Chapter 354
Summer’s POV
After spending a few days at the hospital, I was ready to leave–but got to go home. James had pulled the car around and was now trying his best to convince me that The Hamptons was the only sensible destination.
“Mrs. Stark, Mr. Stark specifically asked me to take you back to the estate, James said, his voice strained as he held the car door open. “He wants you to rest properly.”
I slid into the backseat and gave him a look. “James, I appreciate the concern, but I’m not an invalid. I’m pregnant, not sick.”
“But Mr. Stark was very clear about-
“I don’t want to sit alone in that huge house all day,” I cut him off. The pregnancy symptoms aren’t even that bad yet. Besides, I need to catch up on work.”
James hesitated, one hand still on the door. I could practically see him weighing Brandon’s wrath against my determination.
“Look,” I said, softening my tone, “I promise I’ll take it easy. If anything happens, I’ll take full responsibility. Brandon can’t blame you for my stubbornness,”
With visible reluctance, James closed my door and circled around to the driver’s seat. “Mr. Stark won’t be pleased.”
“I’ll handle Brandon,” I assured him. “Now, can we please go to Stark Group?”
When we arrived at Stark Group headquarters, the sleek glass building towered above us. As James escorted me through the lobby, I noticed how conversations hushed and eyes followed our progress.
“Is that Summer Taylor?”
“Why is she here?”
“Do you think Mr. Stark is finally going to announce their relationship?”
“What happened to that York woman he was seeing?”
The whispers trailed behind us like perfume. I kept my chin up and my expression neutral.
In the private elevator, James finally relaxed a fraction. “Mrs. Stark, please don’t let those comments bother you. People here have nothing better to do than gossip.”
“I’m used to it,” I said with a shrug. “Office politics are the same everywhere.”
“When will Brandon finish his meeting?” I asked..
“Mr. Stark is in acquisition talks with the Morrison Group. Those meetings typically run long–they’ve been morning.”
“I see. I tapped my fingers against my purse. “Will he be free for lunch?”
since early
I… doubt it,” James replied carefully. “The negotiations are at a critical stage. Are you feeling bored, Mrs. Stark? Or perhaps hungry?”
1/2
Chapter 354
1 shook my head. “I’m fine, Jaties. Don’t hover. You’re starting to sound like Brandon.”
The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor. “I’ll take you to Mr. Stark’s office,‘ fames said. “You can wait there comfortably until he’s available.”
His office was exactly as I remembered—sleek, minimalist, and dominated by black and white tones. The floor–to–ceiling windows offered a spectacular view of Manhattan.
“Would you like anything? Coffee? Tea? Something to eat?” James hovered by the door.
“I’m fine, James. You don’t need to babysit me, I know you have work to do.”
“Mr. Stark would want me to ensure you’re comfortable.”
“James,” I said firmly, “I’m perfectly capable of sitting in an office by myself. Go handle whatever Brandon’s piled on your desk.”
Once he’d finally left, exhaled and sank onto Brandon’s leather sofa I picked up a business magazine from the coffee table and flipped through it, not really reading.
I was halfway through an article about tech startups when I heard footsteps approaching. Assuming it was Brandon, I looked up with a smile.
The door opened, but instead of my husband, an elderly man with silver hair and piercing eyes stood in the doorway. William Stark -Brandon’s grandfather.
“Brandon, we need to discuss-” He stopped abruptly when he saw me. His eyes narrowed. “You.”
I stood up quickly. “Mr. Stark… I mean, um, Brandon isn’t here right now.”
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