Elle’s POV
I smoothed down my dress as our car pulled up to Stark Tower. Aunt Jane sat beside me, immaculate as always–not a blonde hair out of place, makeup perfect, dressed in a cream designer suit that screamed money.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, anxiety fluttering in my stomach. Brandon made it pretty clear at the estate that he doesn’t
want to see us.”
She waved away my concern. “Nonsense, Elle. He’s just being difficult. Besides, I’m his mother. He can’t avoid me forever.”
I wasn’t convinced. The look in Brandon’s eyes at the Stark estate had been chilling. But I’d been in love with him forever, and Aunt Jane had always supported me, the only real mother figure I’d ever had.
As we exited the car, I offered Aunt Jane my arm.
“Aunt Jane, you think Brandon will be angry when he finds out we’ve come to his office?” I asked, unable to hide my nervousness.
“What can he possibly say?” she replied confidently. “I’m his mother. Come along now!”
We marched through the grand lobby, drawing stares with every click of our heels. The elevator whisked us up to the executive floor, and Aunt Jane strode toward the large double doors at the end of the corridor.
A petite brunette–Brandon’s secretary–jumped up from her desk, eyes widening in alarm.
“Excuse me! Do you have an appointment?” she called, scurrying to catch up.
“I don’t need an appointment to see my own son,” Aunt Jane replied without slowing down.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Stark is in a meeting,” the woman insisted, stepping in front of us. “You can’t go in there without-
“Get out of my way,” Aunt Jane said, her voice dangerously low. “Do you have any idea who I am?”
The secretary stood her ground, though visibly trembling. “I’m aware you’re Mrs. Sinclair, but company policy states-”
Aunt Jane pushed past her and flung open the doors to Brandon’s office.
Brandon was seated behind his desk, James Wilson standing beside him with papers. Brandon’s face instantly hardened when he saw
- us.
“Mr. Stark!” the secretary exclaimed. “I tried to stop them, but-”
“You may go, Monica,” Brandon said, unnervingly calm.
After Monica left, James gathered his papers. “We’ll continue this later, sir.”
“Of course,” Brandon replied, and James exited, closing the door behind him.
A suffocating silence followed. Brandon remained seated, his dark eyes coolly assessing us.
“Mother,” he finally said, the word sounding like poison. “What brings you to my office?”
“Just visiting her son.” Aunt Jane replied, taking a seat uninvited.
1/3
Chapter 198.
I followed her example, crossing my legs elegantly just as she’d taught me.
“Not when that son is running a major corporation with confidential business, Brandon countered. “Do you have an actual reason for this visit?”
“Brandon, I’m your mother. Can’t you speak to me with a little respect?”
“And what kind of respect would you prefer?” he asked, voice dangerously soft. “This is Stark Group, Mother. A company. You’re not an employee, so your presence here breaks protocol. Especially bringing an outsider.” His gaze flicked to me briefly. “If any internal information were to leak, you’d be the first suspect.”
“How dare you!” Aunt Jane snapped. “Is this how you speak to me now?”
“This is how I’ve always spoken to you. Grandfather and Father don’t seem to have a problem with it.”
“That’s because they don’t care about you like I do,” Aunt Jane insisted, softening her tone. “They don’t mind if you never come home, but I’m your mother, Brandon. I worry about you.”
“You’re my mother?” Brandon’s eyebrow raised slightly. “Interesting that you remember that now. When I needed your concern, you weren’t there. Now that I don’t need it anymore, suddenly you appear.”
I fidgeted, feeling the tension like electricity in the air.
“I have work to do,” Brandon continued coldly. “If you have business matters, make an appointment with Monica. If it’s personal, we can talk after business hours.”
Aunt Jane leaned forward. “I’m here to discuss something important. Your marriage to Elle can’t be delayed any longer. You’re not getting younger, and Elle graduated a year ago. We agreed you would marry her after graduation, but you’ve shown no intention of following through. Brandon, you promised-”
“Enough!” Brandon’s voice cracked like a whip. “Let me be perfectly clear. I have never touched her, and I never will. Even if she stripped naked in front of me, I wouldn’t be interested. As for marrying her–since you and my uncle are so fond of her, perhaps he should marry her instead.”
I felt like I’d been slapped. Tears sprang to my eyes, my chest constricting painfully.
“How dare you!” Aunt Jane gasped. “Elle is your uncle’s daughter!”
Brandon’s smile was cruel. “The daughter of an old lover, not his biological child. Isn’t that right?”
Aunt Jane’s face turned red as Brandon picked up his phone. “Monica send security up here now.” After a call. “Inform all departments there will be a meeting in ten minutes.
he made another
Two security guards entered moments later.
“Mr. Stark?” one asked uncertainly.
“Please escort these ladies out,” Brandon ordered without looking at us. “From now on, no one who isn’t a Stark employee is allowed in without proper registration. No exceptions.”
The guard shifted uncomfortably. “But sir, this lady said she’s your mother… that’s why we let her in.”
“From now on, no one gets special treatment. See them out.”
Without another glance, Brandon picked up his briefcase and walked out through a side door.
2/3
Chapter 198
“Brandon!” Aunt Jane called after him, her voice breaking. “Is this how you treat me?”
The security guards approached apologetically. “Ma’am, we need to ask you to leave. Company policy.”
Company policy? I’m not an outsider–I’m his mother!”
“But you’re not a Stark employee,” the guard insisted.
Tears streamed down my face, humiliation burning through me.
“Aunt Jane,” I whispered, “what am I going to do? Brandon hates me. He doesn’t want to marry me. What now?”
Aunt Jane pulled me close, still rigid with anger as the guards hovered nearby. “Don’t worry, Elle. I’m on your side. Brandon is just angry with me, and that’s why he’s rejecting you. I promised to help you, and I will. Besides, Lyanna is gone now. Even if she returns, she’s no threat to you anymore. It’s just a matter of time before Brandon marries you.”
Lyanna York. Just hearing that name made my stomach turn. The perfect, beautiful Lyanna–the woman Robert Stark had wanted for his son, the woman Brandon had actually loved.
As the guards escorted us toward the elevator, Aunt Jane’s grip on my arm tightened.
“I won’t let this stand,” she hissed. “We’ll see how Brandon feels when I speak
to
his father.”
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