Agnes was truly something. Even Lyra's car was there, neatly parked at Arlington Penthouse. A clear sign of Agnes's determination to get her settled, no matter what.
But she didn't think she would use her car much. The hospital was only a twenty-minute walk away, and she figured it would be a good chance to get some daily exercise.
Lyra followed Rowan up the sleek, glass-paneled entrance, the soft hum of the elevator fading behind them as they stepped out.
The penthouse door came into view—tall and majestic, framed in polished dark wood with a subtle golden inlay that caught the light.
Rowan pushed it open, and a delicate scent of fresh linen and faint cedar drifted out, as if welcoming her as the home's new mistress.
Rowan glanced around the penthouse, then at her. "Welcome home."
"Thank you," Lyra said with smile.
He showed her around the house before leading her to the bedroom on the upper floor.
It was a quiet contrast to the bright living area. The soft aroma of sandalwood drifted through the room, filling it with a gentle, calming warmth.
"Is it to your taste? If not, you can redesign it however you like."
"It's alright for me."
Lyra gazed around the room until her eyes landed on the floor-to-ceiling windows to the left. A soft "wow" escaped her lips as they revealed a stunning view of the city.
"Why don't you lie down for a bit before dinner?"
Rowan nodded toward the bed. Soft cream walls framed the king-sized expanse draped in crisp white linens, the pillows neatly arranged at either side.
He wanted her to rest, knowing she had just been discharged and must have been exhausted.
But her thoughts drifted elsewhere. Dora's words echoed in her head. She swallowed hard.
Suddenly, the phone buzzed. Rowan's brow furrowed as he glanced at it.
"Yes," he said sharply, his tone clipped. "I'm coming."
"Lyra," he called, his voice tugging her out of her daze.
"Um?" She looked up and met his eyes.
He ran a hand through his hair. "I have an urgent matter at the office…" His voice trailed off before he could finish the sentence.
He didn't want to leave her alone and Lyra saw the reluctance written across his face.
"It's okay. Go ahead," she said, offering a faint smile.
"Sorry for leaving you alone."
He leaned down, the woody scent of his cologne brushing against her nose before his soft lips grazed her already warm cheek.
She froze in place, instinct guiding her fingers to the spot as her heart leapt.
Rowan was already heading for the door. "See you later, wife."
…
Rowan sat at the far end of the conference table, his posture straight but his attention narrowed to the subtle rotation of the pen between his fingers.
The room was thick with tension as the department head stood near the screen, presenting the issue.
"There has been a breach in our primary data system, and the board is requesting a full status report by the end of the day."
Someone on the left side of the table leaned forward, disbelief cutting through his tone.
"A breach? With our security protocols? That system isn't exactly open-access. How did this happen?"
The question lingered as soft murmurs spread across the conference table.
Rowan didn't look up, leaving Damian to handle it.
Damian cleared his throat. "Anyone from the security team?" he asked.
At the far end of the table, a man with thick glasses lifted his hand.
"How bad is it?" Damian asked.
"We caught the breach and contained it before it could spread further."
Damian gave a curt nod and motioned toward the projector. "Bring the report up."
Within seconds, the laptop was mirrored onto the large screen, and he began guiding them through the analysis.
"This pattern is… unusual," Damian said, turning to Rowan. "What do you think, Boss?"
He trusted Rowan's instincts more than any data on the screen. Years in military intelligence before his move into the corporate world had sharpened his ability to see what others couldn't.
The room went quiet, every pair of eyes training on him as they waited.
Rowan shot a glance at the wall clock, impatience clearly written on his face. He wanted to go home early. This needed to end quickly.
The security representative immediately rose from his seat, startled as Rowan approached. He moved aside, giving his boss full access to the laptop.
Rowan's fingers moved as if he had done this a thousand times before. Within moments, he isolated the source of the abnormality.
The security representative blinked, stunned. "Already…?"
He let out a breath and clapped softly, unable to hide his admiration.