Page 30 of Chloé

He nodded but then tugged on her hand and drew her toward the house. “I don’t mean me. Come, there’s something I want to show you.”

They entered the living room, where Zayne was stretched out on one of the sofas, his hands behind his head, his eyes shut as he took an afternoon nap, and who could blame him? With the doors open, the summer breeze and sound of the water washing up on the shore was enough to lull anyone into dreamland.

Ethan led her down one of the many hallways and through to his office. She’d never been in there before. Not because she’d been told not to go but because she knew how her papa felt about being disturbed when he was inhisoffice.

So when Ethan opened the door and gestured for her to come inside, she paused and said, “Are you sure?”

“Of course. You can go anywhere in this house,petite fille. What’s mine is yours.”

She stepped into the large office space and was immediately hit with a panoramic view of the lake and the other magnolia he had spoken of. The desk was situated so it faced the view but also kept sight of the door, and shelves full of books, knickknacks, and a few photos lined the opposite wall.

“Wow, Ethan.” She walked over to the window and stared out at the lights glistening off the dark lake. “How do you ever get anything done in here?”

Ethan walked up behind her and put a hand on her waist. “That’s a good question. I thought about turning the desk to fully face the door, but—”

“Oh no.” Chloé shook her head and looked back at him. “That would be a crime.”

“I agree. Which is why it’s half and half, andwhyI spend half the time staring out at the view instead of my work. Hence, I usually get most of it done at The Office.”

Chloé smirked. “Well, so do most people, Mr. Holt. But then again, your office is a little different to most.”

He chuckled and drew a finger down her cheek. “So it is. This was originally my father’s office.”

Again with the voluntary information on his family. The level of trust he was extending this afternoon made Chloé’s heart feel so full it might burst.

“He spent many hours in here. We all did. See that couch over there?”

Chloé spotted a gorgeous loveseat that faced the window and an ornate lamp that was situated at one end of it.

“My mother and I would sit over there, and while he worked, she’d read to me. After they died, I used to lock myself in this room and refuse to come out. It was my sanctuary until I was sent away to Kings.”

“The boarding school.”

“That’s right.” He slipped his hands in his pockets and turned away from her, walking over to the built-in shelves. “I thought my world was coming to an end. I was in a strange place, I had no one, and instead of being somewhere familiar, I was locked away in a prison. Then I met—”

“Zayne.”

Ethan glanced over his shoulder, those beautiful amber eyes all but smiling. “Yes. My light in a dark room, and it had become very dark. I was angry and sad. I thought everything in my life had been taken from me. What I didn’t realize was that all of it was still here—my parents had made sure of that. So even thoughtheywere physically gone, I still had them with me at all times.”

He gestured for her to come over to him. Chloé crossed the office and stopped by the shelves, where he picked up an old black-and-white photograph and handed it to her.

Chloé took the framed picture, looked at the image that had been lovingly preserved, and frowned. “I’ve seen this before.”

“Have you?”

“Of course—everyone has. Holtson’s is the biggest company in the country. Everyone goes there. It’s practically an institution. Not to mention they’re the richest family too.”

“Right.”

She looked back at the image of a man dressed in a suit, standing by the very first Holtson store. He was the founder, the owner, and he looked a lot like—

Chloé’s head snapped up, her wide eyes locking with Ethan’s.No, there was no way.

But as the chaos that was her life these past few months flashed before her eyes, the luxury and extravagance of it all began to make sense.

“This is my grandfather, Edward—”

“Holt…”Oh my God.

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