Page 39 of Rival Desires

What the actual hell was Nadine up to?

“Well, isn’t this just peachy,” I muttered under my breath as the butler led us down a long, dimly lit hallway. The walls were lined with portraits of stern-looking ancestors, their eyes seeming to follow us as we passed. Rylee shot me a sideways glance, but I just shrugged and tried to keep my cool.

The butler stopped in front of a heavy oak door, which creaked open to reveal a cozy sitting room. Mrs. Seaworth was perched on a velvet armchair with a steaming cup of tea. She looked up as we entered, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Ah, there you are,” she said, gesturing for us to take a seat. “I hope you don’t mind me calling you both here on such short notice.”

Rylee and I exchanged a wary glance as we settled onto a plush sofa. The butler discreetly disappeared, leaving us alone with our mysterious hostess.

“So, what’s this all about, Mrs. Seaworth?” I asked, trying to sound casual. But my heart was pounding in my chest, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being set up for something.

Mrs. Seaworth sipped her tea, her eyes never leaving our faces. “Well, my dears,” she said, setting her cup down on a delicate saucer. “I have a proposition for you both. And I think you’re going to find it very...interesting.”

I had to fight the urge to steal a glance at Rylee. My body buzzed with her presence, but my mind was locked on Nadine and sealing the Seaworth deal.

Nadine turned to face Rylee. “My son and I chatted about you the other night. He told me that you’re quite interested inacquiring my business and that you hoped he’d put in a good word.”

Rylee squirmed next to me, and I couldn’t help but steal a glance.

“No need to worry, Rylee. Can I call you that? I think we should all be on a first-name basis here.” Nadine's look was as plain as vanilla. “I don’t hold it against you. I like someone who takes initiative. Besides, my son turning against you means you rejected him. Good for you.”

A twinge of guilt washed over me as I recalled the not-so-nice thoughts I’d harbored about Rylee - the snarky comments I’d hurled her way about her little rendezvous with Bennett. It turned out he had been plotting against her. It was a classic case of sour grapes, and it served him right for getting rejected.

“Cory, you’re not getting off easy either.” Nadine swiveled her gaze towards me. “You and your cousin have spoiled me rotten with all this attention. That play is old as dirt. I think we’ve had our fill of that, don’t you? I want to see results, not flattering.”

Neither Rylee nor I said a word, but Nadine didn’t seem to need us to. It hadn’t taken me long to realize that Nadine would’ve been the queen of any court in another life.

“No doubt about it, you two are the cream of the crop when it comes to personal attention,” Nadine remarked, glancing at Rylee. “Your firm may still be wet behind the ears, but word on the street is you’re giving the big dogs a run for their money. And let’s be real, a woman running the show in a boy’s club? That’s got some serious charm.”

My jaw clenched, but I managed to keep my mouth shut.

Nadine’s attention swung my way again. “But, Cory, I can’t discount the weight of a name. Gracen and McCrae? Those are some heavy hitters, even individually. Together? They’re a powerhouse.”

Nadine was like a ping-pong ball zipping back and forth between us. I was clueless about where she was going to settle.

“So, it hit me last night,” Nadine said, “if I’m stuck choosing between you two based on numbers and our chats, then I need a game-changer. Something that’ll make it crystal clear who’s the perfect fit for my needs.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. This wasn’t just about revealing her decision or giving us one last shot to plead our cases. Nope, Nadine had something else up her sleeve.

She nudged a folder towards Rylee, then slid one my way. We both eyed them like they might be ticking time bombs.

“Inside those folders,” she declared, “you’ll find a project I want both your companies to tackle. Make sure you follow the instructions to the letter to keep everything fair and square. One week from now, we’ll meet again and see what you’ve managed to cook up.”

Was this some kind of TV reality show? I half-expected a drumroll or a lightning bolt - this had to be a joke, right?

“If you have questions, feel free to reach out,” Nadine added, pushing back her chair and standing. “But remember, the best manorwoman wins.”

I slowly opened the folder, my mind racing. What the hell was Nadine playing at with this bizarre competition? Next to me, Rylee also picked up her folder, scanning the contents withfurrowed brows. Clearly, she was just as perplexed by this stunt as I was.

“I know it’s unconventional,” Nadine continued, “but I have complete faith in both of your abilities. Consider this your chance to showcase your skills and wow me.”

She glanced between Rylee and me expectantly. I managed a weak smile while Rylee gave a polite nod. Inside, my head was spinning.

Nadine clasped her hands together. “Excellent! I look forward to seeing what ingenious ideas you come up with. The clock starts now, my dears. I’ll see you back here in precisely one week.”

TWENTY-TWO

Rylee

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