Kane was reviewing a contract when Sebastian walked in, uninvited as always.
"Busy?" he asked, dropping into the chair across from him.
Kane didn't look up from the contract answering him coldly. "Yes."
"Perfect," Sebastian said. "I'll be quick."
Kane kept reading.
Sebastian leaned back. "Mother visited your little mystery girl today."
That made Kane stop.
He looked up, slow and sharp. "What?"
"At the Hayes house," Sebastian said, picking at his cuff. "Tea, tension, the usual. Mother played queen. Isadora? She played along."
Kane's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"
Sebastian shrugged. "innocent, fragile but lowkey cunning,like she's about to break then she's up again, strong and a little sexy."
Kane stood.
Sebastian smiled. "Touchy?"
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I thought you'd want to know," Sebastian said, standing too. "Or maybe I just like watching you lose your cool."
Kane stepped closer. "If you're trying to start something—"
Sebastian leaned in. "I'm just wondering how long before she leaves you high and dry."
Kane's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Sebastian smiled. "You'll see."
Then he walked out, whistling.
—
The gallery was quiet, full of light and expensive silence. Kane's entrance broke it.
Vivienne looked up from a conversation, her face smoothing into something polite. "Darling," she said. "What a surprise."
Kane didn't answer. He walked past the sculpture and stopped in front of her.
"We need to talk."
Vivienne nodded to the collector and turned toward her office.
Once the door closed, Kane didn't wait.
"You went to see Isadora."
Vivienne didn't blink. "I did."
"Why?"
She poured herself a glass of water. "Because I was curious. You've been distracted. I wanted to meet her."
"You don't get to screen the people in my life."
"I wasn't screening," she said. "I was observing."
"You don't just observe. You push."
Vivienne's eyes met his. "And yet here you are."
He didn't answer.
She sipped her water. "She must be something. If she's got you like this."
Kane's hands curled into fists. "What did you say to her?"
Vivienne set the glass down. "Nothing she didn't already know."
He didn't believe her.
"You're emotional today," she said. "It's not like you."
"Don't."
"I'm just saying," she said. "You're making a lot of noise over something small."
"She's not small."
Vivienne's gaze sharpened. "Then act like it."
Kane stared at her.
Vivienne turned away, adjusting a frame that didn't need adjusting. In her mind: So that's how she plays it. Running to him. No wonder she's never gotten far. And he's too blind to see it. Ready to burn everything for her. Clever little fox.
But all she said was, "If she's as delicate as you think, maybe be careful."
Kane didn't reply. He left.
Vivienne stood alone, her reflection fractured in the glass.
—
The conference room was quiet.
Kane sat at the head of the table, sleeves rolled, tie loose. His phone was face-down. Across from him, Isadora sat with her legs crossed, unreadable.
He'd asked to meet here. Neutral ground.
"She came to see you," he said.
Isadora nodded. "Yes."
"And you didn't tell me."
"I didn't think it was worth your energy."
Kane leaned forward. "Everything about you is worth my energy."
She looked away.
"I didn't want to make it a thing," she said. "She came. She said what she said. I'm still here."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
He was quiet. Then, "My heart worries whenever you're not beside me."
Her eyes widened.
Color crept up her neck.
Kane saw it.
He didn't say anything.
He let the silence settle.
Then, "You shouldn't be staying at the Hayes house."
She blinked. "It's temporary."
"It's toxic."
"I can handle it."
"I know," he said. "That's not the point."
She tilted her head. "Then what is?"
He leaned back. "Let me get you an apartment. Close to work. Quiet. Yours."
"Kane—"
"I'm not asking you to move tonight. I just want you to have a place. In case that house gets too heavy."
She hesitated.
He added, "Or… you could come to mine."
She looked at him.
He held her gaze.
Then realized what he'd said.
And flushed.
A slow blush climbed his neck.
Isadora's lips curved.
"I'll think about it," she said, standing.
He stood too.
She walked to the door, paused, looked back.
"I like the idea of having a place," she said. "But I like the idea of being wanted more."
Then she left, heels clicking down the hall, leaving Kane alone with his heartbeat and a smile he didn't bother to hide.