FORBIDDEN ECSTASY: Step-Siblings

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Business after dark

By the time the clock edged closer to evening, the day had already taken its toll.

Cassie didn’t argue when Ronald told her to wrap up early.

She needed the break

*******

Back at the mansion, everything felt quieter, still and Controlled.

Cassie stepped into her room, shutting the door behind her before letting out a slow breath.

“Okay…” she murmured.

Seven o’clock meeting.

Important.

Which meant—

She had to be perfect.

The shower helped.

Warm water cascading over her skin, washing away the stress of the day, the lingering thoughts, the tension she hadn’t even realised she was carrying.

By the time she stepped out, wrapped in a towel, her mind felt clearer.

Cassie walked over to her wardrobe, her fingers trailing over different fabrics before she paused.

Then—

She pulled it out.

The dress was… undeniable.

A deep emerald green, rich and smooth like liquid silk, catching the light with every slight movement. It clung to her figure in all the right places—structured enough to be elegant, soft enough to be alluring.

The neckline dipped just enough to be bold without crossing the line, the thin straps resting delicately against her shoulders. The back… was open, revealing just enough skin to leave an impression long after she walked away.

A subtle slit ran up one side, not too high, but enough to allow movement—and just enough to draw attention when she did.

Cassie slipped into it, adjusting it slightly before stepping back to look at herself.

For a moment…She just stared.

Then a small smile touched her lips.

“Not bad,” she said softly.

*******

Downstairs

Ronald was already ready.

Dressed in a tailored black suit, crisp and precise, every detail in place. He stood near the living area, going over a few final notes with Chris, his right-hand man.

Chris leaned casually against the arm of the couch, sharp in his own way—less rigid than Ronald, but just as observant.

“You think they’ll agree tonight?” Chris asked.

“They will,” Ronald replied simply.

Before Chris could respond— soft footsteps were approaching.

Both men turned.

And for a second—Everything paused.

Cassie stepped into view And the room shifted.

Chris straightened almost immediately, his brows lifting slightly in surprise before a slow smile formed.

“Well…” he muttered under his breath.

Ronald didn’t speak.

Didn’t move.

But his gaze was locked, for just a moment too long.

The dress and the way it fit her.

The quiet confidence in her posture.

It was Distracting and Dangerously so.

Something flickered in his eyes before it disappeared just as quickly, his expression returning to its usual controlled state like nothing had happened.

Chris, however—

Didn’t bother hiding it.

“Okay,” he said, pushing himself up fully now. “I was not prepared for that.”

Cassie let out a small, amused breath, walking closer.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Oh, it definitely is,” Chris replied smoothly.

He stepped forward, extending his hand. “Chris.”

Cassie took it. “Cassie.”

“I know,” he said with a small smile. “Hard not to. I’ve heard a lot.”

She raised a brow slightly. “All good things, I hope.”

“Only the interesting ones.”

Cassie couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her.

It had been a while.

Since something felt this… light.

Chris’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at her. “You look stunning, by the way.”

Cassie paused.

Just for a second.

Then she smiled, softer this time. “Thank you.”

And she meant it.

Because somehow—

It felt genuine.

Chris lifted her hand slightly, brushing a light, respectful kiss against the back of her palm before letting it go, his smile easy, charming.

And just like that—

A faint warmth crept into Cassie’s cheeks.

A subtle sound broke the moment.

Ronald.

A low, almost unnecessary cough, Cassie’s gaze flicked toward him.

Chris glanced back too, a hint of amusement crossing his expression.

Ronald adjusted his cuff slightly, his face unreadable.

“We’re leaving,” he said.

Straight to the point.

Of course.

***********

Minutes later, they were on their way.

The night ahead was waiting.

The meeting and the deal And something else, Unspoken.

Lingering quietly beneath the surface.

Cassie sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the window, though her mind wasn’t on the view.

It was on what was ahead.

Caslandro’s Corps Ltd.

Important enough for a private evening meeting.

Important enough for Ronald to be this… precise.

She glanced at him briefly.

He hadn’t said much since they left.

Just focused and sharp

Like everything else faded when business came into play.

The car finally slowed and stopped.

Cassie looked up and blinked.

The restaurant stood before them in quiet grandeur—modern architecture blended with soft golden lighting, large glass panels revealing a glimpse of elegance within.

Discreet but undeniably expensive, A polished sign at the entrance read:

Le Ciel Noir

Cassie stepped out, her heels touching the ground as she took it in.

“Wow…” she murmured.

Chris smirked slightly beside her. “Yeah. They don’t do average here.”

Ronald didn’t respond, He was already moving.

Inside, everything felt… elevated.

Soft instrumental music played in the background, the lighting low but warm, casting a refined glow over neatly arranged tables. The air carried a faint blend of expensive wine and something subtly floral.

People spoke in low tones it felt just like quiet luxury.

A hostess approached almost immediately.

“Good evening, Mr Walton,” she said politely. “Your reservation is ready.”

Of course it was.

Ronald gave a slight nod.

“This way, please.”

They didn’t stay downstairs,Instead, they were led toward a private staircase.

Upstairs that was away from the main floor.

Cassie followed, her eyes taking in everything—the soft carpet beneath her heels, the artwork lining the walls, the dim lighting that somehow made everything feel more exclusive.

More… controlled.

At the top, double doors opened.

And revealed the VIP section.

Cassie paused for just a second because the space was breathtaking.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, the night view stretching endlessly beyond. A long, polished table sat at the centre, set with precision—glassware, cutlery, everything placed perfectly.

This wasn’t just dinner alone

They weren’t the first to arrive, Three men were already seated.

Well-dressed and Composed.

The moment Ronald stepped in, the atmosphere shifted.

Subtly but undeniably.

“Mr Walton,” one of them said, standing. “Right on time.”

Ronald walked forward, his expression calm.

“I don’t do late.”

Hands were shaken.

Brief introductions followed.

Chris remained slightly behind, observant as always.

Cassie stayed close enough to listen.

Close enough to learn.

Once seated, the conversation didn’t waste time.

No small talk or unnecessary pleasantries.

“We’ll get straight to it,” one of the men began. “Caslandro’s is looking to expand its logistics reach across the western corridor.”

Cassie’s attention sharpened.

Logistics.

Again.

“We’re aware,” Ronald replied.

The man nodded. “We need a partner with the capacity to handle large-scale distribution without delays.”

“And you think we’re that partner,” Ronald said.

“Not just capacity,” another man added. “Control.”

A brief pause settled across the table.

Cassie felt it, Ronald leaned back slightly, his fingers resting lightly against the table.

“What exactly are you offering?” he asked.

The men exchanged glances before sliding a file across the table.

Chris reached for it first, opening it, his eyes scanning before passing it to Ronald.

Cassie watched closely.

Watched the shift in Ronald’s gaze as he read.

“This isn’t just a partnership,” Ronald said after a moment.

“It’s an alignment,” the man corrected.

Cassie’s brows pulled together slightly.

That didn’t sound simple.

Ronald closed the file slowly.

“And what makes you think Walton Holdings aligns with you?”

There was silence for a moment

“Because you don’t just operate,” one of them said calmly. “You dominate.”

The words hung in the air, Cassie felt a subtle chill.

Because that was exactly what Maddie had said.

The discussion didn’t end quickly.

If anything, it deepened.

What had started as a formal exchange slowly turned into something sharper, more calculated. Numbers were no longer just figures—they became leverage. Every statement carried weight, every pause felt intentional.

Cassie sat quietly, her attention fixed, her mind working to keep up. The more they spoke, the clearer it became—this wasn’t just about expansion. It was about positioning, about influence, about who held control when everything was said and done.

Ronald didn’t rush his responses. He listened, really listened, his gaze steady as he absorbed every detail before speaking. When he did, his voice remained calm, but there was an edge to it—something firm, something final.

“You’re asking for access to routes we built from the ground up,” he said, his fingers resting lightly against the table. “That doesn’t come without conditions.”

One of the men leaned forward slightly. “And we’re offering scale you can’t reach alone.”

Ronald’s lips curved faintly, though there was no warmth in them. “There’s very little I can’t reach.”

The room fell into a brief silence, not awkward, but measured. Cassie felt it again—that quiet shift that always seemed to follow him. It wasn’t loud dominance. It was something subtler. Controlled. Certain.

Chris glanced down at the documents again, flipping a page before speaking for the first time since they sat. “Your projections are aggressive,” he said, his tone casual but observant. “Almost like you’re expecting resistance.”

One of the men gave a small smile. “We plan for all possibilities.”

Cassie’s eyes flicked to Ronald for a second. He had already caught it.

Of course he had.

“They’re not planning for resistance,” she said suddenly, her voice cutting gently into the conversation before she could stop herself. “They’re preparing to absorb it.”

The table stilled.

Cassie realised she had spoken.

But she didn’t back down.

One of the men turned toward her, interest flickering across his face. “And what makes you say that?”

Cassie straightened slightly, her gaze steady now. “Your allocation strategy isn’t defensive. It’s layered. If one route fails, another compensates without loss. That’s not caution—that’s anticipation.”

A pause followed.

Then, slowly, the man nodded.

“Sharp,” he said.

Cassie didn’t smile.

“Just observant.”

Ronald didn’t say anything, but his gaze shifted briefly toward her, lingering for just a second before returning to the table.

It was enough.

The conversation moved forward, but the tone had changed. There was more attention now, more weight behind every exchange. Cassie could feel it, the way she was no longer just present—she was being watched.

Evaluated.

The meeting stretched longer than she expected, discussions circling execution timelines, operational control, and risk margins. At some point, dinner was served, but it became secondary, barely touched as the negotiation continued.

Finally, Ronald leaned back slightly, signalling the end without announcing it outright.

“We’ll review everything,” he said. “And you’ll have our decision.”

It wasn’t a dismissal.

But it was close enough.

The men across the table understood. They stood, offering firm handshakes, their expressions composed but thoughtful.

“We look forward to it,” one of them said.

Ronald gave a slight nod. “So do we.”

Minutes later, the room emptied.

The tension lingered, though softer now, like the aftermath of something that had yet to fully settle.

Cassie exhaled quietly, her shoulders easing just a little as she stood.

“That was…” she paused, searching for the word.

“Not what you expected?” Chris filled in, a faint smile on his face.

Cassie let out a small breath. “Not even close.”

Chris chuckled lightly. “You handled yourself well.”

She glanced at him. “I spoke without being asked.”

“And you weren’t wrong,” he replied easily. “That’s what matters.”

Cassie nodded slightly, though her attention shifted almost unconsciously toward Ronald.

He was already gathering the documents, his expression unreadable, like the entire meeting had been just another task to complete.

“You didn’t say anything,” she said before she could stop herself.

Ronald paused briefly, then looked at her.

“You didn’t need me to.”

The response was simple.

But it landed.

Cassie held his gaze for a second, something unreadable passing through her expression before she looked away.

They stepped out of the VIP section, the quiet elegance of the restaurant wrapping around them again as they made their way downstairs. The soft music, the low conversations—it all felt distant now, like they had just stepped out of a different world.

Outside, the night air felt cooler.

Cassie took a slow breath, her mind still processing everything—the meeting, the tension, the way Ronald carried himself through it all.

This wasn’t just business, It was power And she had just witnessed it up close.

As the car pulled up, Chris opened the door for her, his usual easy charm still in place. “After you.”

Cassie smiled faintly. “Thank you.”

She stepped in, settling into her seat, her thoughts still far from settled.

Ronald entered after, the door closing behind him as the car pulled away from the curb.

For a moment, no one spoke.

The city lights passed by again, but this time Cassie wasn’t looking at them.

Her mind was elsewhere.

And just when she thought the night might finally quiet down—

Ronald’s voice came, low and calm beside her.

“Next time,” he said, “wait before you speak.”

Cassie turned to him slightly, her brows lifting.

“But,” he added after a brief pause, his gaze forward, “you weren’t wrong.”

Silence followed.

But this time, it felt different.