(The High-Stakes Dinner)
The dinner was held in the grand dining hall of the Vane Estate. The table was long enough to seat twenty, but only three people sat there: Seraphina, Xavier, and Chairman Silas Vane—a man with eyes like a hawk and a smile that didn't reach them.
"So, Xavier," Silas said, swirling a glass of wine that cost more than Xavier's old car. "My niece says you met in London. Strange, I don't recall seeing your name on any guest lists at the charities she frequents."
Xavier felt a cold sweat on the back of his neck. "I prefer to stay in the background, sir. I'm not fond of the spotlight."
"Is that so?" Silas leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Because a man who marries the heir to the Vane Empire doesn't get to stay in the shadows. He either becomes a king, or he gets crushed."
Seraphina reached out under the table and squeezed Xavier's thigh. It wasn't a romantic gesture; it was a warning. Stay calm. Don't break.
"Xavier is exactly what I need, Uncle," Seraphina said, her voice smooth as honey. "Balance. He doesn't care about the board meetings or the stocks. He cares about me."
"We shall see," Silas murmured, his eyes never leaving Xavier. "The board is still skeptical. If this marriage isn't the real thing, Seraphina... you know the consequences. The Vane name belongs to the family, not just you."
As Silas left the room, the air felt thin. Xavier looked at Seraphina. She was pale, her grip on the silver fork so tight her knuckles were white. For the first time, Xavier realized he wasn't the only prisoner in this house. Even the Ice Queen had a master.