Chapter 89
Caspar’s POV:
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1 watched as Audrey’s mouth opened slightly, then closed again, words seemingly trapped in her throat.
Her hesitation spurred me to continue. “The excuse of being married that you used to avoid Dorothy, but I know you’re divorced already.”
I set my wine glass down and leaned forward, holding her gaze. “You’re free to make your own choices now.”
As the words left my mouth, I noticed the slight tensing of her shoulders.
“I’m just joking, Audrey,” I leaned back and said lightly.
I’d pushed too far, too fast.
“Actually,” I continued, shifting the conversation entirely, “I wanted to let you know that we’ve identified who was behind the incident last
night.”
“Oh?” Her voice was steady now, the tension immediately draining from it.
Interesting how she could go from flustered to composed the moment we moved away from discussing anything personal between us.
“It was my cousin, Brandon Thornton.”
“Oh,” she said again, this time with a small nod. No shock. No outrage. Just quiet acceptance.
I studied her for a moment, genuinely surprised by her calm reaction.
“You don’t seem particularly shocked.”
She shrugged slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m not, really. I suspected it might be him. I don’t exactly have a long list of enemies in New York.”
“I have already taught him a lesson,” I told her. “He won’t be bothering you again.
“The police won’t be contacting you about pressing charges,” I added. “I’ve handled that as well.”
She straightened in her chair, shoulders squaring. “Mr. Thornton, I want to thank you formally for your assistance in this matter.”
Mr. Thornton. There it was–the professional distance, the invisible wall she kept constructing between us whenever we got too close.
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Chapter 89
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I couldn’t help but wonder if she maintained this distance with everyone, or if I was special in that regard.
Making Audrey Lane like me was clearly going to be an uphill battle.
But I will not and do not want to back down.
“Oh!” Audrey suddenly exclaimed, her eyes widening.
“I just remembered–I promised to treat you to dinner. You helped me so much yesterday with… everything. How about tonight? As a proper thank you.”
“Of course,” I said, keeping my tone casual.
“Great,” she nodded, “Do you have any particular restaurant in mind? Somewhere you’d like to go?”
I pretended to consider for a moment, then asked.
“Would you mind if we stayed in instead?”
Her brow furrowed slightly. “I don’t have anything prepared at home. I haven’t had time to shop for ingredients…”
“That’s not a problem,” I assured her with a small smile.
“You don’t need to cook. I just want to enjoy a meal with you.”
I watched as her expression shifted subtly, a barely perceptible tilt of her head.
I maintained my casual demeanor, though inside I wondered if I was being too transparent with my intentions.
She gave a small shrug.“Okay, then let’s do as you said.”
Ten minutes later, we were settled in the living room.
I made a brief call, speaking just a few words in a low voice.
Almost immediately, as if they had been waiting for my signal, the doors opened.
Two perfectly straight lines of staff members in crisp black and white uniforms filed into the house.
Each carried silver–covered dishes, wine bottles, or elaborate table settings.
The man at the front of the line cradled an arrangement of deep crimson roses, their perfume immediately filling the air around us.
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Chapter 89
I glanced at Audrey, her lips were slightly parted, and she seemed momentarily frozen in place.
I stepped forward to take the roses from him, then turned and extended them to Audrey.
“For you,” I said simply, watching as she accepted them with hesitant hands.
The staff moved with practiced efficiency around us, quickly preparing a romantic and sumptuous candlelit dinner.
Audrey moved as if in a trance. She continued to stare, her fork hovering untouched above her plate.
“Is something wrong with the food?” I asked, noting her stunned expression. “The chef can prepare something else if this isn’t to your
taste.”
That seemed to snap her out of her daze.
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She blinked rapidly, then placed the roses carefully beside her plate.
“No, no, the food looks… amazing,” she said, her voice slightly higher than normal. “It’s just… I was supposed to be treating you to dinner.
As a thank you. How did this get completely reversed?”
“The important thing is that we’re having dinner together.” I studied her face carefully. “Do you like them?”
“Like what?” she asked, seemingly confused by the sudden change in topic.
“The roses,” I clarified, nodding toward the crimson blooms she’d set aside.
Audrey glanced at the flowers, then back at me.
The silence stretched between us, filled only by the soft classical music playing in the background.
I had a few sips of wine.
The alcohol had warmed my blood enough to loosen my tongue but not enough to blur my judgment.
“You know,” I began, my voice lower than usual, “I rarely pursue anything without a high probability of success.”
I met her eyes directly. “But here I am, doing something with no guaranteed outcome.”
She remained silent, waiting.
“You must have sensed my interest in you.” I continued. “You’re perceptive, Audrey. And I’ve noticed how carefully you maintain your
distance from me.”
I set my wine glass down with finality, my decision made.
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Chapter 89
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“I don’t want you to deliberately keep your distance from me,” I said, the words coming out with more emotion than I typically allowed
myself to show. “And I’m tired of pretending my feelings don’t exist.”
The candlelight caught the angles of her face as she watched me, her expression unreadable.
“I’ve never been good at half measures,” I admitted. “When I want something, I pursue it wholeheartedly. ”
I leaned forward, my voice dropping slightly but gaining intensity.
“So I’m formally asking for your permission to court you.”
The words hung in the air between us.
I waited, perfectly still, for her response.
I held my breath, acutely aware of every second that passed in silence.
My heartbeat, usually steady and controlled even during billion–dollar negotiations, now thundered in my ears.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
