Kyle shook his head frantically, his voice trembling. “No, I didn’t.”
“Good,” Rowan replied, his tone a mixture of approval and warning. He placed the gun back on the desk, its presence still dominating the conversation.
Kyle nodded vigorously, relief flooding through him. “I understand, boss. I won’t say a word.”
Rowan leaned back, his demeanor relaxing slightly. “Make sure you don’t. I will tell them when the time is right.”
Kyle took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “Of course, boss. I won’t let you down.”
Rowan nodded, satisfied with his assistant’s response. “Good. Now, go and make sure everything is ready for tonight. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
Kyle scurried out of the office, leaving Rowan alone with his thoughts. His mind wandered to the events of the past few days and the mounting pressure from both his family and the Moretti clan.
Rowan knew his parents’ suspicions about Amara were growing, and he needed to control the narrative before it spiraled out of hand. He picked up the phone and dialed a secure number, waiting as it rang.
“Harvey,” Rowan greeted when the call was answered, his tone curt. “We need to move up the timeline.”
There was a pause on the other end before Harvey responded. “What’s changed?”
“Too many eyes are on us,” Rowan explained. “And there’s pressure from the other side. We can’t afford to wait any longer.”
“Understood,” Harvey replied. “I’ll make the necessary arrangements. But you should know, their men have been more active lately. They’re looking for something.”
Rowan’s eyes narrowed. “Let them look. They won’t find anything we don’t want them to.”
He hung up the phone and sat back, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Every move he made had to be calculated, every decision precise. There was no room for error.
As evening approached, Rowan prepared for the meeting. The estate was bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the manicured lawns. Security was tight, with guards patrolling the perimeter and surveillance cameras monitoring every angle.
Rowan adjusted his tie, his reflection staring back at him from the large mirror in his bedroom. He needed to project confidence and control, even if the reality was far more chaotic.
The next day, afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the balcony, creating a serene backdrop for the intense yet playful chess match between Amara and her brother Leo. The gentle rustling of leaves and distant chirping of birds added to the peaceful ambiance. Vaughn sat nearby, his eyes wide with curiosity as he watched the game unfold.
“You’re going down this time, Leo,” Amara teased, her fingers hovering over the chessboard as she considered her next move.
Leo chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a confident grin. “Oh, come on, Amara. I’ve beaten you the last three times. What makes you think today will be any different?”
Amara shot him a playful glare. “Because I’ve been practicing, and today, I’ve got a secret weapon.”
Vaughn perked up at the mention of a secret weapon. “Mommy, what’s the secret weapon?”
Amara winked at her son. “You’ll see, little man. Just watch and learn.”
Leo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A secret weapon, huh? This I have to see.”
Amara finally made her move, sliding her knight across the board. Leo studied the move, his expression serious for a moment before he shook his head with a smile. “Not bad, but I think you overlooked this.”
He moved his bishop, capturing one of her pawns. Vaughn gasped, leaning closer to the board. “Uncle, you’re really good at this!”
Leo laughed, ruffling Vaughn’s hair. “Thanks, buddy. Your mom and I used to play this all the time when we were kids.”
Amara rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and you always gloated when you won.”
“Hey, it’s called being a gracious winner,” Leo replied with a wink. “Your move, sis.”
Amara focused on the board, her brow furrowed in concentration. After a moment, she made her move, capturing one of Leo’s rooks. “There, how’s that for a comeback?”
Leo’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Well, well, look at you. Maybe you have been practicing.”
Vaughn clapped his hands, his excitement infectious. “Go, Mommy! You can do it!”
Amara smiled at her son’s enthusiasm. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Vaughn. Alright, Leo, your turn.”
Leo studied the board, a playful smirk on his face. “Alright, let’s see if I can counter your brilliant strategy.”
As the game continued, their playful banter filled the air, a comforting reminder of their close bond despite the challenges they faced. Each move was met with light-hearted teasing and laughter, the competitive spirit between siblings shining through.
In the end, the game was a close one, but Amara managed to clinch a narrow victory. She threw her hands up in triumph, laughing. “Finally! Victory is mine!”
Leo shook his head with a smile, clapping. “Well played, sis. Well played. Maybe next time I’ll be the one with the secret weapon.”
Vaughn cheered, jumping up and down. “Mommy won! Mommy won!”
Amara hugged her son, her heart full. “Yes, we did, Vaughn. Yes, we did.”
As the excitement of the chess game subsided, Amara and Leo leaned back in their chairs, enjoying the moment of peace. The gentle breeze ruffled their hair, and the scent of blooming flowers from the garden below wafted up to the balcony. Vaughn, still riding high on his mother’s victory, began to play with his toy cars on the floor, his cheerful chatter a comforting background noise.
Leo glanced at Amara, a warm smile on his face. “You know, it’s good to see you smile like that. It’s been a while.”
Amara nodded, her expression softening. “Yeah, it feels good. It’s nice to have these moments, especially with everything going on.”
Leo’s face turned serious for a moment. “How are you holding up, with everything? I know it’s a lot to deal with.”
Amara sighed, looking out at the horizon. “It’s not easy, Leo. But having you and Vaughn here helps. And I have to stay strong for him.”
Leo reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’re doing great, Amara. Vaughn’s lucky to have you.”
Amara smiled, squeezing his hand back. “Thanks, Leo. That means a lot coming from you.”
Vaughn looked up from his toys, his face lighting up. “Uncle Leo, can we play another game? Maybe with my cars?”
Leo laughed, the sound full of genuine joy. “Of course, little buddy. Let’s see what kind of race track we can build.”
As they started arranging the toy cars and creating an intricate track with the available space on the balcony, Amara watched them with a contented smile.
Leo set up a ramp with a few books and placed a car at the top. “Alright, Vaughn, this car is going to go super fast. Are you ready?”
Vaughn nodded enthusiastically, his eyes wide with excitement. “Yes, I’m ready!”
With a gentle push, the car zoomed down the ramp, racing along the improvised track. Vaughn cheered as it completed the course, his joy infectious.
Amara chuckled. “Nice job, Leo. You’re quite the engineer.”
Leo grinned, his eyes twinkling. “I’ve had a lot of practice with this little guy.”
Vaughn, inspired by the success, picked up another car and placed it on the ramp. “Mommy, you try!”
Amara laughed, taking the car from him. “Alright, let’s see if I can make it go even faster.”
She set the car in position and gave it a push, watching as it sped down the ramp and around the track. Vaughn’s cheers filled the air once more, and Amara felt a surge of happiness.
Just then, a maid appeared at the doorway, her presence polite but insistent.
“Miss Amara, Madam has requested Vaughn’s presence,” she said, smiling at the little boy. “His grandmother wishes to see him.”
Vaughn’s eyes lit up. “Grandma wants to see me? Yay!” He quickly gathered his cars and ran to the maid, who took his hand and led him away.
Amara watched him go, a fond smile on her face. Once Vaughn was out of sight, she turned to Leo, her expression shifting to one of curiosity and concern. “How’s it going in Russia?” she asked, her voice gentle but probing.
Leo’s demeanor changed subtly. He looked away for a moment, his eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. “Emery and I are getting married next month,” he finally said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of tension.
Amara’s eyes widened with surprise and a hint of confusion. “Married? Next month? That’s… wonderful news, Leo. But you don’t seem very excited about it.”