Chapter 12

Howard's POV

The merger documents sat neatly stacked on my desk, having endured three rounds of meticulous review. Everything was finally in order. I allowed myself a moment to think of home-of Annie's message about having something to discuss, of Lucy's silent but expressive presence. The corners of my mouth lifted slightly at the thought.

Rapid footsteps in the hallway shattered my momentary peace. My secretary burst through the door, her usually composed demeanor noticeably strained.

"Mr. Thompson, the acquisition team just called."

I raised an eyebrow,waiting.

"There's a significant discrepancy in the valuation model submitted by Wilson's team."

I leaned forward in my chair,maintaining my composure despite the surge of frustration. "Have Wilson's team send over their complete calculation sheets. I'll review them personally."

My secretary nodded, already tapping on her tablet. "They're preparing the files now, sir. Should I push back tomorrow morning's board meeting?"

"No." The word camne out sharper than intended, and I softened my tone."The schedule stays as is. We'll resolve this tonight." The briefcase I'd been reaching for remained untouched as I reopened my laptop. Of course the investment team would make a critical error now,when I'd finally started looking forward to something beyond these glass walls.

While the computer booted up, I reached for my phone. "I won't make it for dinner. But I'll try to get back early." The words came out with my usual restraint, though something in my chest tightened as I sent the message.

The typing indicator appeared, disappeared, then appeared again. Finally:

"Okay, I will put Lucy to bed early."

Such a simple response, yet I could picture her careful smile, the way she'd explain my absence to Lucy.

I set the phone face-down and pulled up the first batch of spreadsheets.Numbers. Calculations. These I understood. These followed rules, made sense, didn't create this uncomfortable warmth in my chest whenever I thought about Lucy and...Annie perhaps.

"Mr. Thompson?" My secretary's voice crackled through the intercom."Your mother's on the phone."

Twice in a day?

"Howard, darling. I've just had the most interesting conversation with Catherine."

I said briefly,"Yes?" "I just found out she may not want to be a mother so soon.Perhaps it would be best if Lucy stayed with me for a while? You're clearly overwhelmed..." "I'm handling a merger." My tone carried a warning edge. "At this hour? This is exactly what concerns me. You have no time for-"

"We'll discuss this later." I ended the call before she could continue.

My grip on the pen tightened until my knuckles whitened. Then slowly relaxed. Control. Always control. I forced my attention back to the Laptop before me, but Mother's words lingered like smoke, mixing toxically with the pressure of the failing merger.

Two hours passed, I was still in the conference room, personally reviewing each correction. Then I saw it - a crucial clause I'd somehow missed in my earlier reviews. The revelation was pounding my chest and for a second. I found it hard to breathe.

Every modification we'd made tonight would need to be recalculated.

I, Howard Thompson, had made a rookie mistake.

The entire night had been wasted.

"We'll continue tomorrow." I announced to my team as I headed for my car.

The mansion was silent when I finally arrived home. No soft scratching of pencils on paper from Lucy's art room. No gentle turning of pages from where Annie usually read. Just empty spaces filled with moonlight and the weight of my failures. The pressure that had been building all day finally cracked my careful control. I yanked open the refrigerator door, grabbed the whiskey and took a long swallow. The liquid burned but did nothing to ease the chaos in my mind. I need another distraction. Anything. Alcohol would not be enough to do it. "Howard?"

Annie's voice cut through the haze. She stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of concern and something deeper.

I crossed the space between us in three strides and pulled her close."Annie..." My voice emerged rough with need. A week of suppressed longing crumbled in her presence.

I kissed her.

She drew in a shaky breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly against mine. "I should go. It's late and-"

"Stay." The word escaped heavy with everything I'd been holding back."Please."

Her body betrayed her hesitation, pressing closer even as she protested."Howard,stop.We can't."

"Why not?" My hands slid to her waist, feeling her shiver at my touch.

"I just got divorced. Lucy needs stability, not... complications." Her hands trembled as she pushed against my chest. "You've been drinking. This isn't-"

"I know exactly what I'm doing." I traced her cheek with my thumb,watching her lean into the caress despite herself. "I've wanted you since that day in the photography studio." Her breath caught. "Think about Lucy. About your company. About-" "I'm tired of thinking." I rested my forehead against hers, breathing in her lilac scent. "For once, I want to feel." Something shifted in her eyes at those words. Her resistance wavered as I pressed her against the wall, one hand tangling in her hair while the other traced down her side. EachI touch drew a soft gasp from her lips.

"Howard..." This time my name was a plea as she arched into me, her body responding even as her mind fought for control. When my mouth found her nec, she moaned, her fingers curling into my shirt.

The sound shattered my restraint. I claimed her lips in a deep kiss,swallowing her whimpers as my hands roamed her body. The silk of her dress did nothingto hide how she trembled beneath my touch. Her skin burned everywhere I caressed, betraying her need even as she weakly protested.

"We shouldn't..." But her legs parted as my thigh pressed between them,her body growing pliant as my fingers traced the lace edge of her underwear. Years of maintaining perfect control dissolved in theface of how desperately she responded to each of my touch.

"I need you," I growled against her throat, feeling her pulse race beneath my lips. The words seemed to break something loose in her. Her hands,which had been pushing me away, now pulled me closer.

"Yes," she breathed, finally surrendering to what we both wanted. I lifted her against me, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carried her upstairs. Each step was exquisite torture with her pressed against me,leaving hot kisses along my jaw. For once, I didn't care about control or appearances or responsibilities.There was only Annie, and the overwhelming need to claim her as mine.