Chapter 11 - The Midnight Call
The clock on the library mantelpiece ticked softly, reading 11:42 PM.
Claire sat curled up in the corner of a deep velvet sofa, wrapped in a cashmere throw, staring into the flickering embers of the fireplace. The heavy oak doors were cracked open slightly, letting in the cool night air from the hallway.
Her phone buzzed on the antique coffee table.
She picked it up, seeing Ethan’s name flash across the screen. She swiped to answer immediately.
“You’re working late,” Claire said softly, a gentle smile touching her lips. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping in your penthouse, or are you still intimidating your board members from across the state?”
A low chuckle came through the speaker. “Word travels fast, I see.”
“My executive assistant has friends in Manhattan. She texted me ten minutes ago saying you terrified Marcus Thorne so badly he nearly dropped his fountain pen.”
“Thorne needed a reminder of who runs the company,” Ethan replied smoothly. Then, his tone shifted, softening into something quiet and vulnerable. “I’m driving back to Briar Glen now. I couldn't sleep in the city. The noise is too loud.”
Claire’s heart skipped a beat. “Is everything alright?”
“Everything is fine,” Ethan said, his voice deep and steady. “I just realized that my real home isn't a penthouse in Manhattan anymore. It’s an estate in the Hudson Valley with glass windows, a rebuilt library, and a woman who taught me what real strength looks like.”
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Claire felt a warm wave wash over her chest, melting away the lingering phantoms of cold iron and locked doors. “Hurry back, Ethan. The library is waiting for you.”
“I’m twenty minutes away,” he whispered. “Keep the front door unlocked.”
