Chapter 274 · My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

Chapter 274

BRANDON'S POVI stood near the large glass window of Aria’s home office, holding a warm cup of dark coffee in my hands.The morning sun was just starting to climb over the trees outside. Down in the garden, I could see two of my security guards walking their morning rounds, checking the tall fences and making sure every gate was locked tight. Everything was quiet. Everything was peaceful.I took a slow sip of my coffee, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction warm my chest.Over the past few weeks, this home office has slowly become my main workplace. My corporate team back at my old headquarters kept asking when I was coming back to the main city.They thought I was just staying here temporarily to manage the security problems with Leonie Vance. They had no idea about my real plan.I walked over to the heavy oak desk and opened my laptop. On the screen was a detailed blueprint of a massive construction project right in the heart of this city.I was building my brand-new corporate headquarters right here, just twenty minutes away from Aria’s house. It was a total surprise. I hadn't told Aria a single word about it yet.I wanted the construction to be further along before I showed her the building. I didn't want us to live apart anymore, and I certainly wasn't going to make her move her life or uproot Amelia from her school.So, I was moving my entire business empire to her city instead. My eyes softened as my mind drifted back to yesterday. I could still hear Amelia’s tiny, sweet voice ringing in my ears from the weekend at the horse farm and in our bedroom.“Thank you, Daddy!” She had said it so naturally, without a single second of hesitation. It hadn't been forced. It had just spilled right out of her little heart because she trusted me.She saw me as her father, the man who stayed, the man who kept her and her mother safe from every storm.I ran a hand over my jaw, feeling a sudden wave of emotion hit me. I had controlled multi-million dollar corporations, won brutal board meetings, and faced down powerful enemies without blinking.But hearing that tiny girl call me "Daddy" had completely brought me to my knees. I swore right then that I would spend every remaining day of my life earning that name.A soft tap on the computer screen snapped me out of my thoughts. An encrypted email notification popped up in the corner of my display.It was a private report from Marcus, my lead intelligence officer on the ground. I set my coffee cup down on the wooden desk and clicked the file open.As I read through the lines of text, the warmth in my chest vanished, replaced instantly by a cold, sharp focus.“Target: Julian Vance,” the report read. “The subject was seen leaving the upscale downtown lounge in an intoxicated state late last night after a heated argument with a friend. The subject did not return straight home. Perimeter cameras spotted his vehicle parked in the shadows near your estate gates for approximately fifteen minutes before speeding off.”My eyes narrowed into small, dark slits.Julian had been parked right outside my gates in the middle of the night, drunk and bitter, watching my house.I scrolled down to read the rest of the report. “The subject made a three-minute encrypted phone call from his car at 3:12 AM. Trace analysis shows the call was placed to a known fixer in the local black-market network—a man named Viktor who specializes in corporate mudslinging and hidden files. Vance is actively seeking leverage against you.”I leaned back in the plush leather chair, resting my chin against my folded hands. So, Julian was getting desperate. He knew he couldn't win Amelia back in court after the judge listened to her testimony.He knew he couldn't use force against my security team without going straight to prison. And he was keeping his ice hockey career completely squeaky-clean so the public wouldn't turn on him.Instead, he was trying to play dirty in the dark. He wanted to buy hidden information or corporate dirt on my company to push me into a corner.He thought he was being clever. He thought he was playing a high-stakes game of chess behind closed doors. But what Julian didn't realize was that I owned the board.I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Marcus’s direct line. He answered on the very first ring. "Boss," Marcus said, his voice quiet and professional."I read the report," I said, my tone dropping into a low, deadly calm. "Julian is reaching out to Viktor.""Yes, sir. Should we move in and shut Viktor down right now? We can have his office cleared out by noon.""No," I replied firmly, looking back at the blueprint of my new headquarters on the laptop screen. "Don't touch Viktor yet. Let Julian pay him. Let Julian waste his money thinking he’s buying a weapon against me.""Are you sure, boss? If he gets his hands on old corporate documents—""Julian is swimming in deep waters, Marcus," I cut in, my voice icy and smooth. "He wants to keep his ice hockey reputation perfect while throwing mud at me from the shadows. Let him try. Keep two extra men on Viktor, and track every single dollar Julian moves out of his accounts. I want a full paper trail of every illegal contact he touches.""Understood, sir. What about the estate security?""Double the night guards on the front gate," I ordered. "Julian was bold enough to park outside my house last night. If he steps one foot over my property line, I don't want excuses. I want him in handcuffs.""Consider it done."I hung up the phone and set it down on the desk next to my coffee. I looked around Aria’s quiet home office.Her favorite books were neatly arranged on the white bookshelves behind me, and the soft scent of her vanilla candle still lingered in the air. This house was her safe space.It was the sanctuary she had built for our daughter, and I would tear down anyone who tried to ruin it. The heavy wooden door of the office creaked open softly.I looked up as Aria stepped inside, wearing a soft cream sweater and holding a plate with hot buttered toast. Her long hair was tied back in a loose bun, and her soft eyes brightened the moment they met mine."Good morning," she said in her gentle voice, walking over and placing the plate on my desk. "I saw the light on. You're working early.""Just reviewing a few property files," I said softly, instantly closing the blueprint window on my laptop screen. I reached out, grabbing her hand and pulling her down to sit lightly on my lap.Aria wrapped her arms around my neck without a second of hesitation, resting her cheek against mine. "Is everything okay with the company back home?""Everything is perfect," I whispered, kissing the side of her neck and holding her tight against my chest. "In fact, things around here are going to get even better very soon."She pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes with a sweet, curious smile. "What does that mean?""It means you and Amelia are my whole life now," I said softly, my eyes full of raw truth. "And nobody is ever going to take that away from us.”

Chapter 274