Chapter Nine: Cracks in the Facade

Chapter Nine: Cracks in the Facade

The fluorescent lights of Lin Ventures' Manhattan boardroom buzzed faintly, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding on Ava Lin's laptop screen. The email from her legal team was a gut punch: a rival tech firm, Apex Innovations, had just filed a lawsuit claiming Lin Ventures had infringed on their AI patent. The accusations were shaky, but the timing was brutal—coming just as the merger talks with Carter Capital were heating up. A public legal battle could spook investors, derail the merger, and tarnish her family's legacy. Ava rubbed her temples, her coffee long gone cold, and tried to focus. She was used to high-stakes cases, but this one felt personal.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a text from Henry: Brunch got rescheduled. You at the office? Need anything?

Ava hesitated, her fingers hovering over the screen. She didn't want to need him—not for this, not for anything—but the reality was stark. Carter Capital's resources, their legal team, their influence, could make or break this fight. She typed a quick reply: At Lin Ventures. Can you come by? We've got a problem.

Thirty minutes later, Henry strode into the boardroom, his navy suit crisp, his expression a mix of concern and determination. He carried a paper bag from a nearby deli, the scent of fresh bagels cutting through the sterile air. "You look like you haven't slept," he said, setting the bag on the table. "What's going on?"

Ava pushed her laptop toward him, the lawsuit email open. "Apex Innovations is coming for us. They're claiming we stole their AI tech. It's nonsense, but they've got a top-tier legal team and enough cash to drag this out for years. If this hits the press, it could tank the merger."

Henry skimmed the email, his jaw tightening. "They're playing dirty. This isn't about patents—it's about leverage. They want to scare your investors into pulling out."

"Exactly," Ava said, leaning back in her chair. "I can handle the legal side, but we need to manage the optics. Your PR team is better equipped for that. Can you help?"

He met her eyes, his gaze steady. "Of course. I'll get my team on it—press releases, investor calls, whatever it takes. But we need to move fast. Can you get me the technical details? My analysts can poke holes in their claims."

Ava nodded, a flicker of relief easing the knot in her chest. "I'll have my engineers send you everything by tonight. Thank you, Henry."

He waved it off, pulling a bagel from the bag and sliding it toward her. "Eat something. You can't win a war on an empty stomach."

She managed a small smile, taking the bagel but not touching it. "You're awfully calm about this."

"I've seen worse," he said, his tone light but his eyes serious. "And I've got your back, Ava. We're a team, remember?"

The words hit harder than she expected, stirring a warmth she wasn't ready to acknowledge. She looked away, focusing on her laptop. "A team," she echoed, her voice neutral. "Right."

But as they dove into strategy—drafting statements, coordinating with their legal teams, mapping out a response—Ava felt a shift. Henry wasn't just a name on a contract anymore. He was here, in the trenches with her, his sharp mind matching hers step for step. It was disarming, dangerous, and she wasn't sure she could keep pretending it didn't matter.

That evening, Ava stayed late at the office, her desk a fortress of papers and coffee cups. The lawsuit was a beast, but with Henry's team on board, they'd already drafted a counter-statement and secured a meeting with a key investor to shore up confidence. She was exhausted but wired, her mind racing with legal arguments and worst-case scenarios.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her work. It was a text from Mia: You okay? Heard about the Apex lawsuit. Need me to bring wine and takeout?

Ava smiled, typing back: I'm fine. Just buried in work. Rain check?

Mia's reply was instant: Only if you promise not to marry your desk. Also, saw the Central Park pics again. That kiss was NOT fake. Spill.

Ava groaned, setting the phone down. The kiss. She'd been trying to forget it, to chalk it up to adrenaline and cameras, but the memory lingered—Henry's lips, his hands, the way her heart had betrayed her. And now, with him stepping up to help with the lawsuit, she was starting to see him differently. Not just as a partner, but as someone she could rely on. Someone she could… care about.

A knock on her door startled her. "Come in," she called, expecting a late-night courier.

Henry stepped inside, a takeout bag in one hand, a bottle of wine in the other. "Figured you'd still be here," he said, setting the bag on her desk. "Sushi. And a decent pinot noir. You need a break."

Ava blinked, caught off guard. "You didn't have to do that."

"I know," he said, pulling up a chair. "But you're carrying the weight of this lawsuit, and I'm not letting you do it alone."

She studied him, her defenses wavering. "Why are you doing this, Henry? This isn't in the contract."

He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his eyes searching hers. "Because you're not just a contract to me, Ava. Not anymore. I meant what I said last week. I want this to be more than a deal."

Her breath caught, memories of Mark flashing through her mind—his promises, his departure, the way he'd left her feeling like she wasn't enough. She wanted to believe Henry, wanted to trust the sincerity in his voice, but Sophia Gray's shadow loomed large. "What about Sophia?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You saw her yesterday. You can't tell me that didn't mean something."

Henry's expression softened, but he didn't look away. "It did. It meant closure. She's my past, Ava. I needed to see her to know that. But you—you're here, now. And I'm starting to realize that's what I want."

Ava's heart pounded, her hands trembling as she reached for the wine bottle to avoid his gaze. "You don't get to just decide that," she said, her voice unsteady. "This is a deal, Henry. We have rules. No games, no lies."

"I'm not lying," he said, his voice firm. He reached across the desk, his hand covering hers, warm and steady. "I'm not playing games. I'm telling you I see you, Ava. Your strength, your fire, the way you don't back down. I'm not asking you to love me. I'm just asking you to let me in."

She pulled her hand back, her chest tight. "I can't," she said, her voice breaking. "I've done this before, Henry. I let someone in, and he left. I can't go through that again."

He nodded, his eyes full of understanding but not pity. "Then we'll take it slow. No pressure, no expectations. Just… us, figuring this out."

She didn't respond, her throat too tight. He stood, leaving the sushi and wine on her desk. "Eat something," he said softly. "I'll see you at the penthouse."

As he left, Ava stared at the takeout bag, her mind a tangle of fear and longing. Henry Carter was breaking down her walls, one small gesture at a time, and she wasn't sure she could stop him—or if she even wanted to.

The next morning, Ava woke to a text from her legal team: Apex had agreed to a settlement meeting, thanks to pressure from Carter Capital's investors. It wasn't a victory yet, but it was a step. She dressed quickly, choosing a sharp black blazer and skirt, her armor for another day in the fight. But as she stepped into the penthouse kitchen, where Henry was pouring coffee, she felt a shift. He wasn't just her partner in a crisis anymore. He was someone who saw her, who stayed, who fought beside her.

"Morning," he said, sliding a mug toward her. "Heard about the settlement meeting. Nice work."

"Your team made it happen," she said, taking the coffee. "Thank you."

He smiled, a quiet, genuine curve of his lips. "We're a team, Ava. Told you."

She nodded, sipping her coffee, the warmth grounding her. For the first time, she let herself imagine what "more than a deal" could mean—not just a contract, but a partnership, maybe even a future. But as she left for the office, Sophia's face flashed in her mind, a reminder that some ghosts were harder to banish than others.