The Contract

Chapter 65-The Redesigning

TRAVIS'S P.O.V

I looked up at her, my tone colder than I intended. "What do you want me to do?"

She huffed, exasperated, placing her hands on her hips like she was gearing up for a fight. "I just told you your sister is facing a possible divorce, and you're sitting there saying nothing about it?"

"I warned you both about getting involved with the Roccis," I replied evenly, leaning back against the seat, though the mention of Lorenzo Rocci stirred unease within me. I masked it behind indifference.

She sighed, turning away from me to stare out of the window. Her reflection in the glass looked as troubled as her voice sounded. "They're going to withdraw their stakes from the company."

My gaze shot back to her, sharp and questioning. "Lorenzo is threatening her?"

"Talk to him at the event next week," she answered, brushing the topic aside like it wasn't as catastrophic as it sounded.

I narrowed my eyes. "Trent set a date without informing me?"

She turned, her expression softening briefly before hardening again. "How long are you going to keep fighting with him, Travis? You two have bigger issues to worry about."

I sucked in a breath, my jaw tightening as I reined in the urge to snap at her. Instead, I replied, voice steely. "I'll talk to Lorenzo about the divorce. He can go ahead and withdraw his stakes if he wants-"

"Do you know what that will do?" she interrupted, her voice rising slightly. "It will trample our name! Your father made a deal with Mr. Johnson Rocci-"

"And he sold Raquel," I finished for her, my voice low but laced with anger as I stood up abruptly.

The sharp scrape of the chair legs against the floor echoed in the room. "If she's tired of the marriage, I'm not going to hold her back. Raquel deserves better than being treated like a pawn."

Her lips pressed together, but I didn't wait for her response. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do." With that, I strode past her, not giving her a chance to argue further.

The hallway greeted me with quiet, but it wasn't enough to calm the turmoil in my head. I stopped short when I saw Pearl stepping out of the room at the far end, her hair slightly disheveled, her movements sluggish as she rubbed at her eyes.

She looked up at me, her gaze meeting mine briefly before she mumbled, "Morning," and headed down the stairs.

I watched her for a moment, hands slipping into my pockets. She looked almost vulnerable, and for reasons I didn't want to think about, that unsettled me.

I sighed heavily, pushing the thought aside as I entered the room. Work was the only thing I could rely on to keep my head straight.

The buzz of my phone broke the quiet, pulling my attention. I grabbed it from the bedside table and pressed it to my ear without checking the caller ID.

"You have a chance tomorrow," a voice informed me.

PEARL'S P.O.V

I took a sip of the coffee, letting the warm, rich flavor wash over me. A satisfied sigh escaped my lips. This was exactly what I needed to shake off the sluggishness of the morning and fully wake up.

"You're up early," a familiar voice remarked.

I turned to see Mrs. Ferrari entering the room, her graceful yet deliberate movements exuding the quiet authority she always carried. "Good morning, Rosa. How was your night?" I asked, setting my mug down on the table.