Chapter 310

Summer's POV

After spending a few days at the hospital. I was ready to leave-but not to go home. James had pulled the car around and was now trying his best to convince me that The Hamptons was the only sensible destination.

"Mrs. Stark. Mr. Stark specifically asked me to take you back to the estate,"James said, his voice strained as he held the car door open. "He wants you to rest properly."

I slid into the backseat and gave him a look. "James, I appreciate the concern, but I'm not an invalid. I'm pregnant, not sick."

"But Mr. Stark was very clear about-"

"I don't want to sit alone in that huge house all day," I cut him off. "The pregnancy symptoms aren't eventhat bad yet. Besides, I need to catch up on work."

James hesitáted, one hand still on the door. I could practically see him weighing Brandon's wrath against my determination.

"Look," I said, softening my tone, "I promise I'll take it easy. If anything happens, I'll take full responsibility. Brandon can't blame you for my stubbornness."

With visible reluctance, James closed my door and circled around to the driver's seat. "Mr. Stark won't be pleased."

"I'll handle Brandon," I assured him. "Now, can we please go to Stark Group?"

When we arrived at Stark Group headquarters, the sleek glass building

towered above us. As James escorted me through the lobby, I noticed how conversations hushed and eyes followed our progress.

"Is that Summer Taylor?"

"Why is she here?”

"Do you think Mr. Stark is finally going to announce their relationshíp?"

"What happened to that York woman he was seeing?"

The whispers trailed behind us like perfume. I kept my chin up and my expression neutral.

In the private elevator, James finally relaxed a fraction. "Mrs. Stark, please don't let those comments bother you. People here have nothing better to do than gossip.

"I'm used to it," I said with a shrug. "Office politics are the same everywhere."

"When will Brandon finish his meeting?" I asked.

"Mr. Stark is in acquisition talks with the Morrison Group. Those meetings typically run long-they've been at it since early morning."

"I see," I tapped my fingers against my purse. "WVill he be free for lunch?"

"I... doubt it," James replied carefully. "The negotiations are at a critical stage. Are you feeling bored, Mrs. Stark? Or perhaps hungry?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine, James. Don't hover. You're starting to sound like Brandon."

The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor. "I'll take you to Mr.Stark's office," James said. "You can wait there comfortably until he's available."

His office was exactly as I remembered-sleek,minimalist, and dominated by black and white tones. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a spectacular view of Manhattan.

"Would you like anything? Coffee? Tea? Something to eat?" James hovered by the door.

"I'm fine, James. You don't need to babysit me. I know you have work to do."

"Mr. Stark would want me to ensure you're comfortable."

"James," I said firmly, "I'm perfectly capable of sitting in an office by myself. Go handle whatever Brandon's piled on your desk."

Once he'd finally left, I exhaled and sank onto Brandon's leather sofa.I picked up a business magazine from the coffee table and flipped through it,not really reading.

I was halfway through an article about tech startups when I heard footsteps approaching. Assuming it was Brandon, I looked up with a smile.

The door opened, but instead of my husband, an elderly man with silver hair and piercing eyes stood in the doorway. William Stark-Brandon's grandfather.

"Brandon, we need to discuss-" He stopped abruptly when he saw me.His eyes narrowed."You,"

I stood up quickly. "Mr. Stark... I mean, um, Brandon isn't here right now.

1

William Stark's expression hardened as he entered the office,leaning slightly on his cane. "I can see that. What I don't understand is what you're doing in my grandson's office during business hours."

I swallowed hard but kept my composure. "I was just waiting for Brandon to finish his meeting."

"Is that so?" His tone dripped with disapproval. "Young lady, thisis a workday. People here have actual responsibilities, unlike some who apparently have nothing better to do than lounge around in offices that don't belong to them."

I took a deep breath. This was not how I'd planned to interact with Brandon's grandfather, but I wasn't going to let him intimidate me either.

"Sir," I said. testing the waters with the familial term.

His eyebrows shot up.

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. "Mr. Stark. Would you like to sit down? You've been standing for a while, and I'd be happy to help you to the sofa.

I moved toward him, but he raised his hand to stop me.

"Don't touch me," he snapped. "I may be old, but I'm not an invalid."

"Of course," I replied smoothly. "My mistake. Woyld you like some tea while you wait for Brandon? I'd be happy to prepare it for you."

William Stark observed me with suspicious eyes. "You think you can win me over with a cup of tea?"

I gave hím a small smile. "Not at all, Chairman. I just thought you might be thirsty after coming all the way up here."

He scoffed but didn't refuse. Taking his silence as permission, I walked to Brandon's private rest area where I knew he kept a selection of teas.

When I returned with the tea tray, William was still standing,seemingly unwilling to make himself comfortable in my presence.

"I see my grandson hasn't taught you properoffice etiquette," he remarked coldly. "This is a place of business, not your personal living room."

I set the tray down carefully. "Chairman Stark, would you prefer that I leave? I can wait elsewhere if my presence is disturbing you."

He studied me for a moment. "You have remarkably thick skin. Most people would have scurried away by now."

I shrugged lightly. "I've found that running away rarely solves anything."

I selected a few green tea macarons from the plate I'd prepared. "Would you like a macaron, Chairman? They're quite good."

"Do you always make yourself so at home in places that don't belong to you?"

"Hmm, it seems you're not hungry," I said, ignoring his question. "That's fine. I'm starving though, so I hope you don't mind if I eat."

Without waiting for his response, I sat down and took a bite of a macaron,closing my eyes briefly in appreciation of the delicate flavor. "These are really delicious. Monica has excellent taste."

When I opened my eyes, William was staring at me with an incredulous expression that had turned almost angry.

"Who gave you the audacity to eat in Brandon's office?" he demanded.

I swallowed my bite, coughing slightly as a crumb went down the wrong way. "Cough,cough...well,you did,Chairman."

"I did no such thing!" His voice roseslightly.

"You refused the food I offered," I explained calmly after recovering."In my experience, when someone declines food but doesn't object to others eating, it's an implicit permission. Besides, these pregnancy cravings are

really something else."

William's eyes widened slightly at the mention of my pregnancy,but he quickly masked his reaction. I could see him reassessing me. perhaps wondering if I was more calculating than he'd initially thought.

The silence stretched between us, broken only by the sound of me enjoying another macaron.