Clark's POV

I can't erase the deep frown on my face as I shuffle into the kitchen to fix a cup of coffee.

The house is eerily quiet. Too still.

Every room feels empty without Elias, and I curse the electric company for fixing those damn power lines in his neighborhood. He finally went home yesterday, but his presence lingers everywhere around here.

The couch where we snuggled watching movies. The kitchen table where he made me play test dummy for a new pancake recipe he'd been wanting to try. Most of all, there's my bedroom where we explored each other's bodies until the sun rose the next day.

It felt cold and vacant when I woke up this morning—a feeling I don't want to get used to again.

"If I'm not completely whipped, I sure as hell am getting there," I mumble to myself as I watch the coffee fill the pot.

My fingers twitch with the urge to grab my phone and text him. Something small, like a silly emoji maybe.

Then I remember, again, that it's only been a day since he went back home. I don't want to come across as clingy or needy.

I swear I'm not usually like this, but fuck, Elias...he makes me feel things I'm unaccustomed to.

Things that make me want more than I deserve.

By the time the coffee finishes and I pour myself a drink, my phone buzzes on the counter with an incoming text.

Elias: If I'm not too busy, I'll stop by and bring you lunch today :)

Elias: If you don't mind...

Clark: Never when it comes to you.

A smile spreads across my face.

He texted first, which means he's thinking about me, too. The tight feeling in my chest loosens marginally.

Elias: Hey! What did I say about sweet talk?

Clark: If I recall correctly, you said not to use it when we're fucking.

Clark: And I don't see you here riding my cock, so...

Elias: Great. I'm getting hard while arranging this bouquet.

Elias: Goodbye!

"Cute." I chuckle and slide my phone into my pajama pocket and finish my coffee.

As much as I'd love to do nothing but sit around and text him all day, I need to get to the office. I have to follow up with Ava, and I need time to prep so we'll run into no issues when signing the contracts. With a spring in my step, I shower quickly and get dressed.

For the first time in a long time, I pull up to Ashford Technologies with a smile on my face.

Today is a pivotal day for the future of my company. If Ava and I run into no disagreements during this last meeting, this will be our last time discussing paperwork regarding Project Terra. The deal with her will keep Ashford Technologies afloat financially, and on top of that, Elias and I are in a great place again.

Things are back to looking up, and I can only pray they stay that way.

I stride into my office and power on my computer.

A few minutes later, there's a knock at my door. I look up to see my grandfather enter before I can give him permission.

"Can you let me get my day started before you come to pick a fight with me?" I mutter, my good mood slowly evaporating. "I haven't even been here ten minutes."

He shuts the door and takes a seat in front of my desk. He looks remorseful as he says, "I'm sorry, Clark."

I raise an eyebrow skeptically. "Sorry for what?"

"For being your second shadow and not allowing you the space to run this company the way you want." He sighs heavily, suddenly seeming much older. "I know this is an apology that's long overdue."

Shock renders me momentarily speechless. My grandfather rarely, if ever, admits to his mistakes, and much less apologizes for them.

"I... I don't even know what to say," I finally manage. "This is so unexpected."

"You don't have to say anything, son," he replies with a small smile. "I just want you to know that I'm extremely proud of you, of everything you've accomplished. Always have been. And I love you dearly. You know all this, right? I really don't say it enough."

"I..." Emotion clogs my throat. "I love you too, old man."

"With Project Terra going how we'd planned, I also want you to know you'll be seeing less of me around here."

That gets me out of my chair.

I walk around the desk to face him, mildly alarmed as I study him for issues I might've missed.

"You're not thinking of stepping down from the board, are you?" I ask, concerned. "Are you sick? Is everything okay with Grandma?"

"She's fine. Everything is fine. I just...I had a long talk with her the other day and she made me realize there's more to life than all this." He gestures around at the office. "I want to spend my remaining days loving on my woman, not worrying about meeting projections. And should a day like that come for you, please know you have my blessing to step down if you choose to."

My mind immediately goes to Elias.

It's no secret that I never wanted to be CEO. I only took on the role out of obligation to save the family business because my grandfather didn't think my brother was competent enough, for reasons he still won't go into detail about.

Would he truly be okay with me leaving it all behind one day? Do I even have it in me to do something like that?

"By the way, I want to meet this kid soon." He stands to give me a hug I hadn't known I needed until now.

"Meet who?" I ask, playing dumb.

"The one who's captured your attention." He pulls back, a knowing twinkle in his eye. "I thought you were married to the company, but I see that's no longer the case. And, honestly, I'm glad. I prefer seeing you happy."

"It's nothing like that," I mumble, shaking my head.

"You can fool yourself, Clark, but not me." He claps me on the shoulder and takes his leave.

Long after the door shuts behind him, I remain standing there, feeling dazed and oddly elated.

My grandfather's approval means the world to me. And the possibility that I may one day get to choose a life with my soulmate over Ashford Technologies... it simultaneously terrifies and exhilarates me.

"What a fucking morning," I laugh to myself as I settle back at my desk and throw myself into work.

The next few hours fly by in a flurry of emails, spreadsheets, and conference calls.

Just as I'm starting to feel the fatigue set in, a new message pops up in my inbox—it's from Ava.

My heart rate kicks up a notch as I read how her team confirmed moving forward on Project Terra, and that they have no more revisions to make. After all the chaos and near disasters our companies have suffered, we're finally ready to close the damn deal. Officially.

I quickly type out a reply, suggesting a restaurant to meet up to sign the paperwork together. Her response is almost immediate. She's on board.

Thank God this is almost over. I lean back in my chair, allowing myself a moment to bask in the victory.

Project Terra is going to happen. Ashford Technologies is safe. After months of walking on the edge, I feel like I can breathe again. I can finally see the light at the end of this fucked up, stress-inducing tunnel.

Another knock at the door startles me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I call out, straightening up.

To my relief, Elias steps into my office with a takeout bag from Hudson's Kitchen.

"Sorry I'm late. There was a wreck on the highway, so I had to take the long way here," he says, letting the door fall shut behind him. "Got your favorite."

He walks closer and sets the bag on my desk. I'm hit with a wave of his cologne, and the sensation that invades every atom in my body is so intense it nearly knocks me out of my seat.

In three long strides, we're face to face.

"Hi," he whispers. "Miss me?"

I grin. "What do you think?"

I pull him into my arms before he can answer and kiss him. It's deep and passionate and full of promises that both of us are too chicken to speak out loud. I suppress a moan as he melts against me, his arms winding around my neck as he slips me a little tongue.

I lose myself in him like I always do, so I'm not sure how much time passes. But when we finally break apart, we're both flushed and breathing hard.

"If I didn't have to meet Ava soon, I'd bend you over my desk and do very inappropriate things to you," I tell him, my voice low and rough.

Elias laughs. "Rain check?"

Before I can answer, my phone buzzes with a new text.

"Well, shit." I smile so big my cheeks hurt. "Ava is running twenty minutes behind."

"Aw. Poor Ava."

"Seems like the universe is on our side today."

"Shout out to the universe."

Gently, I push him down into the chair facing my desk and drop to my knees in front of him.

"Think we can work with twenty minutes?" I place my hands on his thighs as he swallows hard, nodding. "Good. Then take your pretty cock out for me, baby."

***

Thirty minutes later, I stride into the restaurant where Ava and I agreed to meet.

She's already seated at a table near the back with a pile of papers laid out in front of her. We exchange pleasantries and dive right into signing the contracts.

"I've been meaning to check in..." She slides me the last piece of paper to sign, and I scribble my name quickly beneath hers. "How are things going with Richard?"

"Excellent. I'm actually meeting with him next week to go over more details. I'm 99.9% sure he's on board to invest."

"That's great to hear. I'm glad you two hit it off."

"All thanks to you."

As we wrap up, Ava excuses herself to the restroom.

I take the opportunity to check my phone, smiling at the explicit meme Elias sent me. But my attention is quickly diverted by the sound of Ava's phone ringing. It's lying face-up on the table, and I can't help but glance at the screen.

"What the fuck..."

The name on the screen causes every muscle in my body to tense.

Christian Ashford—my brother—is calling Ava.

Why the fuck is he calling her? Better yet, at what point did they exchange numbers? And, again, why? The questions hit me all at once. Why would Christian be interested in Ava when he works in a completely different sector? We don't run in the same circles. We have nothing in common regarding the types of businesses we run.

So what does he want from her?

Calm down. You're freaking out over nothing.

Am I, though?

My mind flashes to the threatening text I received recently. And then to the time when Elias told me about how rude Christian was when they first met.

Could Christian be involved somehow?

Wait. No. What the hell am I thinking? My brother and I have always had a good relationship. There's no reason for him to sabotage me or the family business.

Painting him as the suspect just doesn't make sense.

"Everything okay?" Ava asks after returning to the table, her brows knitting together slightly.

"Just a little hiccup at the office." I place my phone down, deciding against being impulsive by telling my private investigator to look into my brother.

Christian would never do something like this to me. He just wouldn't. And until I find out who the fuck is responsible for threatening me, I can't ask Ava about Christian and how they linked up. Not yet.

Not until my PI gets me answers that I can do shit with.