Blood Ties

Chapter 5

Eve

I sat behind my father’s heavy mahogany desk, trying to ignore the suffocating weight of his presence. The study was mine now, at least in name, but it still felt like trespassing every time I stepped inside.

The room was everything a man like Richard Carlisle had represented—powerful, intimidating, and utterly devoid of warmth. Dark wood paneling lined the walls, giving the space an almost oppressive feel. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves housed an impressive collection of legal tomes, business journals, and first editions, every volume carefully curated, not for the love of literature, but as a statement of wealth and intellect. A heavy Persian rug, deep red with intricate gold patterns, covered most of the hardwood floor, absorbing sound and making every step feel hushed, calculated.

To the left of the desk stood the leather armchairs where my father had conducted business, their worn armrests bearing the secrets of decades of backroom deals and silent negotiations. The bar cart in the far corner gleamed under the dim light, its crystal decanters untouched since his passing. He had never been a man to drink excessively, only in celebration or manipulation. I hadn’t touched a drop from that cart, unwilling to taste anything that had once been his.

I’d received many dressing-downs and rebukes- deserved and otherwise- in this room. For as long as Father lived, I never made it past the rug; it was as far as any of us ever dared to go, as far as we were required to go. The perfect spot to receive the verbal lashing we were dealt.

The air was thick with the scent of old books and aged whiskey, a mixture so intertwined with my father’s memory that it felt like he might walk in at any moment and demand to know why I was sitting in his chair.

But he wouldn’t.

He was gone.

I had to constantly remind myself of that one crucial fact.

And this room, this empire, was now mine.

For now.

Which reminded me of the reason I was here. I had invited Ethan to discuss the finer details of my inheritance. Granted, I was emotional the first time we met for dinner and made a mess of things, so I had to try again. I had to find a way to get out of this.

I folded my hands on the desk, pressing my palms together to steady myself. I had chosen the study to show how serious this meeting was. Somewhere in my head, I’d believed that I could channel my father’s power and authority, but now, sitting in this chair, in this room, I felt like an imposter.

Would he see it? Would he see the cracks in my armor, the uncertainty beneath this carefully constructed facade?

A sharp knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. I straightened my shoulders, pushing aside the anxiety squeezing my heart.

“Come in,” I called out.

Anna stepped inside, her posture perfect as always. “Miss Carlisle, Mr. Donovan has arrived.”

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Precisely on time.

That, at least, was impressive.

I nodded, keeping my voice even. “Let him in.”

Anna gave a slight nod before disappearing down the hall.

Alone again, I exhaled slowly, willing my pulse to slow. Despite the air conditioner, rivers of sweat ran down my back.

There’s no reason to be nervous; Ethan Donovan’s just a man.

There was no need to be scared of him. I just wished I didn't have to deal with him. Men were, at their very core, an inconvenience. I had spent my entire life managing them—charming them when necessary and dismissing them when they became unbearable. This would be no different.

Except it was.

Because Ethan Donovan wasn’t just another businessman to be handled and discarded. He was my future husband, my father’s final move in a game I hadn’t even realized I was playing.

And as much as I hated him, I hated that he intrigued me even more.

I should have been indifferent. I should have seen him as just another piece on the board, another obstacle to overcome.

But when Anna led him into the study, my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

Good God.

The man was breathtaking.

Tall, broad-shouldered, with the kind of effortless confidence that made people take notice the moment he entered a room. His sharp navy suit was perfectly tailored, emphasizing the powerful lines of his frame, and the crisp white shirt beneath it was a stark contrast against his tanned skin. His dark hair was neatly styled, but there was just enough of a tousled edge to hint that he didn’t always play by the rules.

And then there were his eyes—piercing, knowing, like he saw more than he should.

I hated that I noticed.

I hated that, for the briefest moment, I forgot to breathe.

Ethan’s gaze swept over the room, assessing, absorbing. Then, finally, he met my eyes, and a slow smile tugged at his lips.

“Nice office,” he said, stepping further inside. His voice was smooth, laced with amusement. “Very… stately.”

I arched a brow, determined not to let him see how his presence affected me. “It was my father’s.”

Something flickered across his face, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

“And now it’s yours,” he said, his tone unreadable.

I forced a small smile. “So it seems.”

He gave me a slight nod as if acknowledging me, then walked toward the bookshelves. I didn’t know what to do with myself as he ran his fingers along the spines of the neatly arranged volumes.

“Did you pick any of these?” he asked, glancing back at me.

I resisted the urge to cross my arms. “No.”

His smile widened. Just when I was about to remind him just why we were here, he said, “Didn’t think so.”

The words died in my throat, replaced by annoyance. “And what exactly does that mean?”

Ethan turned fully, leaning casually against the bookshelf. If he noticed my annoyance- which was pretty obvious-he didn’t care. “Just that this room still belongs to him.”

The words hit harder than I would ever admit.

Slowly, I lowered myself onto my seat, tightening my grip on the chair's armrests. I’d be damned if I let him see how much he’d affected me. “Not for long,” I said, more to myself.

He tilted his head slightly, clearly assessing me. “Good.”

Why in the world did that send a shiver down my spine?

A rather delicious shiver.

Damn the man.

I cleared my throat, pushing past whatever this was. “I assume you know why I called you here.”

He sighed, looking disappointed. “I figure it’s not to talk about aesthetics.”

“Not at all.”

“Shame.” He finally moved to sit across from me, stretching out with an easy confidence that only added to my irritation.

I had spent the last week trying to make sense of this arrangement, trying to find some way to turn it into an advantage. Carlisle Enterprises was mine, but for how long? The board didn’t trust me. The world didn’t trust me. They saw me as nothing more than my father’s daughter—a placeholder until someone more capable came along.

Ethan Donovan, for all his arrogance, was capable.

And that made him dangerous.

I met his gaze head-on. “We need to set some ground rules.”

His lips twitched. “Ground rules?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “If we’re going to make this work, there must be structure. Boundaries.”

Ethan leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. “Alright, Ms. Carlisle. Let’s hear them.”

I took a deep breath. “First, we keep this strictly professional. Our engagement is a business transaction, nothing more.”

He hummed as if amused. “Nothing more.”

I ignored the way my stomach tightened at his tone. “Second, we present a united front in public. No disagreements, no contradictions. If we’re doing this, we do it right.”

Ethan nodded slowly. “Agreed. Anything else?”

I hesitated, then added, “And no unnecessary… familiarity.”

The corner of his lips tilted upwards, and he narrowed his eyes. “Define ‘unnecessary.’”

I clenched my jaw. “You know exactly what I mean.”

He chuckled but didn’t argue. “Fine. Anything else, fiancée?”

I hated the thrill that ran through me when he said the f-word.

I lifted my chin. “That’s it.”

Ethan studied me for a long moment, then reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a sleek, black box. Then he slid it towards me on the table.

I frowned. “What’s that?” although I had a pretty good idea.

He flipped the lid open, revealing an exquisite diamond ring. Simple, elegant, and—damn it—perfect.

“You forgot one rule,” he murmured, holding it out. “You have to wear this.”

I stared at the ring, then at him.

He met my gaze head-on, daring me to refuse.

I hated that I couldn’t.

So I lifted my hand and waited for him to do the honors. Damned if I'll put on my first engagement ring myself.

Just then, Lauren walked in. “I was thinking-” But she stopped and took in the scene before her. And in an instant, her face turned red with rage. “You spineless, feckless piece of trash.” Her voice was so low it could have been a growl.

Oh, God. Please, not now.

“You’re interrupting, Lauren,” I said, fighting to hide the panic.

“You’re actually going through with this?” She walked further into the study, eyes fixed on the ring as if it were a beacon drawing her to it.

“Now’s hardly the time, Laura.”

“After everything he did to us, you’d still let him win? You’re such a shame.”

“What would you have me do?” I snapped. “I have no other choice here, can’t you see it?”

“You could walk away!” Her eyes nearly bulged out of her head. “Have you ever thought of that? This is his way of ensuring you tow his line like you’ve been doing all your life. When are you going to put your foot down?”

“I can’t just walk away, Lauren. I’ve worked hard for this. Where would I go? What would I do?”

“You’re just weak and scared.”

“Or maybe I’ve actually built something for myself, something worth fighting for.”

“You have nothing, Eve. Oh my God, open your eyes. Can’t you see? You have nothing except what he gives you. You have this house now, but you have to get married to some stranger who might just be worse than he was.”

“Lauren-”

“He r***d me, Eve.” Her voice was dry, heated. “He r***d me and didn’t even bother to leave me so much as a shoe. I say we burn this whole place down.”

For a couple of seconds, I forgot to breathe.

He what?

How? When?

“Did you hear me?” Lauren pressed, “You can’t let him win. He’s a monster. He’s-”

“Father took something from all of us, Lauren.” Oddly, the voice sounded much like mine, but I wasn’t so sure. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. “We’ve all made sacrifices.”

Her jaw dropped, and I was vaguely surprised at myself. When she would have jumped me, Ethan blocked her path.

“Hi, Lauren-” His voice sounded like it came from a faraway tunnel.

“Don’t you dare,” If looks could kill, we would have had another funeral on our hands.

“Look,” he continued bravely, “I won’t pretend to understand what you’ve been through. But maybe you should cut your sister some slack; she’s also suffered.”

She laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. “Yeah, right. She was our father’s favorite. Believe me when I say that she got off easy. Then again, I don’t expect you to understand. After all, you’re only here for nothing, aren’t you?” She raked her angry eyes over me. You disgust me—both of you.” She spun and slammed the door so hard I thought I heard a crack.

I don’t know how long I stood after she’d gone, apparently long enough for Ethan to get a glass of whiskey for me.

He shoved the glass under my nose. “Drink.”

I was still too dazed to argue, so I took the glass and did as I was told.

“He r***d me.”

How in the world did that happen?

My heart broke for the girl Lauren was, for the woman she had become. Memories I’d sworn I’d forgotten threatened to break down the door behind which I’d shut them a lifetime ago. I didn’t let them.

Strong arms rested on my shoulders and gently eased me onto the chair. “You’re trembling, Eve.” Ethan’s voice felt like a soft caress, and I wanted nothing more than to turn to him and cry into his chest. But I didn’t know how to do that. I didn’t know how to turn to anyone for help, to lean on anyone for support. So I sat.

He kneaded into my shoulders until I felt the tension ease. I sagged under his touch.

“If you need a break from all of this,” he said, “All you have to do is say the word.” His voice and skillful hands formed a potent mix that nearly robbed me of my senses.

Nearly.

“Thank you,” I said, sitting up, “but I’m sure I can handle this.”

With a last pat on my shoulders, he came to stand before me. “I don’t doubt it; you’ve done a stellar job of handling things all these years. But I’m here now, and you no longer have to do it alone.”

“Ethan-”

“You became my responsibility the day I signed those papers with your father. The Donovans take their responsibilities seriously. This is more than just about the organization for me, Eve. My offer stands; just say the word.”

Then he did the most shocking thing; he took my hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. He must have seen the expression on my face because he gave me a small, cocky smile. “Have a good day, fiancee.” He winked.

Long after he was gone, I sat there, trying to process what had just happened in the last hour. I felt a very tangible fear of leaving the study; I didn’t want to face Lauren.

He r***d her?

I knew my father was a monster, but this? This was unbeatable.

Maybe I should take Ethan on his offer after all. But that would only make me as weak as Lauren claimed.

And I wasn’t even sure I could trust him just yet.

Damn it, what was my life turning into?