Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Kiss of Chaos
Caleb’s POV
My nerves were stretched to their breaking point as I sat behind my desk at Thorne Industries, our family’s legitimate front operation. The DNA test results hadn’t arrived yet, but deep in my gut, I already knew the truth. Yara’s child wasn’t mine. I just needed those damn results to finally put this nightmare to rest and clear my name with the Commission.
The secure line on my desk buzzed with an encrypted call. My secretary Gemma’s voice came through the speaker, professional but strained. Someone was waiting in the lobby to see me. My blood turned to ice when she said the name.
Veronica Moretti.
What the hell was she doing here? The Moretti family had been our allies once, before everything went to shit. I told Gemma to escort her to Conference Room B. Neutral territory, away from my private office where family business was conducted.
I finished reviewing the latest shipping manifests from our South American operations, my fingers moving mechanically across the papers while my mind raced. When Gemma buzzed to confirm Veronica’s arrival, I straightened my tie and headed down to the executive floor.
The moment I stepped into the marble lobby, Veronica launched herself at me like a guided missile. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her mouth crashing against mine in a kiss that tasted like desperation and expensive lipstick.
"Fantastic! Now this little snake is making herself at home in our headquarters?" Xavier’s voice dripped with disgust as he emerged from the elevator bank, briefcase in hand. As my consigliere, he had every right to be pissed about unauthorized family visits.
"Good afternoon to you too, you miserable bastard!" Veronica fired back, her fingers still tangled in my hair.
I pulled away from her, my jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth. That’s when I saw them. Ivy stood frozen by the elevator doors, Jude beside her, both of them staring at the disaster unfolding in front of them.
Jude was shaking his head slowly, his expression a mixture of disappointment and fury. But it was Ivy’s face that nearly brought me to my knees. The color had drained from her cheeks, leaving her looking pale and fragile. The woman who handled our money laundering operations with ice-cold precision looked like she might shatter.
She walked past us without a word, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a death march. Gemma trailed behind her, shooting me a look that could have melted steel.
Jude paused as he passed my position, leaning in close enough that only I could hear his words.
"If you can’t manage to send this piece of trash back to whatever hole she crawled out of, just say the word. Because I’m not sticking around to watch you destroy yourself, brother."
"So what’s it going to be, Caleb?" Xavier demanded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you going to handle this or do I need to call the cleaners?"
"He’s not going to handle anything, Xavier. He’s the idiot who let her into our building in the first place," Gemma called out as she exited Ivy’s office, heading toward the communications room with murder in her eyes.
Xavier turned on his heel and stalked back to his office, slamming the reinforced door hard enough to rattle the bulletproof glass. I stood there like an idiot, completely lost. I needed to get Veronica out of here before she caused any more damage to family operations.
I grabbed her elbow and steered her toward the express elevator, taking her down to the secure conference level. I should have done that from the beginning.
"So Caleb, who were those two lovely ladies upstairs?" Veronica purred, draping herself across my shoulders like an expensive coat.
"What do you want, Veronica?" I stepped away from her, putting the mahogany conference table between us.
"Isn’t it obvious, darling? I want you back in my life!"
"No, it’s not obvious at all. We ended things when your family made their alliance with the Rossellis. You chose them over us and built a new life. I did the same."
"But in Miami, we reconnected and you wanted me just as much as before."
"Don’t twist what happened. We ran into each other and I made the colossal mistake of sleeping with you. That’s all it was. A mistake that could have compromised both our families."
"Oh darling, that’s not how I remember it. If you took me to bed, it’s because you still have feelings for me. That’s why I came back. To give us another chance."
I couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. This woman was completely delusional about the reality of our situation. My patience was hanging by a thread.
"You’re completely insane. Do us both a favor and disappear. Get out. Leave the city. I feel absolutely nothing for you."
"Caleb, don’t be cruel. I flew all the way from Chicago for you."
"Then you wasted your time and your family’s money, because I don’t even want to remember you exist. Please, just go away and don’t contact me again."
"Is this because you’re involved with that boring little accountant Ivy? Yara filled me in on everything! How did you end up with the woman you supposedly can’t stand?"
"The same way I got tangled up with the biggest bitch on the East Coast, which would be you," I shouted, my voice echoing off the conference room walls. "Now get out and don’t contact me again."
"You think you can intimidate me?" She settled into one of the leather chairs, crossing her legs with theatrical flair. "I’m not giving up on you, Caleb. My family won’t either."
I yanked open the conference room door and spotted two of our security enforcers near the elevator bank. I waved them over, my voice sharp with authority.
"Escort Miss Moretti off the premises immediately. She’s banned from this building and all family properties effective now."
The men moved toward her without hesitation, recognizing the finality in my tone. As they flanked her chair, I stepped into the elevator and called our head of security, making sure Veronica’s name went on every blacklist we maintained.
When the elevator doors opened on the executive floor, I rushed toward Ivy’s office. Through the glass walls, I could see her sobbing uncontrollably, surrounded by Jude, Xavier, Gemma, and Katelyn.
"Caleb, she’s devastated. Back off," Jude blocked my path, his stance protective and unwavering.
"Come on, Jude. I need to explain what happened," I pleaded.
"Not happening, Don," Xavier stepped up beside Jude, using my title with cold formality.
"Yes, boss, it looks like you’ve done quite enough explaining already. Let the poor girl calm down. I gave her some of my special tea blend," Katelyn said, brushing past me with obvious disapproval.
"I’m taking Ivy to her apartment and then meeting you at my place. Got it? You too, Jude," Xavier announced.
"Xavier, let me drive Ivy home. You go deal with our Don and I’ll catch up with you later," Jude suggested.
"Fine. Jude takes Ivy. Gemma, maintain communications here. Keep your secure phone on if anything explodes. Caleb, you’re coming with me," Xavier decided.
Xavier refused to let me behind the wheel during the drive to his penthouse. The entire way, he lectured me about the spectacular mess I’d created and how he wouldn’t stick around to watch me destroy everything our family had built if I got involved with Veronica again.
I tried to defend myself, but what defense was there? I’d really fucked up this time. Just when I was close to resolving the Yara situation, I’d created an entirely new disaster with Veronica.
At Xavier’s apartment, he immediately made secure calls to Dominic and Finn, summoning them for an emergency family meeting. Jude arrived last, his face grim.
"Please tell me you used protection when you slept with that snake in Miami," Jude was furious, his protective instincts for Ivy on full display.
"Of course I used protection. I wasn’t completely out of my mind. I just needed to clear my head, guys. For me, it was supposed to be meaningless, nothing more," I tried to justify my actions.
"And it’s destroying Ivy’s stability," Jude snapped. "You have no idea how much I’ve watched that woman suffer. She’s brilliant, incredible, and all you do is break her heart repeatedly."
"How was she when you left her, Jude?" Xavier asked.
"She was already asleep by the time we reached her apartment. I made sure she was secure, and Carmen promised to stay with her until the other women arrived," Jude said, his voice softening. "That tea of Katelyn’s works like a sedative. Oh, and Caleb, Max kept asking where you were."
"Christ, I miss that kid so much!" The words came out choked with emotion.
When Dominic and Finn finally arrived, we filled them in on the whole disaster. Finn looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
"Caleb, fix this mess before it spirals completely out of control and threatens everything we’ve built," Finn said grimly.
