Chapter 11

The truth of his words settled heavily in my chest. I'd witnessed firsthand how Lucas's brilliant mind had made him the prize in the power games. The same mind that could dissect a billion-dollar deal in minutes, yet somehow still remembered exactly what my favorite...

"Let me be direct," Atticus continued. "To block Clarence's political ambitions, we need to make a move. In politics, unlike Wall Street, there's limited room at the top. If Clarence gets his foothold in D.C., my grandfather's influence diminishes. That's why I'm proposing this alliance, Miss Sinclair."

"You're overestimating my influence," I said bluntly. "Compared to the Harringtons or any major player on Wall Street, StarRiver Group is barely a blip. And politics? I wouldn't know the first thing about navigating the D.C. crowd."

"You're selling yourself short," he countered. "The fact that Lucas Harrington took notice of you speaks volumes..."

"Romance and business acumen aren't exactly correlated," I cut in sharply, ignoring the twinge in my chest at mentioning Lucas.

He pressed on, undeterred. "That's just one factor. While Clarence is trying to break into politics, my family needs to strengthen our business ties. You're positioning yourself as a rising force in the market. Sure, your current assets might not compete with the major players yet, but you're clearly a dark horse. I'm willing to bet on your potential." He paused meaningfully. "Plus, we share a common interest in preventing Lucas and Rachel's marriage."

"I want them to get married," I stated firmly. The words felt like glass in my mouth, but I meant them. If Lucas and Rachel could find happiness together, I needed to step aside gracefully.

"Regardless of what you're telling yourself," Atticus said with a knowing look, "I'm certain Lucas won't go through with marrying Rachel."

"Then why approach me?" I challenged. "Shouldn't you be having this conversation with Lucas?"

"Direct intervention would be too obvious," he explained. "The relationship between our families is... delicate. We haven't reached the point of open warfare yet. I need your help dealing with Rachel specifically."

I felt my shoulders tense.

"Everyone assumes Garrett is the key to the Thorne family's future plans, but they're wrong," he continued. "Rachel is the linchpin. Garrett might be their political play, but Rachel's the one keeping Thorne Corp running. If she stumbles, their business empire becomes vulnerable. Without that corporate backing, Clarence's political aspirations become pipe dreams."

"You're still overestimating me," I maintained. "I'm actively avoiding any confrontation with Rachel. I don't have the resources or inclination to challenge her."

"You don't have a choice," he said, his tone hardening. "You're already in Rachel's crosshairs. This setback will only make her more determined. You're smart enough to know that once she and Lucas are married, you won't simply be allowed to walk away. Rachel doesn't leave loose ends."

My heart sank, unable to counter his point.

"You've never been one to take things lying down," he pressed. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have made it this far. Your resilience is exactly why I know you won't refuse this offer."

"I'm refusing," I said firmly, meeting his gaze.

I saw a flash of steel in his eyes. After a long moment of silence, I decided to explain my position, feeling I owed him that much after he'd come all this way.

"I understand your logic," I said carefully. "Your proposal is... compelling in many ways. But I won't let myself be drawn into this power play. The level you're operating at, it's beyond my scope and interest. I don't have those kinds of ambitions. I just want..."

I paused, choosing my words carefully. "I know my current situation isn't exactly stable, but actively jumping into this kind of warfare? That would only make things worse."