Chapter 25 No Permission Needed

Serena studied him for a moment. Then she smiled and brushed her thumb along his cheek.

"Is that what’s eating at you?" she asked softly. "Maybe Eira thinks he is. I don’t."

She slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest.

"You were the one who backed me when I left. You funded my research, covered my travel, and made sure I could focus on my career without answering to anyone."

"I didn’t do that so you’d feel indebted to me." Alpha Sebastian gripped her shoulders. "I did it because I believed in you. I wanted you to go as far as you could."

Serena looked up at him.

"You gave me that chance." Her voice softened. "And I never stopped loving you."

The words hit him harder than he expected. He had waited years to hear them.

Alpha Sebastian pulled her close.

Then his gaze drifted past her shoulder.

A leather briefcase sat on the entry table. Eira had given it to him after he became CEO of Hale Group.

Clients notice the details, she had told him. If you want them to take you seriously, walk in looking like you already belong at the table.

She had saved for months to buy it.

His arms loosened.

Serena noticed immediately. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing." He rubbed a hand over his face and stepped back.

"The penthouse is already under contract. I’ll have a designer start this week."

Her face lit up. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. Until it’s ready, I’ll put you in a serviced apartment nearby."

Her smile slipped. "You want me out of here?"

"This place is complicated." He did not say Eira’s name. He did not have to.

Serena lowered her eyes. "Right. Of course."

Alpha Sebastian lifted her chin. His gaze dropped to her mouth, but he kissed her forehead instead.

"Give me some time. I’ll straighten everything out."

Serena nodded. But her mind was already moving.

If Alpha Sebastian had started hesitating, then Eira needed to leave before he had time to decide what that hesitation meant.

Serena had not come this far to lose him now.

--

Less than an hour later, Alpha Sebastian returned from dropping Serena at the serviced apartment.

A silver-haired man in a dark wool coat stood outside his door.

Alpha Sebastian recognized him from two academic fundraisers. "Mr. Cole?"

Martin Cole managed Beatrice Thorne’s household and personal affairs.

"Mr. Hale." Martin gave him a polite nod. "Mrs. Thorne asked me to let you know that Eira will be staying with her for a while."

Alpha Sebastian frowned. "Is Mrs. Thorne ill?"

"Nothing serious. She’s been having a difficult time since Dr. Thorne passed. Eira’s company would help."

"I’ll bring Eira over in a few days."

"That won’t be necessary."

Alpha Sebastian’s jaw tightened. "She’s my wife."

Martin’s expression never changed. "She’s also an adult."

The words were polite. The message was not.

"Mrs. Thorne isn’t asking for permission," Martin continued. "She asked me to inform you so there wouldn’t be any confusion."

Alpha Sebastian stared at him. "Eira is still at work."

"We’re aware. We’ll pick her up at Sterling Tower."

"How long is she staying?"

"As long as Mrs. Thorne needs her." Martin paused. "Or as long as Eira chooses."

Alpha Sebastian liked that answer even less. "She’ll need to come home and pack."

"Mrs. Thorne has already arranged anything she may need."

Another excuse gone before he could use it.

Martin gave him a final nod. "Have a good evening, Mr. Hale."

He turned and walked back to the waiting town car.

Beatrice sat in the rear seat, wrapped in a charcoal cashmere coat.

"Well?" she asked as Martin got in.

"He tried to stall."

Beatrice gave a dry laugh. "He moves another woman into his wife’s home, but suddenly Eira spending a few nights with me is a bridge too far?"

"He said she was still at work."

"Good. Saves us a stop."

Beatrice looked toward the driver. "Sterling Tower."

The town car pulled away from the curb.

--

Eira had switched off her phone earlier, so she missed Beatrice’s calls.

"Martin!" She hurried toward him.

Martin smiled. "Miss Crawford."

Eira had asked him more than once to call her Eira. He always agreed, then went right back to Miss Crawford. She had stopped fighting that battle years ago.

"Mrs. Thorne is waiting in the car."

Eira looked through the open rear door. Beatrice was waiting inside.

"Beatrice." The relief in Eira’s voice gave her away.

"Give me one minute. I need to tell a friend I have a ride."

Eira walked back to Lila.

"You’re officially off rescue duty. Beatrice came to pick me up."

Lila’s eyes lit up. "Beatrice Thorne?"

"Yes."

"Can I meet her?"

They approached the town car together.

"Beatrice, this is Lila. My friend."

Beatrice’s face brightened. "You made a friend."

Eira gave her a flat look. "You don’t have to sound so surprised."

"I’m not surprised. I’m thrilled."

Lila stepped forward and offered her hand.

"It’s an honor to meet you, Professor Thorne. I’m Lila Sterling. I’m one of Professor Chase’s graduate students."

Beatrice shook her hand.

"Professor Chase has mentioned you. He called you one of his strongest students."

Lila stared at her. "He said something nice about me?"

"He did."

"Wow. He usually saves compliments for published papers and dead scientists."

Beatrice laughed.

Lila spun toward the entrance. "Killian! Get over here. Professor Chase apparently says nice things about me when I’m not around."

Alpha Killian stood near the doors with Miles. He had been watching Eira since the moment she saw Beatrice.

The guarded look she wore around everyone else had disappeared. Her shoulders had relaxed. Her whole face seemed lighter.

So this was what safety looked like on her.

He walked over. "Professor Thorne."

Eira glanced between them. "You know each other?"

"Barely," Alpha Killian said.

Beatrice turned serious.

"Marnie told me you had questions about Eira’s placement. For the record, I asked her to arrange it. Hale Group had nothing to do with it."

"I’ve already ruled that out."

"Good."

"But I still have a question."

"Marnie told me Eira was your student. Her file also says she has a Stanford master’s in electrical engineering." His gaze settled on Beatrice.

"With that background, she could have worked at a national lab or any major tech company in the country. Why hide her in a paper-only admin job?"