Page 41 of The Rival's Obsession
Which we are.
Because they’re doing exactly what I told them.
No bickering. No distance.
Just proximity with purpose.
Still, something shifts.
Grant’s posture tightens almost imperceptibly. A subtle clench at the jaw. A stiffening of his spine that sends a silent alarm straight down my ribs.
I follow his gaze—and find the source of the disturbance.
Platinum-blonde bob. Crisp cream blazer. Confident stride.
Corrine.
She strikes me as the type who hascan I speak to the managerdown pat.
She doesn’t announce herself when she slips in beside Grant, doesn’t greet Dante, doesn’t acknowledge me at all until she absolutely has to.
“Corrine Ashwood,” she says smoothly, offering her hand without smile or warmth. “Chief financial officer at Marchezi and Harrow.”
Her tone adds:And who the hell are you?
“Eve Sterling.” I return the handshake, calm and pleasant. “Consultant.”
That catches her off guard. It flickers, barely—a millisecond stutter behind her eyes—but then she recovers, recalibrating with a grace honed by years of boardrooms and bloodsport.
“Oh, I didn’t realize we has a project in the consulting phase,” she says, turning to Grant, lowering her voice to a near whisper. “You brought on a consultant and didn’t tell me?”
He avoids Dante’s eyes and mine. Which is saying something—because Dante’s looking anywhere but here. His gaze is fixed on the far side of the tent like it contains the meaning of life.
Grant offers Corrine a tight-lipped smile. “I meant to fill you in.”
Dante talks over him at the same time. “I hired Eve.”
He looks at Grant, his stare holding a moment before moving back to Corrine. “Unlike my partner, I don’t need to run every decision through the finance office.”
“I see.” She turns her head back toward Grant, tone dropping again as if we aren’t supposed to hear. “I thought we were in this together.”
Ah. There it is.
Not a protest.
Not even an accusation.
Just a well-wrapped gift of guilt, sealed with professional concern.I thought we were in this together.
It lands with precision—soft enough not to raise suspicion, sharp enough to cut.
I see it for exactly what it is. A control tactic. But still, I want to know what ‘this’is.
I don’t know the full story between these three, but I’m not naïve enough to believe this is just about financials or internal communication. Whatever happened between Grant and Dantefractured something bigger, and Corrine—well, she seems very interested in keeping them exactly where they are.
Which means I have to move.
Literally.
