Edward stood in the massive foyer of the penthouse, staring at his reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror.
Corinne stood beside him, reading rapidly from her tablet. "The merger meeting with the board is set for 10:00 AM. They are expecting a full breakdown of the asset liquidation."
Edward strapped a heavy Patek Philippe watch to his wrist. His face was a mask of absolute authority. He had locked away the strange panic from the nursery. He was a CEO again.
Martha stood a few feet away, holding a wide-awake Hayley. It was standard protocol for the nanny to see the employer out.
Emergency Task, the system suddenly blared in Hayley's mind. You must prevent Edward from leaving alone. Failure will result in plot marginalization and a deduction of life points.
Hayley stared at Edward's broad, unyielding back. He was putting on his trench coat. He was fully armored. Trying to stop him now was suicide.
But the threat of losing life points left her no choice.
She took a deep breath and started to thrash in Martha's arms. She kicked her legs and threw her head back.
Martha tightened her grip, whispering soothing words, but Hayley ignored her.
Hayley filled her lungs and let out a piercing, glass-shattering scream.
The sound echoed violently against the marble walls of the foyer. Corinne stopped reading mid-sentence. Edward's hands froze on the lapels of his coat.
He turned around slowly. His gray-blue eyes were dark with fury. "What is the problem now? Is this how your premium team keeps her quiet?"
Martha looked stressed. "Mr. McClure, I apologize. Seeing you put on your coat may have triggered an acute episode of separation anxiety."
Hayley used the excuse perfectly. She reached both arms out toward Edward, sobbing hysterically. Tears streamed down her red face. She forced out wet, choked sounds that sounded desperately like, "Da-da."
Corinne took a step back, wisely removing herself from the line of fire.
Edward stared at the crying infant. The strange, tight feeling in his chest returned, battling violently with his need to leave.
"I have a two-billion-dollar acquisition meeting," Edward said through gritted teeth, trying to convince himself. "I do not have time for this."
The cough acted like a physical hook in Edward's spine.
It wasn't just a cry; it was a harsh, tearing sound that scraped violently against something primal and buried deep inside him. He pushed the door handle down halfway, but his arm locked. He stood frozen in the doorway for five agonizing seconds, his mind racing through a rapid, cold calculation. A delay of a few hours wouldn't kill the acquisition. But leaving this fragile, unpredictable liability unsupervised with a brand-new staff might lead to a much larger, messier disaster. It was a risk management decision. Nothing more.
Suddenly, he let go of the handle.
He spun around, his face dark as a thundercloud. He closed the distance between him and Martha in three massive strides. Before Martha could react, he snatched Hayley out of her arms.
The sudden movement shocked Hayley into silence. She stared up at his furious face, her breath hitching.
Edward held her against his chest. He turned his head to Corinne, his voice dead flat. "Push the meeting to this afternoon. I'll take it remotely."
Corinne gasped. "Sir, the board will be furious-"
Edward shot her a look that could freeze boiling water. "Tell them I have a personal matter that requires my immediate attention."
He turned to Martha. "Pack her things. Bring your team."
He took a deep breath, looking around the sterile penthouse. His eyes narrowed at the lingering, phantom scent of sour milk and utter incompetence that seemed to stain the walls. This space was too small, too exposed. He needed a completely controlled environment. A fortress where he dictated every variable. "We are going to the McClure estate in Long Island."
Corinne dropped her pen. Martha's eyes widened. Hayley felt her stomach drop. The Long Island estate was the villain's lair.
Edward didn't wait for them to process the shock. He pulled the edge of his trench coat over Hayley to shield her from the wind, and walked out the door.
