Chapter 89:
A faint smile tugged at his lips. His voice carried with ease. “Please.”
Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his. His fingers wrapped around hers, steady and sure, guiding her inside the cabin.
Once she was seated, he let go of her hand with quiet politeness and leaned slightly toward her. “You’re heading to the charity gala. Didn’t your staff warn you about the time? I figured your brothers would’ve sent a driver.”
“I’ve got a car,” she said. “But Paola insisted on going together, so I waited.” Her eyes cooled. A wry tone crept into her voice. “She stayed up all night writing music and passed out at the salon. No time to pick me up. If I’d driven to Darkwell myself, I’d have arrived even later.”
Brad’s gaze lingered. He took in her appearance for a brief moment before speaking with calm precision. “Given your background, it makes sense. You’re a direct descendant of the esteemed Owen family, with your grandfather’s business empire stretching across continents and your brothers predominantly based overseas. Most of your brothers operate overseas. That leaves your uncle, Terrance Owen, to manage the branch in Crolens. It’s no surprise someone like Paola tries to take advantage while you’re here.”
She studied him, amused. “You know quite a bit about my family. I thought you spent most of your time at sea.”
Brad gave a soft laugh. “Everyone has their sources. Or a network of their own. Don’t you think?”
His words held a deeper meaning, and Rylie didn’t refute it, understanding that he was explaining the Owen family’s complex network for her benefit.
“How much of the Owen assets sit under that branch?” she asked.
“Just the territory in Crolens, with little overseas business,” Brad replied coolly. “Not worth worrying about.”
Rylie nodded and said, “As long as they don’t provoke me, I won’t take action.” The helicopter began to descend. Moments later, it touched down on the helipad near the Darkwell venue.
The event had just started. As she stepped out, Brad remained behind. He had his own entrance, one that kept him away from public eyes.
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Rylie chose not to walk in with Brad. Just before they went their separate ways, she gave a small smile and said, “Looks like there’ll be a bit of a performance tonight.”
Brad smiled faintly. “I’ll be watching,” he said.
Inside the venue, Paola sat among a cluster of well-dressed young women. Now and then, their gazes drifted toward the entrance.
Isabella leaned in and murmured, “Is she too scared to show her face? Maybe she’s worried she’ll embarrass herself.”
Paola gave a quick shake of her head. With Johnny Reid sitting nearby, she couldn’t risk agreeing out loud. Instead, she took a softer approach. “It makes sense for Rylie to be nervous. This is her first time at such a high-profile event. I really should’ve gone to fetch her myself.”
Johnny reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You’ve already done so much. You’re thoughtful, even when you’re tired.” He looked toward the door. “If Rylie has any sense, she’ll stay away. With you here, the Owen family’s already well represented.”
Paola dropped her gaze, cheeks tinged pink. “I’m nothing special. There’s no real difference between the two of us.”
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