sion was qui

d that hovered in the air, heavy and expectant,

s. He had been away from this house for months, drowning himself in work, hiding behi

ored a summons

o could knock. The butler,

me hom

eo muttered, s

verything seemed almost too clean, too flawless-like a museum

silent on the marble floor. The closer he moved

new the conversation waiting behind it, he

owly and pushe

_

hough he wasn't going anywhere. His hair, once jet black, had begun

look up im

ever

reminding Leo of his place

ited s

and calculating, the same gaze that in

're

t flinch.

u own half the cars

wn across from his father, maintaining the calm, pr

s hands. "You've

ven't c

shouldn't have to call. You

e been handling every

Richard's voice was firm. "

jaw

e it

son he had b

rd the window overlooking the massive Carter

twenty-s

nd

it's

sked sharply, eve

, giving him a

to get

ntually, but he had hoped he still had time-time to breathe, time to liv

"I'm not interested in

ind someone on your own, then. Date. Court. Propose. I don'

th, though nothing about t

time for a r

ime," Richa

sts. "Why are you p

sk, picked up a thick file,

ooked

projecti

lder co

lations s

the highli

ility depends on their pro

his sto

joking,"

ce. Investors want security. The media wants a story that

riage will solve t

d replied. "A stable image. A secur

at him in

et married for a

s voice

protect what yo

ed the f

wife to run Ca

red calmly. "If you wan

ammed into

air had been sucke

you threatening to take

," Richard corre

His chair screeche

s ridic

't look faze

di

he first hint of emotion-

gain, more softly this ti

oice sharp as broken glass.

d fell

the moment his mother was mention

rd ex

ed you to

t tightene

ess is my

ake a decision. Soon. Before s

torm had been bui

life he never really chose, at the empire b

quietly b

arry for t

leaned

rry for

d back, e

don't want ma

ed, his expression

ready to lead C

haled