Chapter 53

Howard's POV

The private dining room's soft lighting couldn't mask Lucy and Penny's excitement as they entered. I straightened my already perfect cuffs,a habit from business meetings when I needed to maintain control. Seven place settings, one elegant cake, and a carefully curated menu-all arranged with the precision I applied to acquisition deals.

"Wow!" Both girls exclaimed simultaneously as they spotted the cake.

"You two should make a wish," I said, my voice softening in that particular way it did only around Lucy-and increasingly, around Annie.

The girls exchanged conspiratorial looks beforeleaning toward the candles.Lucy's expression shifted to one of intense concentration.

After extinguishing the candles, Penny threw her arms around Lucy. Their spontaneous celebration sent a strange pang through my chest-a recognition of childhood joy I'd never experienced myself.

"Time to eat, girls," Annie called, her tone warm yet authoritative. The dimple that appeared on her left cheek signaled genuine happiness.

Lucy settled beside Annie, her eyes repeatedly drifting toward the caramelized apple pie à la mode. I watched her internal debate play across her face before she turned toward me instead.

"I'd like some of the apple pie. Could you get some for me?" Her voice carried no trace of the hesitation that had marked her speech just weeks ago.

"Of course," I replied, feeling an unexpected surge of satisfaction as I served her. Only when she winked at Annie, silently mouthing "Mom,please eat!" did I understand-she'd deliberately avoided interrupting Annie's meal. Her thoughtfulness matched Annie's own-another quality they shared despite no biological connection.

I limited my contributions to the conversation, analyzing the group dynamics instead.

"Lucy," Edward addressed his granddaughter, "I understand you've been practicing a new exercise routine. How are you finding it?"

As Lucy enthusiastically described her progress, I noticed Eleanor's assessing glances between Annie and me, while Annie unconsciously mirrored Lucy's animated gestures. My fingers tapped a silent rhythm against my knee as I observed the group,feeling unexpectedly part of something that resembled a family.

Later, as we walked to our vehicles, I felt Edward's hand rest briefly on my shoulder-a gesture that would have triggered immediate discomfort from most people. Yet from him, I found myself accepting it without the usual tension.

"We'll see you back at the house," he said, his eyes conveying both trust and subtle assessment.

In the car, I caught Annie watching Sue's vehicle ahead of us,her expression contemplative.

"Does it bother you that I'm driving Sue home?" The question escaped before I could properly evaluate its strategic value.

Annie turned toward me, her brows drawing together in genuine confusion.

"Why would it bother me?"

Her response confirmed what I'd suspected but hoped wasn't true-no hint of possessiveness or interest beyond friendship. My fingers tightened imperceptibly on the steering wheel as I concealed my disappointment.

"You're right," I conceded simply, adjusting my expectations. Unlike business matters where progress could be accelerated through strategic pressure, emotions followed their own unpredictable timeline-a reality I found increasingly difficult to accept.

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable, though.

At Sue's apartment building, I scanned the surroundings with practiced efficiency, mentally noting security concerns that needed addressing.

"Thank you both for everything," Sue said, her professional demeanor softening slightly. "The dinner was lovely, and Lucy seems to be making remarkable progress."

"The progress is mutual," I replied, watching Penny help Lucy adjust her coat. "Lucy benefits greatly from your daughter's friendship."

After they entered the building, I conducted one final security assessment before returning to the car. Annie had settled deeper into her seat, her gaze fixed on the passing cityscape, lips slightly pursed in the expression she wore when mentally sketching new illustrations.

As we pulled through the estate gates, my phone vibrated with Catherine Morgan's name on the screen. The timing was unusual enough to warrant immediate attention.

"Would you mind keeping Lucy company while I take this?" I asked Annie. "It shouldn't take long."

Annie nodded, already shifting toward where Lucy waited in her nightgown, small fingers clutching her favorite book. "Take your time.We have storytime anyway."

In my study, I accepted the call. "Catherine. This is unexpected."

"Howard!" Her voice carried its characteristic animation. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important. I had the most fascinating conversation with Annie today at work and I thought you should know about it."

I moved to the window, positioning myself to observe the driveway while maintaining privacy. "Go on."

"We were discussing relationships-hypothetically,of course-and Annie said something quite revealing. When I asked what she would do if someone confessed feelings for her, she said she'd probably turn them down."

My jaw tightened, the muscles contracting in the same way they did during hostile takeover discussions. "Did she give a reason?"

"That's the interesting part," Catherine continued. "She said,'I just got divorced, my life is in pieces, and I'm trying to rebuild. I probably wouldn't deserve him right now."

So Annie's hesitation wasn't rejection based on lack of interest, but rather her assessment of timing and self-worth. This aligned with what I'd observed-her focus on establishing independence after her divorce.

"I see," I said finally. "Thank you for sharing this, Catherine."

"Aren't you going to ask about the 'him' she mentioned?" Catherine prompted.

"No," I replied simply. "If Annie wishes to discuss that with me directly,she will."

After ending the call, I remained at my desk, fingers steepled beneath my chin. The financial reports before me blurred as I considered what Catherine had shared. By eleven, I'd relocated to the living room,occupying the leather armchair where Annie typically joined me for evening conversation.I found myself checking my watch with unchaacteristic frequency, conscious of a growing restlessness I rarely experienced in business contexts.

Footsteps in the hallway prompted an immediate straightening of my posture, but instead of Annie, Edward Parker appeared carrying tea. The subtle disappointment I felt was instantly concealed.

"Chamomile," he explained, extending a cup. "Eleanor insists it helps with sleep,though I find the conversation that accompanies it more effective than the tea itself."

I accepted with a nod, recognizing the diplomatic approach. Edward's positioning-centered in his chair, hands relaxed but attentive-signaled preparation for significant conversation.

"She's helping Lucy fall asleep," Edward said, addressing my unspoken question. "They're reading that new book about the butterfly adventures.You have work tomorrow-perhaps you should rest early."

I remained silent, thinking about how much Lucy had improved since the Parkers' arrival. Her speech had become noticeably clearer, especially when interacting with multiple people. The benefits to her development made any small disruptions to our routines worthwhile.

Eleanor Parker appeared in the doorway.

"Annie promised Lucy the evening," Eleanor stated with precision. "She certainly won't sneak away after Lucy falls asleep to meet with you. Unless.

The calculated pause activated my full attention. "Unless?"' Eleanor's eyes held mine with the directness I'd seen in seasoned negotiators. "She's already fallen in love with you."

The blunt assessment hung between us like a proposed merger term.I didn't waste energy denying the implication about my own interests-inefficient when dealing with astute observers.

"That's not yet the case," I acknowledged, my tone matching the factual nature of quarterly earnings reports.

Edward nodded, his expression carrying the patience of someone who'd navigated complex family situations for decades. "There's an old saying:haste makes waste."

Eleanor settled beside her husband, her posture shifting slightly to signal a transition to more sensitive subject matter. "By the way..." she began, her tone recalibrating. "Annie has been married before. If you truly decide to be with her, you'll inevitably face strong opposition from certain people."

She leaned forward incrementally-just enough to signal importance without creating confrontation. "I must ask you... are you prepared to face all of that?"

I'd already thought through the potential complications. My mother would certainly disapprove and try to intervene again. The board might raise concerns about an employee relationship. The financial media would question Annie's motivations and my judgment.

None of these obstacles seemed insurmountable.

"Absolutely," I responded with the certainty I typically reserved for acquisition announcements.

"Then take it slowly," Edward advised, his tone warming. "Eventually,you'Il win Annie's heart." "I will." I promised.