Page 120 of It Must Be Fate

“I’m right here, love,” Rhys answers, coming up behind her. Thayer melts into his embrace, settling back into his chest the way I am with Tristan.

Rogue cuts an impressive, intimidating figure on stage. He’s unsmiling, his sharp and cutting eyes without a trace of humor as he looks out coldly at the hundreds of people who’ve all gathered to worship at his altar.

“Thank you all for coming out tonight to celebrate Crowned King Industries’ centennial anniversary.” He pauses as the crowd breaks out into polite applause, many of the attendees, including ourselves, clients of the company. “It’s been almosteighteen years since I took over the business and a lot has changed in that time.” He smirks, the expression as ice cold as the rest of him. “Your portfolios are proof that change has been for the better. Most notably, I’m proud to announce that in tandem with our hundredth anniversary, we’re also celebrating CKI crossing the one hundred and fiftybillionpound threshold in revenue.” This time, the applause is anything but polite. The crowd cheers loudly, whooping and praising the significant growth they’ve seen in their personal bank accounts.

Rogue looks unmoved by it all, sounding about as emotionally invested in his news as he would be reading out the specials menu at a random Mexican restaurant. He’s a predator, no matter where he is or what he wears, and a tux does nothing to calm the violence that thrums off him in waves.

It’s only when he glances over at Bellamy that the mask pulls back and his face softens. If I hadn’t seen that very same look on his face almost every day for the past eighteen years, I would find the transformation unbelievable to witness. Even now as the crowd quiets, I can hear the titters of conversation from interested onlookers rippling around us.

“I’m far prouder to announce news that’s infinitely more personal and important to me,” he continues, extending his hand towards Bellamy who takes it. “And that’s that after what feels like a lifetime of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve finally convinced my brilliant wife to join CKI as our Global Chief Counsel.”

He tugs a smiling Bellamy into him and crashes his mouth to hers, kissing her in front of a roomful of people, seemingly unaware or uncaring of the fact that we all hear his happy moan because he’s still holding the mic up.

They break apart and she wipes the lipstick off his mouth with her thumb.

“Cheers, sweetheart,” he murmurs with charming sincerity, turning back towards the crowd with her hand still clasped in his. He starts talking about the value she’ll bring to the company, but I don’t listen.

I glance at Six to find her beaming at them.

“How do you feel about this?”

“Oh, I’m so happy for them both,” she answers, grabbing my hand in hers before looking back at our friends. “I’ve had her for twelve years, it’s his turn now. I mean look at him.” She motions at Rogue with a tip of her chin. “Have you ever seen him so…content?”

Rogue’s speech finished, he and Bellamy are walking down the few makeshift steps to rejoin their guests. Rogue goes first, looking back to help his wife down with a possessive hand on her hip. His eyes stay pinned on the stairs to make sure her feet don’t get caught in her dress.

Once she’s safe on the ballroom floor next to him, his gaze moves up to hers and he laughs. He laughs like I’ve only ever seen him do maybe a handful of times in my life, every past time in similar reaction to something his wife said. His face relaxes and transforms, all the demons and violence and anger wiping away like they were never there.

“See?” Six says, eyes twinkling. “He needs her more than I do.”

“Are you going to rename the firm then?” Thayer asks.

“Definitely not. B wants to keep doing some pro bono work through us so she’ll still be involved. Even so, we would never drop her name. We started it with her and nothing changes that.”

“You’re not?”

The six of us turn to find Bellamy and Rogue behind us. They worked their way down the sides of the ballroom to find us so we didn’t see their approach.

“Course not,” Phoenix answers in his usual straightforward fashion.

Tears well in Bellamy’s eyes and she does her best to blink them away. “That… That means a lot to me. Thank you.”

“Of course!” Six says sincerely before giving her one of her famous hugs.

Thayer doesn’t wait to be invited; she joins in, her arms wrapping around the both of them. “Congrats, B!”

Never much of a hugger myself, I find I can’t resist the pull. I’m the fourth to join and they open up their arms to make room for me. We hug for a long time and when I crack open an eye and peek over Thayer’s shoulder, I find our four husbands staring fondly back at us.

***

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Thayer

The good spirits that follow the centennial anniversary party for CKI last for a blissful two weeks.

Two weeks where our time is spent in each other’s company, where we laugh together and our kids play together, where life isnormal. The same as it’s always been, nothing more, nothing less than that.

We don’t know it yet, but tomorrow is going to happen, and it’s going to changeeverything.

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