The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
Chapter 206
Brandon’s POV
“Are you sure you don’t want us to go together?” I asked June as she gathered her things before we left for Stark Group,
June finally looked up, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. “No. Not yet.” She approached me, reaching up to straighten my tie even though it was already perfect. “Besides, I thought you wanted to sleep in the master bedroom tonight?”
My jaw tightened at the reminder of our arrangement. “Are you still going through with that ridiculous threat?”
“It’s not ridiculous,” she insisted, her fingers lingering on my chest. was serious. But…” Her eyes met mine, a mischievous glint appearing. “If you behave today and let me go to work separately, I might reconsider.”
“Blackmail, Mrs. Stark?” I raised an eyebrow, catching her wrist gently. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
She grinned, pulling away. “I’m learning from the best. Now I need to go if I want to beat you there.”
I watched her leave, already planning my day around seeing her again.
By mid–morning, my patience was wearing thin. James entered my office with a hesitant expression I’d come to recognize as the prelude to unwelcome news.
Mr. Stark,” he began carefully, “I believe there’s been another… incident. Elle and Monica had a rather heated exchange in the secretarial pool. Your mother arrived shortly after and has taken Elle out of the building.”
I didn’t look up from the document I was reviewing. “When did they leave?”
“About twenty minutes ago, sir.”
“And where are they now?”
“Your mother mentioned something about lunch,” James replied, his professional demeanor never wavering despite the absurdity of the situation. “Though it’s only eleven–thirty.”
I reached for my phone, tapping the intercom. “Monica, when Elle returns, mark her absence as unauthorized. First warning.”
“Yes, Mr. Stark,” came Monica’s efficient reply.
As if on cue, my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and felt a familiar tension settle in my shoulders, “Mother.”
James took that as his cue to leave, closing the door silently behind him.
“Brandon!” My mother’s voice carried through the speaker, that familiar cultured tone that had once soothed me as a child now setting my teeth on edge. “Elle and I are having lunch. You work your employees far too hard, you know. The poor girl has lost weight since starting at Stark Group! Is this how you treat all your staff, or just the ones you’re supposed to care about?”
Tleaned back in my chair, my voice deliberately cool. “If I’m not mistaken, Mother, it’s barely eleven–thirty. Last time I checked,
Stark Group’s lunch hour begins at noon. Since Elle has decided to become an employee, she’s subject to the same rules as everyone else. If she finds that arrangement unsatisfactory, she’s welcome to resign.”
Brandon!” she gasped. “How dare you speak to me like-
ended the call, setting my phone down with more force than necessary. Without hesitation, I stood and grabbed my coat from the rack.
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Chapter 206
James appeared at my door as if summoned. “Sir?“.
“I’m heading out for the afternoon,” I informed him, shrugging into my coat. “When Elle returns, make sure Monica processes that warning. I don’t care who calls or what excuse they offer.”
“Understood, sir,” James nodded. “Your three o’clock-”
“Reschedule it,” I cut him off, already moving toward the door.
June’s voice floated through my phone as I waited in the parking garage. “Is sound… tense.”
“What is it?” I asked, softening my tone slightly.
a bad time?” she asked, sounding hesitant. “You
“Are you in your office? Leo’s still out sick, but we’ve finished the second review of those Manhattan West Side survey data you had questions about. I was hoping to drop them off.”
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. “I’m in the garage,” I told her. “Come down.”
“You’re leaving?” Her voice carried a note of disappointment. “If you’re on your way out, I can just give you the files tonight. It’s not
urgent.”
“It is,” I insisted. “Come down. Ten minutes. I’ll take you with me.”
A pause. “With you? Where?”
“You’ll see.” I ended the call before she could protest further.
I was leaning against my car, finishing another call when I spotted her. June hurried across the garage, clutching a folder to her chest, her cheeks flushed from rushing. Her hair had come slightly loose from its professional updo, and she was breathing hard by the time she reached me.
“Nine minutes and fifty seconds,” I noted, ending my call. “Impressive.”
“Here,” she thrust the folder at me, still catching her breath. “I should probably get back upstairs now. Where are you headed
anyway?”
I took the folder, but my other hand caught her arm gently. “Get in.”
June glanced at the passenger door, then back at me. “Are you sure? If you’re going to a meeting or something important, I don’t want to be in the way.”
“If I thought you’d be in the way,” I replied, opening the door for her “I wouldn’t have asked you to come.”
She hesitated another moment before sliding into the seat. I closed the door behind her and moved to the driver’s side, catching her watching me as I got in.
“What?” I asked, amused.
She quickly looked away. “Nothing.”
I leaned over, reaching across her to secure her seatbelt. She froze, her body going rigid as I pulled the belt across her chest. “Relax,” I murmured, clicking it into place. “I don’t bite. At least, not in public.
Her cheeks flushed deeper. “Very funny. So where are we going that’s so important I had to rush down here?”
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Chapter 206
“Patience,” I advised, turning the key in the ignition. The engine purned to life. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
As I pulled out of the parking space, I took a moment to properly look at her. June was dressed in her usual workwear–simple blouse, blazer, and practical trousers. All perfectly appropriate for the office, but not for where we were headed.
“What?” she asked, noticing my scrutiny. “Is something wrong?”
“Not wrong,” I replied carefully. “But we need to make a stop first.”
She glanced down at herself, understanding immediately, “My clothes aren’t suitable, are they?”
“Smart as always, Mrs. Stark.”
“I’m not smart,” she countered with a small smile. “You’re just obvious. So, are we heading home to change?*
I checked my watch. “No time. We’ll stop by the mall near Stark Tower.”
June launched into a detailed explanation of the survey results, pointing out discrepancies they’d found and corrections they’d made. Her enthusiasm was evident, her eyes lighting up as she talked about potential solutions to the contamination issues.
I was so caught up in watching her that I almost missed it–a black sedan making the same turns we did, maintaining a consistent distance.
“Brandon?” June’s voice snapped me back to attention. “Are you listening? You look… distracted.”
Instead of answering, I accelerated, watching the rearview mirror carefully. The sedan sped up too.
“Brandon?” Now there was concern in her voice. “What’s going on?”
“We’re being followed,” I told her.
Of course, she immediately twisted in her seat. “Oh my God, is that are they following us?”
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