Page 144 of Sin

I remain standing.

Owen turns to me. “You are going to answer questions. Clearly. No temper. No CEO voice. No bullshit.”

Richard steps forward. “My client⁠—”

Owen cuts him a look. “Your client is my brother, my CEO, and currently the biggest compliance disaster I have ever had the displeasure of being related to. He can answer whether the relationship was consensual.”

“It was,” I say.

Owen looks back at me. “Was there any coercion?”

“No.”

“Any promise of promotion, compensation, travel, favorable treatment?”

“No.”

Tate’s jaw tightens at travel. I look at him. His face says he is already thinking about Amsterdam. Seattle. Every trip he helped arrange. My guilt adds another floor to itself.

Owen continues. “Does she report to you?”

“Indirectly.”

“Then yes.”

“Yes.”

“Does she have a current offer from Sex Activity Pro?”

The room goes silent again.

I go still. “How do you know that?”

“Laurel forwarded the email to HR this morning.”

Relief hits so hard I almost sway. Smart. She was sick, hurt, dragged into hell by my marriage, and still smart enough to protect herself. That’s why I love her.

Owen sees something on my face and his eyes narrow.

“Do not look proud right now.”

“I am proud of her.”

The words come out before I can stop them. The room changes and no one breathes.

Owen’s expression goes from angry to something worse. Understanding.

“Oh,” Owen says quietly.

Wilder sinks into a chair. “You love her.”

I say nothing.

I don’t need to.

Blaze scrubs both hands over his face. “Sin.”

“I know.”