Page 75 of Cole

“Because Annalisa knows the danger of being a Burke. We’ve spent decades protecting her identity after what happened.” Duncan’s composure slipped for just a moment, revealing a glimpse of the concerned father beneath the businessman’s exterior. “When the girls were taken, the fear was unimaginable. When we only got Annalisa back, we were devastated. We may have lost her sister, but I won’t risk losing her, too.”

The revelation that Annie and her sister had been kidnapped, and she had been returned alone, struck Cole again. He triedto imagine what that kind of trauma would do to a three-year-old child, to a family. No wonder Annie had seemed guarded, especially at the start. But even since then, too.

“Mr. Burke, I understand your concern for Annie’s safety. I truly do. But shouldn’t this be her decision?”

Duncan’s jaw tightened. “You think you know my daughter after what, a few months? I’ve spent twenty-four years trying to keep her safe. Making the hard decisions she can’t or won’t make for herself.”

Cole fought to keep his voice steady. “With all due respect, sir, I care about Annie more than you realize. She’s chosen to be with me, knowing who I am and what my life entails.”

“Has she? Or has she simply been too afraid to tell you the truth about herself?” Duncan leaned forward. “Ask yourself this, Mr. Halverson: if she truly trusted you, why would she keep her entire identity a secret?”

The question hit Cole like a physical blow. Why hadn’t Annie trusted him enough to tell him who she really was? All those times they’d talked about their families, their childhoods—she’d shared a little about hers, but she’d always seemed more interested in his.

“I need to talk to her,” Cole said finally.

“That would be unwise.” Duncan’s voice had regained its clinical detachment. “The NDA you signed prevents you from discussing this conversation with anyone, and that includes my daughter.”

Cole stood abruptly. “You can’t stop me from asking her about her own life.”

“No, but I can ensure there are consequences if you reveal what was discussed in this room.” Duncan remained seated,utterly calm. “Think carefully about your next move, Mr. Halverson. Your career, her safety—both hang in the balance.”

The threat lingered in the air between them. Cole’s mind raced through options, none of them good. If he confronted Annie, he’d be violating the NDA. If he ended things with her without explanation, he’d break her heart. If he stayed with her, her father might destroy his career—or worse, Annie might be put in danger.

“I need time to think,” Cole finally said, his voice tight.

“I’m not unreasonable in this. I’ll give you a week to end things with Annalisa,” Duncan replied, rising to his feet. “After that, I’ll assume you’ve made your decision to continue this relationship, and I’ll act accordingly.”

The threat hung in the air as Cole turned and left the office without another word. The lawyer standing outside the door gave him a curt nod as he passed, but Cole barely registered it. His mind was spinning, trying to reconcile the Annie he knew with this new information.

The drive home passed in a blur. When he finally reached his apartment, Cole sat in his parked car for several minutes, hands gripping the steering wheel. How had everything changed so drastically in a single hour?

His phone buzzed with a text.

Annie:Congrats on the win tonight. Wish I could have been there to see it in person.

Cole stared at the message, his thumb hovering over the screen. What could he possibly say to her now?

He finally typedThanksthen paused before continuing.Wish you could have been here too. I’m beat. Going to bed early. Talk tomorrow?

She sent back a thumb’s up and a heart.

That small heart emoji twisted something inside him. He tossed his phone onto the passenger seat and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.

Lord, I could use some guidance here,he murmured, surprising himself with the prayer. It had been a long time since he’d turned to faith for answers.

The irony wasn’t lost on him. After years of distance from his childhood faith, here he was, instinctively reaching for it in a time of crisis. Maybe Annie’s quiet faith had influenced him more than he realized.

Annie. Who was she, really?

He’d met the daughters of uber-rich men. Some had carried themselves with an air of importance. Others had definitely been spoiled and expected the world to fall at their feet. None had been as down to earth as Annie. Although, as he thought back over the interactions, he recalled the moments when he’d been struck by an air of elegance, even when she was on the boat wearing a simple sundress. And at the gala, she’d seemed at ease with the elaborate set-up of the meal, even as she hadn’t enjoyed the crowds.

The woman he’d fallen for—the quiet, thoughtful woman with her subtle humor and deep insights—was she real? Or was she just a carefully constructed facade?

No, he couldn’t believe that. The connection between them, the way she listened and understood him, the vulnerability she’d shown... that couldn’t be fabricated.

But she hadn’t trusted him with her true identity.

Inside his apartment, Cole paced the living room, weighing his options.

---