Chapter 8 - The Empire’s New Bear
Three months later, the Castalano estate looked remarkably different.
The security perimeter had been upgraded with state-of-the-art biometric scanners, the executive offices downtown were running with pristine, flawless administrative efficiency under my direct supervision, and the staff breakroom no longer echoed with nervous whispers about corporate coups and syndicate wars.
In fact, the estate had gained a new, unofficial mascot.
It was a crisp autumn afternoon, the golden leaves crunching softly beneath the tires of the armored black town car as it pulled up to the grand front fountain.
I stepped out of the vehicle, holding a stack of financial portfolios in one hand and my briefcase in the other. Before I could even reach the front steps, the heavy oak doors swung open.
Mia came running across the marble foyer in her red shoes and a new green corduroy dress, her dark curls bouncing with every step.
"Mommy! Mommy!" she squealed, holding up a small, lumpy object wrapped in tinfoil.
Right behind her walked Vincent. He had his suit jacket off, his shirtsleeves rolled up once again, looking entirely relaxed. In his arms, he carried a stuffed brown teddy bear wearing a miniature black suit and a tiny red tie.
"Look what the bear made me!" Mia shouted triumphantly, thrusting the tinfoil package into my hands.
I unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a slightly lopsided, chocolate-chip-encrusted sugar cookie that looked suspiciously like it had been baked by someone who spent more time reviewing balance sheets than using an oven.
I looked up at Vincent, raising an eyebrow. "Did you bake this in the professional estate kitchen, Mr. Castalano?"
"I supervised," Vincent corrected smoothly, stepping closer, his slate-gray eyes warm and alive with an amusement he never would have allowed himself six months ago. He handed the teddy bear to Mia, who hugged it fiercely. "The executive chef offered assistance, but I felt a hands-on management approach was required."
"A hands-on management approach to cookie baking," I murmured, a smile breaking across my face as I took a bite of the lopsided cookie. It was sweet, slightly burnt at the edges, and absolutely perfect.
"How were the meetings downtown?" Vincent asked, stepping in close enough that I could smell the familiar cedarwood and cologne.
"Productive," I replied, leaning against the edge of the stone fountain. "The board approved the new Yonkers community development initiative. And the logistics audit is completely clean."
"Good," Vincent murmured, his gaze dropping from my eyes down to my lips for a fraction of a second before meeting my gaze again. "Because you have an important appointment this evening."
I narrowed my eyes playfully. "Oh? And what appointment is that?"
"A mandatory family dinner in the main pavilion," Vincent said, his voice dropping into that rich, velvet baritone that made my heart do a familiar, dangerous flip. "Followed by a consultation with Dr. Mia regarding my facial expressions."
Mia gasped, her eyes lighting up. "Yes! You still look grumpy sometimes, bear!"
May you like
Vincent chuckled, reaching out to gently brush a lock of dark hair behind my ear, his hand lingering against my cheek with a warmth that felt like home.
"Only around people who don't know how to smile, little bear," Vincent whispered, looking at me. "Only around them."
