Page 14 of Ivory Crown

He cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses as if they could shield him from what was coming. “But Dante,” he started, and there it was—the flicker of fear that told me he knew exactly who he was dealing with. “Unfortunately, removing Jade from our facilities—“

“Is in the best interest of her project,” I cut in smoothly, my piercing gaze holding Dr. White hostage. The room fell silent, the tension strumming like a taut string about to snap. My eyes swept past him for just a moment, catching sight of a man with a name badge that said “Edward Rodriguez” on it. He didn’t look like an investor or part of the board—his presence was slightly confusing. But then, that was not my concern at the moment. Flicking my attention back to Dr. White, I waited for his response.

Dr. White swallowed audibly. His protest withered under my stern look, and he nodded weakly, confirming his submission without uttering another word.

“Good.” I fixed him with one final glance, ensuring my message was crystal clear. Then, without another word, I turned on my heel and strode out of the room, leaving the stench of fear and the silent echoes of power behind me.

The meeting had gone exactly as planned, the board bending to my will with the ease of a blade slicing through silk. But as I stepped out into the cool corridor, the steel in my spine softened at the thought of Jade. Her passion for her work was the one pure thing in this cessary of deceit and darkness that my family called business.

I drove home as I thought about her. She was too good for this world, her eyes shining with the promise of change, a better future—a stark contrast to the shadows we Morettis cast. The guilt was an unexpected guest in my heart, sitting heavy like a stone. I’d brought her into this, fed her ambition with lies wrapped in truth, all for the family’s gain. And yet, as she spoke of enzymes and genetic codes, I couldn’t help but believe in the sincerity of her dreams.

And fuck…the baby. We were tied together for the rest of our lives, because of the baby.

I took the private elevator up to my penthouse, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. The doors slid open to a view of the city that never failed to remind me I was on top of the world—yet tonight, it seemed hollow, almost mocking.

I poured myself a whiskey from the crystal decanter, the amber liquid glinting in the low light. Each sip scorched a path down my throat, a welcome burn that mirrored the tumult within me. I moved towards the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sprawling city under the shroud of night sprawling before me like a kingdom.

There were no stars in New York’s sky, just the endless dance of neon pretending to be celestial. I should’ve felt like a king, but instead, I stood there, a man caught between two worlds—one where power and loyalty ruled, and another that whispered promises of something more, something dangerously close to hope.

Marco was right. I hadn’t even taken…one minute to be happy about Jade being pregnant. About becoming a dad.

But I didn’t go to her. Not yet. She knew I was home; the sound of my arrival was not something easily missed.

And so I waited, the night stretching on, the whiskey slowly losing its battle to numb the disquiet in my soul.

I rapped my knuckles against the solid oak door of Jade’s office, a rhythmic tap-tap that echoed the uneven thrumming in my chest. The door creaked open, and there she stood, her dark hair cascading over the shoulders of her Pink Floyd shirt.

“Care for a drink?” I asked, tilting my head towards the living area of my penthouse.

“I’m pregnant.”

“I know,” I said. “I meant a non-alcoholic drink. I assume you’ve had a long day.”

“I have.”

“Then I got just the thing,” I said, leading her to the plush couch. I went to get a Mexican coke from my fridge, then I poured the fizzy drink into a crystal glass, watching the bubbles dance their frenzied ascent before handing it to her.

“Thanks,” she murmured, taking the glass. Her fingers brushed against mine, sending a rush of heat through me.

“How are your headaches?” I asked.

She shook her head. “They suck,” she said. “Dr. Byrd said that they’re common in early pregnancy, especially with the hormonal changes and increased blood circulation. Hopefully, they’ll pass soon.”

The worry in her eyes was echoed in the crease between her brows, a vulnerable admission that tugged at something inside me. I reached out, brushing my thumb against that crease as if I could smooth it away. “Is there anything I can do?”

Jade gave a small shrug, managing a wry grin. “I don’t know. Going for a walk outside might be nice.”

“Then let’s go for a walk,” I said, standing up and offering her my hand. She looked surprised but took it nonetheless. I could feel her pulse against my palm, slightly elevated, another reminder of the life growing inside her.

“Right now?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“Jade, you’re here for your own protection,” I said. “You’re not a prisoner. If you want to go out, we can just go out together. As long as you don’t try to run…”

“I won’t,” she replied, her gaze meeting mine with a firm conviction that almost made me believe her. Almost.

“Good,” I said, leading her towards the elevator and summoning it with a press of the button. “Here’s your coat.”

“Thank you,” she said, grabbing it and putting it on.

---