The sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the East Wing felt too bright, too real. Xavier sat on the edge of the silk-covered bed, his phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. He didn't need to pick it up to know what was happening. The video of the kiss on the balcony had gone viral at 2:00 AM. By 6:00 AM, it was the number one trending topic in the country.
"The Billionaire and the Bodyguard," one headline read.
"Ice Queen Melts: Seraphina Vane's Secret Romance Confirmed," read another.
A soft knock at the door made him jump. It wasn't the sharp, rhythmic tap of Arthur the butler. It was hesitant.
"Xavier?"
He opened the door to find Seraphina standing there. She wasn't in her power suit yet. She was wrapped in a thick, cream-colored cashmere robe, her hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. She looked younger, softer, and completely terrified.
"Have you seen the news?" she asked, stepping into his room. The scent of her—that intoxicating mix of roses and something uniquely her—filled the space instantly.
"It's hard to miss," Xavier said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry if I overstepped last night. I just... seeing Isabella treat you like that... I couldn't stand it."
Seraphina walked toward him, her bare feet silent on the rug. She stopped just inches away, her gaze searching his. "Don't apologize. For the first time in three years, I didn't feel like I was acting. That's the problem, Xavier. The board sees that video, and they don't see a business arrangement anymore. They see a vulnerability. They see a woman who might choose her heart over the company."
She reached out, her fingers grazing the bandage on his hand where he'd cut himself on the Ming vase. "Silas called an emergency session for noon. He's moving the vote of no confidence up. He says a woman 'distracted by passion' is unfit to lead the Vane Empire."
Xavier's jaw tightened. "He's using our feelings against us. He's trying to turn a kiss into a crime."
"He's doing more than that," Seraphina whispered, her voice trembling. "He sent me a photo this morning. It was a picture of the North Corridor keypad. He knows the code, Xavier. He's going to lead the board members directly to the basement during the meeting. He wants to expose Grandfather in front of everyone."
Xavier felt a cold rage settle in his chest. Silas wasn't just a businessman; he was a monster. "He thinks he's won because he has the code. But he doesn't know the man who's standing in his way."
He reached out and took Seraphina's face in his hands. It was a bold move, one that wasn't in any contract, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into his touch, her eyes closing as she let out a shaky breath.
"We have four hours," Xavier said, his voice dropping to a low, protective growl. "We're going to move him. We're going to get your grandfather out of this house before that meeting starts."
"It's impossible," she breathed. "The medical equipment—the life support—"
"I've spent my life making the impossible happen on the streets of Lagos with nothing but my hands and my wits," Xavier countered. "I have a friend—a doctor who owes me a life. He has a private clinic. It's small, but it's safe. If we can get him into the back of the SUV, we can beat Silas at his own game."
Seraphina looked up at him, and for the first time, the "Ice Queen" was gone completely. In her place was a partner. "If we get caught, it's kidnapping. We'll go to prison, Xavier. Both of us."
"Then we'd better not get caught," he said, leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. "I told you last night—you're the only thing that matters to me now. Not the money. Not the contract. Just you."
For a heartbeat, the world stood still. Then, Seraphina nodded, her eyes flashing with a new kind of fire. "Okay. Let's save my grandfather."
As they hurried toward the North Corridor, Xavier glanced at his phone one last time. The views on his story were now over 1,500. The world was watching the romance, but they had no idea they were about to witness a war.