Claimed By Three Brothers

Chapter 3

The sun was just starting to rise over the Dallas skyline when Isabella Delaney stepped off the elevator onto the executive floor of Goldhive Mining. The sound of her high heels clicked against the empty hallway as she headed to her desk. It was early, even for her, but sleep had been elusive lately.

Isabella tossed her designer purse onto her chair with a sigh. Her gaze immediately landed on her desk, searching for the morning mail. Unsurprisingly, it was empty. She shook her head, a mix of annoyance and amusement flickering across her face.

"Bet Asher's already rifled through it," she said under her breath. "That guy would probably brew my coffee if I let him."

Asher Thorne, the CEO of GoldHive, had a knack for micromanaging everything, including her work. As Isabella settled into her chair and powered up her computer, she mentally reminded herself to have another chat with him about it. Not that it would change anything. Asher was as stubborn as he was good-looking, a combo that both irritated and intrigued her.

While her computer booted up, Isabella's thoughts drifted to the unsettling events of the past few weeks. The strange letters that had started appearing in her mailbox, the late-night phone calls with silence on the other end, and Mr. Snuggles, her beloved cat, who had vanished three days ago. A lump formed in her throat at the thought of her furry companion.

The ding of the elevator snapped Isabella out of her dark thoughts. She looked up to see Liam Thorne stepping out. Liam was Asher's younger brother, and even in his sharp suit, he still had that rugged cowboy vibe. Normally, his easy smile and charm could brighten any situation, but today, he looked genuinely worried.

Hey, Isabella, I owe you an apology," Liam said as he walked over to her desk, his deep voice cutting through the office's stillness.

Isabella's heart raced, a familiar reaction whenever Liam was near. She inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. "No worries, big guy. Unless you ran me over, you’re good," she replied, keeping it light. "So, what’s the deal with Asher? Did you two finally throw down?"

A shy smile crept onto Liam's rugged face, looking a bit out of place. "Just a little disagreement, darlin'. Nothing serious."

But Isabella wasn’t convinced. Her gaze drifted past Liam to the wall behind him, where a noticeable dent disrupted the smooth surface. She raised an eyebrow, silently questioning, "Oh really?"

Liam noticed her stare and looked a bit sheepish. "I’ll take care of that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

Isabella chuckled at his attempt to brush it off. Liam was the kind of guy who would go out of his way to help anyone. Seeing him flustered was both funny and a little worrying.

For a moment, she thought about sharing her own issues—the stalker, the missing cat—but the words stuck in her throat. Liam had enough on his mind without her piling on. Plus, a small part of her feared that if she opened up, he might see her differently. With pity, perhaps. Or worse, he might think she was exaggerating.

"I'm gonna skip the board meeting," Liam said, already moving toward the elevator. "Got some stuff to handle."

Before Isabella could reply, the elevator dinged again, and Zane Thorne stepped onto the floor. Zane, the middle Thorne brother, was known for his charm and looks, but right now, he looked like he just woke up—maybe from someone else's bed. His shirt was barely buttoned, giving Isabella an eye-full of his toned abs and chiseled chest, leaving her momentarily speechless.

"Nice outfit for the board meeting," she joked, hoping her voice didn’t reveal how flustered she felt.

Zane, who usually exudes effortless charm, seemed a bit shaken. "I was in a hurry," he said, his gaze darting over Isabella as if he were checking for any injuries. "Isabella, are you alright?"

Isabella blinked, taken aback by his worry. "I'm good," she replied slowly. "But you look like you just went ten rounds with a tornado. Wait a sec."

She grabbed her phone and dialed a familiar number. "Wendy? We’ve got a situation here. This is a total mess. From head to toe."

Wendy, Zane's ever-patient assistant, sighed heavily on the other end. "Ugh, what now? Another tie issue? Socks missing?"

"Nope, it’s a complete overhaul," Isabella said, glancing at Zane's messy appearance. "Bring the whole toolkit."

As she ended the call, she caught Zane glaring at the dent in the wall, then at Liam. "Please tell me that wasn’t Asher’s head," he said, only half-serious. "Should I call 911?"

Liam waved him off, already making his way to the door. "Nah, I’m good," he said. "I’ve got bigger fish to fry today. And just so you know," he added, giving Isabella a serious look, "you’re having lunch with me and Zane."

Isabella's heart raced at Liam's tone, but she stood her ground. "I can’t," she said. "I have lunch with Scott from IT. He said it was important."

"Forget about Scott," Liam replied, his tone leaving no room for discussion. "You’re having lunch with us."

Isabella felt her heart race as she caught the intensity in Liam's gaze. She shot a quick look at Zane, seeking some reassurance, but he just gave her a firm nod. "Okay, fine," she replied, doing her best to mask her nerves. "Whatever."

Just then, as if the tension had summoned him, Asher's office door swung open. He stepped out, looking as sharp as ever, every hair perfectly styled and his suit looking crisp. He exuded authority. His eyes scanned the room, pausing briefly on Isabella.

"Isabella," he said, his tone carefully measured, "I need you to stay at your desk today. No wandering off, got it?"

Isabella frowned, puzzled by the strange request, but nodded anyway. "Sure thing, boss," she said, trying to keep her voice upbeat even though her stomach was churning.

As the Thorne brothers walked into Asher's office, leaving her alone again, Isabella slumped back in her chair. She fished out a crumpled business card from her purse, staring at the number for the private investigator she’d hired to look into her stalker. With a sigh, she realized he might not even be the real deal.