Caleb’s POV
The Manhattan skyline stretched endlessly as our private jet touched down at Teterboro. The city pulsed with the sa energy that flowed through our veins, and I felt the familiar rush that ca with expanding our territory into new markets. Our first eting with the clients went smoothly. Their leader laid out his proposal for a joint venture in their legitimate casino operations while we presented our terms for protection and money laundering services. We scheduled a private dinner at his country club for the following evening, and Jude promised to coordinate with Ivy for any additional financial docuntation we might need.
That evening, we decided to unwind at an exclusive speakeasy in Brooklyn that catered to our kind of clientele. The bourbon was aged to perfection, the conversation flowed like blood through our territory, and for so ti, I felt the tension ease from my shoulders. Then I felt slender fingers trail across my back, followed by a voice that sent ice through my veins.
"You look even more dangerous than I rembered."
I turned around slowly, already recognizing the sultry tone that belonged to a ghost from my past. Veronica stood there looking absolutely stunning. Her jet-black hair was styled in a sophisticated bob that frad her face perfectly. She was taller, more polished, and her figure had clearly been enhanced since our university days before I inherited the family business.
"Veronica. What an unwelco surprise." I leaned in to give her a cold kiss on the cheek. "It’s been a while. Still playing with fire, I see."
"Always, darling. Though I have to admit, seeing the infamous Don Thorne here is the most thrilling part of my evening." Her smile was predatory. "What brings the king of the underworld to my neighborhood?"
"Business expansion. What about you? Last I heard, you were slumming it with that pretentious artist in Florence."
"That pathetic wannabe couldn’t keep his hands off his female models, so I cut my losses and returned. Manhattan suits a woman of my ambitions much better than going back to our boring hotown anyway."
"I see. You rember Jude and Xavier, of course. My most trusted lieutenants now."
"Well, well. If it isn’t the viper herself," Xavier’s voice dripped with barely concealed hatred. Jude simply glared and took a long drink from his whiskey.
"How could I forget such charming gentlen?" Veronica’s sarcasm cut like a blade.
Veronica had been my girlfriend during our final year at university, before my father’s death thrust into the family business. Xavier had despised her from day one, claiming she was poison wrapped in designer clothes. So ti before my parents were murdered, Xavier and Jude discovered she was sleeping with half the campus, including so Italian sculptor who was in town for an exhibition. They orchestrated a way for to catch her in the act, and I ended things in a spectacular confrontation that beca campus legend.
"Mind if I join you boys for a drink?" Without waiting for an answer, Veronica pulled up a chair and settled in like she owned the establishnt.
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?" Jude’s patience was wearing dangerously thin. He had even more reason to hate her than Xavier did. After her infidelity was exposed, she’d tried to sabotage his relationship with Nora out of pure spite.
Despite my n’s obvious hostility, I found myself drawn into Veronica’s web as the evening progressed. She was sharp, engaging, and undeniably attractive. Xavier and Jude were practically burning holes through her with their death stares.
"Shouldn’t you two be heading back to check the periter? It’s getting late for foot soldiers," Veronica taunted them with a wicked smile.
"Oh, are we cramping your style?" Xavier shot back with venom.
"Last I checked, we were here first, sweetheart," Jude added with ice in his voice.
"Since these two clearly can’t take a hint, why don’t we continue this reunion sowhere more private? My penthouse isn’t far from here." Veronica’s invitation was loaded with dangerous temptation.
"That sounds perfect." The words left my mouth before my survival instincts could intervene. One night of distraction wouldn’t destroy everything I’d built.
"Caleb, just a friendly reminder that we have that crucial eting with the clients tomorrow evening. Ivy already sent over the financial projections we need to review," Jude emphasized Ivy’s na deliberately, a warning wrapped in professional courtesy.
"Relax, Jude. The family business won’t collapse overnight." I waved off his concern dismissively. "Co on, Veronica."
We left the speakeasy together, and I spent the night at her penthouse. When I woke up, we were both naked, her body pressed against mine, and my phone was buzzing incessantly from sowhere across the room.
I stumbled over to find it and answered without checking the caller ID.
"Have you lost your goddamn mind, Caleb? Do you have any idea what ti it is? I’ve been making excuses to the clients for a while now!" Xavier’s voice was pure fury mixed with panic.
"Give so ti and I’ll be there." My head was pounding, and the reality of my stupidity was crashing down like a building collapse.
"Don’t you dare show your face at this negotiation. I already told them you ca down with food poisoning from bad shellfish. Get back to the hotel, lock yourself in your room, and stay there until I decide what to do with you!" The line went dead.
Veronica was one of the few people on earth who could push Xavier to this level of murderous rage. He’d always said she turned into a reckless fool, and once again, he was absolutely right. But I wasn’t so college kid anymore. I got dressed quickly, leaving only a brief note apologizing for my abrupt departure.
When Xavier and Jude stord into my hotel suite later, I was showered, dressed, and trying to salvage what remained of my reputation. They were both livid, and I had no choice but to sit there and take whatever punishnt they deed appropriate.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Caleb?" Xavier was pacing like a caged predator, his hands gesturing wildly with barely contained violence.
"It won’t happen again, Xavier. You have my word."
"It better not, because as my grandmother always said, lie down with snakes and you wake up with venom in your veins!"
His rage was radiating off him in dangerous waves.
"If Ivy discovers what happened, or if any of our won find out about this disaster, you’ll lose her forever. I guarantee it," Jude warned, his voice carrying the weight of absolute certainty.
"I know. I don’t know what possessed . I just wanted one night to forget the weight of everything."
"Really? Like that night at the underground auction when you paid for that masked dancer? Or the night you may or may not have been with Rossi’s daughter? Oh right, you conveniently don’t rember that one either!" Xavier’s sarcasm cut through my defenses.
The weight of my destructive pattern hit like a freight train. I claid to love Ivy, but I kept sabotaging everything we were building together.
"Can this stay between us?" My voice was barely above a whisper, and I could feel sha burning behind my eyes. "I’ll stay locked in this room for the rest of our stay except for family business."
"You’d better. If this gets back to Ruby or Nora, they’ll abandon us for covering up your ss," Jude said grimly.
"You have my blood oath on it." I raised my hand solemnly.
For the remainder of our stay, I kept my promise religiously. Xavier ntioned that Veronica had co looking for us at the hotel, but he’d instructed security to deny we were guests. He was convinced she’d try to infiltrate our territory again once we returned ho. Despite my personal catastrophe, we managed to secure an incredibly lucrative partnership with the clients, which helped ease Xavier’s fury sowhat.
Thursday evening found us back on familiar ground. I’d successfully avoided Veronica for the entire trip, spending my ti reviewing contracts and preparing financial reports from my hotel room. Xavier seed eager to put as much distance as possible between us and Manhattan.
Friday morning, we were back at Thorne Group headquarters bright and early. Ivy looked absolutely radiant when we briefed her on the partnership’s success, though I noticed she seed slightly thinner and more tired than usual.
My attorney called mid-morning to inform the prenuptial agreent was finalized. I reviewed the docunt carefully, satisfied with every clause. We’d structured it so the paternity tests appeared to be a mandatory requirent of my father’s will, with failure to comply resulting in forfeiture of all family assets to charity. This would put enormous pressure on Rossi to submit to the testing I demanded.
Still, I couldn’t risk giving Roman Rossi ti to interfere or allowing his daughter space to maneuver. An idea struck suddenly. I called Dr. Taylor to confirm his availability for the weekend. He normally didn’t work Saturdays, but he agreed to accommodate my request. We scheduled the tests for the following day.
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