[CONTENT TEMPLATE HERE]
Chapter 668:
June excused herself from the table, needing a moment away from the forced normalcy of dinner. Her mind was a whirlwind—the data, Crawford’s relentless pressure, the sight of Easton looking so worn down across the room. She needed to reset.
A figure stepped from a shadowed alcove ahead. She tensed for a fraction of a second before she recognized his silhouette.
“June p>
Easton’s voice. Quiet, without the sharp edge it held in a courtroom.
“Easton.” She relaxed, a genuine smile touching her lips for the first time all evening. “Tough dinner p>
“The worst kind,” he admitted, his posture losing some of its rigid control. He looked drained. “Three hours of posturing and veiled threats disguised as negotiation. I’d rather be cross-examining a hostile witness.” He moved closer, his presence a familiar comfort. “I saw you. You looked p>
“Like I needed a rescue?” she finished for him, her tone dry.
“Like you were holding your own, as always,” he corrected gently. His hand found her elbow, a light, possessive touch meant for her alone. “But I’m glad I found you. I was about to text p>
The contact was grounding. The warmth of his hand through the silk of her blouse, the low timbre of his voice. It was an anchor in the storm of her day.
𝖣о𝘯’t mіѕs ո𝗲𝗐 𝘳𝗲l𝖾𝘢se𝘴 оո
“I’m glad you did,” she admitted, her voice softer than she intended. “Chloe’s a good kid. She deserves a decent meal. But the performance is draining p>
“I know.” His thumb stroked her arm in a slow, soothing rhythm. “My car is waiting. Ditch your dinner. Let me take you home p>
She hesitated, glancing back toward her table. “I can’t just leave her p>
“My assistant is still at the bar,” he said, anticipating her objection. “I’ll have him settle your bill and arrange a car for your associate. She’ll be taken care of. Let me take care of you p>
His gaze was steady, unwavering—a promise of sanctuary. He wasn’t asking for anything, simply offering a retreat. An escape. She saw the fatigue in his eyes mirroring her own, and the bone-deep desire to simply be with someone who didn’t require a performance, someone who already knew all the broken pieces and didn’t ask her to hide them.
She looked at their joined hands. His fingers were a steady weight, a silent declaration. This was real. This was their life now—these stolen moments of quiet understanding in the midst of chaos.
“Okay,” she whispered, the single word equal parts surrender and relief. “Take me home p>
The smile that touched his lips was tired but genuine, and it reached his eyes, erasing the exhaustion for just a moment. It was a smile meant only for her, and in the quiet of that corridor, it felt like the only thing that mattered.
He didn’t release her arm. Instead, his hand slid down to intertwine with hers—a simple, solid connection—as he led her toward the exit, away from the prying eyes and the endless demands of the world.