Her emotions were a tangled web, and sorting through them seemed like an impossible task.She took a deep breath, trying to steady her thoughts. The day had been exhausting, and the lunch with Prince Khalid had left her feeling even more conflicted. His charm and poise had been undeniable, but the underlying implications of his attention weighed heavily on her. She knew what he wanted, what the Duke hoped for, and what everyone around her seemed to expect. But what did she want?Her thoughts drifted back to Conor, to the way he had always been there for her, supporting her through everything. And yet, now, he was gone—back to Jinstain, back to his life. She had told herself it was for the best, that they needed the distance, but the empty space he left behind felt like a v
The next few days passed in a blur. Kerrigan’s days were filled with meetings, strategy sessions, and the ever-present weight of Dragon Corporation’s future pressing on her shoulders. Yet, amidst the chaos, she found solace in the leather-bound journal that had become her most trusted confidant.Each night, after the long hours at the office, Kerrigan would retreat to her private quarters, and under the soft glow of a single lamp, she would pour her thoughts into the journal.She wasn’t ready to share it—those words, those emotions, were still too raw—but the act of writing was a release she hadn’t realized she needed.The journal had become a lifeline, a place where she could talk to Conor, express her fears, her doubts, and her longing, without the pressure of his immediate response.She still wondered who had sent the journal, but for now, the mystery was less important than the comfort it brought. It was a space for her to sort her thoughts, to face her vulnerabilities, and to fee
Kerrigan stared at her phone, the screen still dark and lifeless, as if reflecting the uncertainty she felt. The meeting with the interns had shaken her, but it had also steeled her resolve. Kelan couldn’t be allowed to continue his reign of terror, but she knew she needed to play this carefully. The stakes were too high.With a deep breath, she dialed Conor’s number. The call rang only twice before he picked up.“Kerrigan,” Conor’s voice was warm, familiar. “I was just thinking about you.”“Were you?” she replied, trying to keep her tone light despite the heaviness in her heart. “I… I was thinking about you too.”She let the statement hand for a moment before Conor cleared his throat, “As nice as it is to hear from you out of the blue, it is almost midnight. While I don’t mind having a late night call with a beautiful woman, I get the impression you had other reasons for calling?“I do have something I need to tell you.” Kerrigan said reluctantly, knowing that wasn’t what he wanted t
Kerrigan paced her room, the lights of Velyki City twinkling outside the hotel suite window. The phone felt heavy in her hand as she debated whether to make the call to Theo. It was late—midnight, to be exact—but there was no time to waste. She needed him to be on board, and she needed him to understand the gravity of the situation.Taking a deep breath, she dialed Theo Bryant’s number. The phone rang several times before he picked up, his voice groggy and irritated.“Kerrigan? Do you have any idea what time it is?” Theo’s voice was thick with sleep.“I do, and I’m sorry to wake you,” Kerrigan replied, trying to keep her tone calm and steady. “But this can’t wait. I need you in my office first thing in the morning. There’s something important we need to discuss.”There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Kerrigan could practically hear Theo rubbing his eyes as he processed her words.“Fine,” he finally said, his tone resigned. “I’ll be there. But this better be worth it.”“I
Conor’s heart skipped a beat at Kerrigan’s words. He sat up straighter, the late-night fatigue vanishing in an instant. "You found the link?" His voice was steady, but inside, adrenaline surged."Yes," Kerrigan replied, her tone urgent but controlled. "Theo gave me a folder this morning with everything he’s found on Grain. I was going through it tonight, and there it was—Grain’s signature, right next to Kelan’s, on a shipping receipt for a shipment coming from Bayan Rail."Conor was already reaching for a notepad, scribbling down the key details. "What’s the date on the receipt?""About three months ago," Kerrigan answered. "It’s buried in a stack of routine documents. But the thing is, it’s not just any shipment. It’s a large one, and the destination is one of the warehouses we’ve been looking into—one linked to the Benedict Group that Kelan has been repurposing."Conor frowned, the pieces falling into place. "So Kelan’s been funneling shipments through Bayan Rail to Targu, then usin
Kerrigan arrived at her office early, hoping to catch up on some work before the day’s meetings began. The morning sun filtered through the large windows, casting a warm glow across the room. As she stepped inside, she was immediately struck by the sight of Natalie standing on a chair, carefully hanging a large framed painting on the bare wall that Kerrigan had always meant to decorate but never quite got around to."Morning, Natalie," Kerrigan greeted, walking over to get a better look at the painting. It was beautiful—a serene waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear pond, surrounded by lush greenery. The detail was incredible, each brushstroke capturing the essence of nature in a way that made it almost feel like you could hear the water rushing down the rocks.Kerrigan’s eyes were drawn to a spot near the pond where a dog was perched on a rock, its coat glistening in the sunlight. She blinked, leaning in closer. It wasn’t just any dog—it was Faolan. There was no mistaking the slee
Two days later, Conor sat at his place at the head of the long conference table, the wall mounted screen glowing as the video conference connected. The weight of the upcoming discussion pressed heavily on him. This wasn’t just another business meeting—this was a war council, a gathering of allies who were about to launch an assault on the deep corruption rooted within Dragon Corporation and the Benedict Group.As the screen loaded, familiar faces began to appear. Mr. Nuri was first, his expression as sharp and focused as ever, followed by Jarad, who looked equally determined. Conor knew that these two had been working tirelessly since the investigation began. They had found threads of evidence, but now it was time to weave those threads into an unbreakable net.Today, they had opted to conference in from Mr. Nuri’s office, their notes all around them and they prepared their brief’s for the team.Colonel Eli’s face appeared next from the security station down stairs, his presence a com