Chapter 7
The penthouse smelled of rosemary and roasted chicken.
Eliza stepped out of the elevator, her arms laden with shopping bags. Azalea was behind her, carrying even more.
The living room was warm, the lights dimmed to a soft amber glow.
Dallas was sitting in the leather armchair by the fireplace. He was reading something on a tablet. He had changed out of his suit into a charcoal cashmere sweater and dark jeans.
It was jarring. Seeing the titan of industry in casual clothes made him look... human. Dangerous, still, but human.
Eliza froze at the door. "He's home."
Azalea breezed past her. "Hi Dad! We bought the whole city. You're welcome."
Dallas looked up. His eyes locked instantly on Eliza. He scanned her face, looking for cracks, looking for fear.
"Did you?" he asked, his voice deep.
Eliza stepped forward, feeling like an intruder in this perfect, expensive life.
"Thank you for... everything," she stammered. "The car. The help."
Dallas stood up. He moved across the room with that predator's grace, closing the distance between them.
"It is what a husband does," he said simply.
Azalea made a loud gagging noise from the kitchen. "Gross. Let's eat. I'm starving."
They sat at the long dining table. Eliza was seated at Dallas's right hand.
Mrs. Higgins, the housekeeper, brought out the platter. She smiled warmly at Eliza.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Koch," she said.
Eliza blushed furiously. The heat rose in her cheeks, turning them pink. Dallas watched the color spread, his eyes dark and attentive.
"Eat," he said gently, placing a serving of chicken on her plate.
Azalea started chattering about the jewelry store.
"Anson was a total psycho," she said around a mouthful of potatoes. "Dad, you need to destroy him. Like, biblical destruction."
Dallas cut his steak with surgical precision. "It is being handled."
Eliza looked up. "Please don't hurt the company. My parents' legacy... Solomon Industries is still part of the conglomerate."
Dallas paused. He looked at her. "I won't touch Solomon Industries. I will only target Hyde's personal assets and his liquidity."
Eliza was shocked. "How did you know the difference? The structures are mixed."
"I do my due diligence," Dallas lied smoothly.
He didn't tell her he had a team monitoring the Solomon assets for years, ensuring Anson didn't liquidate them entirely.
Suddenly, the intercom on the wall buzzed. The doorman's voice crackled through.
"Mr. Koch, there is a Mr. Anson Hyde in the lobby. He is demanding to see Eliza. He says he has legal papers."
Eliza dropped her fork. It clattered against the fine china, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the quiet room.
Her hands started to shake. He found her. He always found her.
Dallas wiped his mouth with a linen napkin. He didn't look angry. He looked bored.
He pressed the talk button.
"Tell him if he is not off the property in sixty seconds, he will be arrested for trespassing and harassment. And tell him if he shouts again, I will buy the building he lives in and evict him."
The doorman hesitated. "Yes, sir."
Dallas turned back to the table. He picked up his wine glass.
Eliza was staring at him, her eyes wide. "He won't leave. He's persistent."
"He is a gnat," Dallas said. "And I am the windshield."
He looked at her, his expression softening just a fraction.
"Eat your dinner, Eliza. He cannot reach you here. The elevator requires a retinal scan for all non-registered guests. Your biometrics were added this morning. No one gets up here without my explicit approval."
Eliza looked at the man beside her. For the first time in her life, the wall wasn't closing in on her. The wall was standing between her and the monster.
She picked up her fork. Her hand was still shaking, but less than before.
"Okay," she whispered.
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