Chapter 4 CHAPTER 3

Alaric Valerius.

I crouch down to her level and kiss her forehead.

"Grandma will pick you up later, my princess."

She nods, kisses my cheek, and then does the same to Sebastian, who crouches down as well to receive her kiss. We watch as she walks into the school without looking back.

We return to the car. I get behind the wheel, Sebastian takes the passenger seat, and I head toward the company.

On the way, I let out a heavy breath, a loaded sound that Sebastian recognizes immediately.

"Judging by that tone, I already know. That damn woman is bothering you again, isn't she?" he asks, his voice dripping with contempt.

I let out a dry laugh without a trace of humor.

"Right on the money, brother."

"And what does that bitch want now?" He huffs impatiently.

I run my tongue over my lips, tasting the bitterness of the situation.

"Same old story. Money."

Sebastian lightly punches the center console, frustrated.

"I don't know how you still have the stomach for this. If it were me, I swear I would've told that woman to go to hell a long time ago for threatening to expose Elisa."

I clench my jaw, feeling the pressure build there.

"She knows exactly what she's doing. I don't want to dirty my hands with someone who isn't worth the ground she walks on. But if she dares sell even a single frame of Elisa to any website or tabloid, I'll destroy her myself. To hell with my career."

"That's exactly how it has to be," Sebastian agrees. "She knows you'd move heaven and earth for the little one, but she also knows that if she crosses the line, her head will roll."

He shifts in his seat, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere.

"Now, enough wasting our breath on that trash. After work, we're going to a club. Elisa's staying with our mother, so we have the night free to have some fun. We need someone to help us blow off some fucking steam. It's been an eternity. How many years has it been since we actually had sex?"

I park in front of the company and turn off the engine, staring into space for a second.

"I think it's been about five years since I've touched anyone. My focus was entirely on Elisa. You remember, don't you? When she was a baby, we didn't even have time to close our eyes, let alone fuck."

Sebastian bursts into loud laughter, shaking his head.

"Don't remind me. We were walking around like two zombies. But now our bodies are making us pay for it. I desperately need a woman to help me unwind, brother. There's way too much pent-up tension."

He sighs.

"It's been five years for you, but for me, it must be about four. After I went back to London, I had one night there, and since then, it's been a complete desert."

I look at him and nod, feeling the same weight of abstinence.

"Yeah, life got in the way. All right. We'll see if anyone catches our attention. Otherwise, we'll just go home."

He nods, and we get out of the car, ready for work.

The Alpha Speed building rises before us as it always does: imposing, modern, made of glass and steel, and perfectly reflecting what the company has become over the years. An automotive empire that demands constant attention, quick decisions, and an almost ruthless level of dedication.

I walk inside beside Sebastian, passing through the automatic doors. The lobby is spacious, elegant, and always bustling. Employees hurry past, executives speak in hushed voices, and screens display figures, projects, and launches.

For a long time, this place was practically my home. I'd arrive in the middle of the night and leave before dawn. Elisa was left solely in the nanny's care, and that always ate away at me inside.

That's why I asked my brother for help.

Sebastian left London without a second thought and came to Veridian Bay. At first, it was only to take care of my daughter while I buried myself in work. Later, he ended up getting involved with the company, taking on responsibilities and bringing in new ideas. Today, Alpha Speed bears his mark as well.

We walk through the lobby with confident strides. Greetings come from every direction.

"Good morning, Mr. Valerius."

"Good morning," we reply in unison.

We step into the private elevator. The silence is comfortable. Sebastian presses the button for the tenth floor, where he handles the finances, contracts, and numbers that keep everything running. The doors open.

"Good luck with the paperwork," he teases before stepping out.

"I'm going to need it," I reply humorlessly.

The doors close, and the elevator continues up to the twentieth floor.

As soon as I step out, the weight of the day settles onto my shoulders. My secretary greets me with a professional smile while discreetly gesturing toward the desk already covered in folders.

"Good morning, Mr. Valerius. Everything is organized just as you requested."

"Thank you."

I enter my office, close the door behind me, and remove my suit jacket, tossing it over the spare chair. The tie comes off next. I sit down and stare at the stack of documents in front of me.

Signatures, meetings, decisions. Everything that built this empire... and everything that, for far too long, kept me away from my daughter.

I let out a heavy sigh.

Maybe it really is time to change a few things. Work from home more often. Be present. Not repeat the same mistakes.

I open the first folder.

It's going to be a long day.

I can't wait for tonight.

All I need right now is a good fuck, an intense night to release all this pent-up tension, and then move on with my life. Not that I'm obsessed with it; my life doesn't revolve around sex.

I have a very clear hierarchy in my head: Elisa comes first, my entire world. Then the company, which secures her future. Only then, in third place, comes my sex life.

But today, that third priority is screaming for attention.

I shake my head to clear those thoughts and focus on the paperwork.

Duty calls before pleasure.