Chapter 17
Chapter 17:
He tossed a manila folder onto the wrought-iron table between them.
“How are the ribs?” he asked, his tone shifting from playful to serious. He scanned her posture, noting the way she held herself stiffly.
“Manageable,” Skye replied quietly. “Thanks to you pulling me out of that chair before the timer hit zero p>
Alistair’s jaw tightened. “Liam didn’t even look back. My team had a drone in the air to monitor the perimeter. We watched him run, Skye. He left you there p>
“I know,” Skye said, her voice hardening. “That’s why I’m taking everything he has p>
“The zoning permits for the wasteland,” he said, getting straight to business, tapping the folder. “My contacts in the city council pushed them through the preliminary hearing. The Future Tech Park designation is buried on page four hundred of the budget proposal. No one has seen it but us p>
Skye picked up the folder. Her fingers brushed the paper, feeling the weight of billions of dollars in potential profit.
“And Liam?” Alistair asked, nodding toward the empty chair visible through the glass. “Trouble in paradise p>
“Paradise was condemned years ago,” Skye quipped, flipping through the documents. “He left to play nursemaid to a sprained ankle p>
Alistair stepped closer. He invaded her personal space, bringing with him the scent of rain and expensive tobacco. He reached out, his hand hovering near her face.
Skye froze. She looked up at him.
His thumb brushed her chin, wiping away a tiny, imperceptible smudge of sauce. The touch was rough, calloused, yet incredibly gentle.
Skye flinched, not from fear, but because the sudden movement pulled a strained muscle in her neck. A sharp intake of breath hissed through her teeth.
Alistair stopped immediately. His eyes darkened, shifting from seduction to concern. “You’re hurting more than you show p>
“I’m fine,” Skye lied, forcing herself to relax her shoulders despite the ache. “Adrenaline is a hell of a drug p>
оn𝗅у 𝘤om𝗉𝘭е𝗍e𝖽 𝘯𝘰v𝖾𝗹𝗌 о𝗻 b𝗲.𝗰о𝘮
“Kensington Global is sniffing around the northern district,” Alistair warned, his voice dropping an octave as he stepped back to give her space. “Liam isn’t a total fool. His analysts are seeing the movement of capital. You need to be careful p>
“He’s distracted,” Skye replied, her voice slightly breathless. “And I’m about to give him a bigger distraction p>
“Oh?” Alistair raised an eyebrow. “What kind of distraction p>
“Me,” Skye said. “Becoming something he can’t control p>
Alistair chuckled darkly. “I look forward to the show.” He stepped back toward the edge of the terrace. “Keep the folder hidden. And Skye p>
She looked at him.
“Black suits you p>
With that, he slipped into the shadows of the garden maze, vanishing as silently as he had arrived.
Skye stood alone on the terrace for a moment, clutching the folder to her chest. Her heart was hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Not from fear. From life.