Chapter 10

Howard's POV

The morning light hadn't yet breached the horizon when I found myself awake, earlier than usual. The merger negotiations ahead demanded preparation, yet my mind refused to focus on the financial projections waiting in my briefcase.

I gathered my papers and headed toward the dlining room for breakfast.My footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway, each one carefully measured until -without conscious thought-I found myself slowing outside Annie s door.

The familiar scent of lilacs stopped me completely. It drifted through the small gap beneath her door, the same gentle fragrance that had caught my attention that day in the potography studio. Suddenly I was back there:feeling her small form pressed against my back, her voice steady as she told me to stop.

"He's a nice man." She had made such a quick and accurate judgement.which saved both her and a poor man's life.

But why did you drop everything to save her that day? You had just met her twice and it turned out she didn't quite need it. And now you had to work harder this whole week to keep merger going.

It was for Lucy, I told myself firmly. My niece needed stability, needed someone who could help her find her voice again. That's all it was.

But even as I formed the thought, I knew it wasn't the complete truth.Something about Annie's presence in our home had shifted the very air we breathed. The way she smiled at Lucy and at me, the way she pored over selective mutism treatment books late into the night, her quiet determination to help Lucy... I'd catch glimpses of her from my study,bent over medical texts or sketching thoughtfully, and something in my chest would tighten inexplicably.

Standing at my bedroom window. I watched the sun begin to paint the manicured grounds in shades of gold. When was the last time I'd truly been present for Lucy's bedtime? The merger negotiations had been consuming my days and nights. The guilt settled heavy in my stomach,mixing uncomfortably with thoughts of Annie's gentle way with Lucy,how naturally she'd stepped into the role I'd been struggling to fill alone.

"Mr. Thompson?" Maria's voice startled me from my reverie. "Your coffee,sir."

I caught the housekeepers exchanging glances at my rumpled appearance-the same suit from yesterday, my usually immaculate appearance showing signs of strain.Their whispered concerns drifted through the halls: "Never seen him like this before... working too hard... not even changed..."

The mirror confirmed their observations. Dark circles shadowed my eyes.and my hands trembled slightly as I adjusted my tie. The CEO of Howard Technologies couldn't afford to show weakness, especially not today. But the face staring back at me looked more human than I'd allowed myself to appear in years. The gleaming headquarters of Howard Technologies rose like a monument.Employees nodded respectfully as I passed, their whispered conversations carrying notes of admiration. "Mr. Thompson's leadership during the merger talks has been incredible..." "Did you see the stock price since he tookover..."

"Following in his father's footsteps..."

Alone in my office, I let the mask slip slightly. My father's words echoed in my mind: "A Thompson carries the weight of generations. Personal desires are secondary to family legacy." I'd lived by those words since inheriting his position. Every decision calculated, every move strategic.

Until Annie.

The thought of her sent an uncomfortable ripple through my carefully maintained control. There was nothing strategic about the way my heart rate increased when she was near, nothing calculated about the warmth that spread through my chest when I saw her with Lucy.

The intercom buzzed, interrupting my dangerous train of thought."Your mother on line one,sir."

I suppressed a sigh. "Put her through."

"Howard, darling." My beloved mother, Margaret Thompson's voice carried its usual blend of authority and social refinement. "I've arranged lunch with Catherine Morgan next week. She's just returned from Europe,and her family's influence could be quite beneficial."

"Mother, we'vediscussed this." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'm focused on Lucy right now." "About that." Her tone sharpened. "The board has expressed concerns about your ability to balance CEO responsibilities with single parenthood.Perhaps it's time to consider more... traditional arrangements for Lucy's care." Ice spread through my veins. "Lucy stays with me."

"Don't be difficult. Howard. A child needs a proper family structure. You know the court wouldI agree that a grandmother's care might be more appropriate than a busy CEO's..."

The implied threat made my jaw clench. I drew a slow breath,forcing myself to respond diplomatically. "I'Il consider your concerns, Mother.But I have a meeting starting now."

"Consider carefully, Howard. The Morgan family's daughter would make an excellent match. Think of what's best for Lucy."

I ended the call, my fingers white-knuckled around the phone. Mother had always wielded Lucy's wellbeing like a weapon, but this felt different.More calculated. My eyes strayed to the family photo on my desk- Lucy's silent smile,forever frozen in happier times.

The weight of being both CEO and father pressed down on my shoulders.

The afternoon dragged interminably. Project delays mounted,pressure from the board increased, and I found myself adjusting my tie for the third time in an hour - a nervous tell I thought I'd eliminated years ago.

My phone buzzed with a message from Annie: "Will you join us for dinner tonight? I want to discuss something." The simple text shouldn't have sent such a jolt through my system. I stared at the words, mind racing. Lucy had been different lately-more responsive, almost speaking at times, but only to Annie . Was that what Annie wanted to discuss? Or was there somethng else? I realized I was smiling at my phone like a teenager and quickly schooled my expression. What was happening to me? I was Howard Thompson.CEO of a tech empire, known for my unshakeable control. I didn't get flustered by text messages.

Yet here I was, checking the time again,willing the hands to move faster so I could return home. Return to that soothing smell of lilacs.

The thought stopped me cold. When had home started meaning more than just the place where Lucy waited? When had Annie's presence become something I looked forward to with such... anticipation?

Focus, I commanded myself. The merger documents demanded attention.

Everyone's watching, the housekeepers, the employees, my mother,Lucy and Annie. I was supposed to keep my clothes clean, to make this project work.and to live up to my mother's expectation so there would be time for Lucy,and maybe for Annie.