Chapter 232 · My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

Chapter 232

BRANDON'S POVThe celebratory mood from yesterday was still lingering in the air, but my mind was already miles away from the boardroom.Aria was upstairs, finally resting with a light heart, completely convinced that she had saved her father’s company all on her own. I liked it that way.Seeing the bright, unstoppable smile on her face was worth every single penny of the millions I had secretly wired into Marcus's account. But while she was celebrating a business victory, I was still fighting a silent war to keep her safe.I stood out on the back patio, the cool morning air doing nothing to soothe the tight, hard tension in my shoulders. I paced across the concrete, my phone gripped tightly in my hand.I dialed the private number to my head of security, my jaw clenching as the line began to ring. "Tell me you have something on Sterling," I barked into the receiver the exact second he picked up, not wasting any time on a greeting."We do, boss," my investigator replied instantly. "We ran a deep dive into Thomas Sterling's private finances, just like you ordered. The timing of his sudden withdrawal from Aria's company was too perfect, and the data proves it. Two nights ago, right before he sent over that official legal notice to liquidate his shares, a massive, highly suspicious cash transfer entered his offshore account in the Cayman Islands."My eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as I stared out into the empty backyard. "How much?""Five million dollars, cash," the investigator said. "It was sent through a blind trust. It’s an encrypted shell company designed to hide the identity of the sender. Whoever paid him off knew exactly what they were doing."A cold, dark anger bloomed deep in my chest. Five million dollars to buy out a majority shareholder and force Aria onto her knees.This wasn't just a random business disagreement or a case of a nervous investor. This was a deliberate, well-funded strike meant to completely break her."I don't care how many walls they put up," I growled, my voice dripping with pure steel. "Chip away at that blind trust. Trace the banking codes, find the origin of that wire transfer, and give me a name. I want to know exactly who is pulling Sterling's strings.""On it, boss. We are already running the digital footprints. I'll call you the second a name pops up."I hung up the phone, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. Thomas Sterling was currently sitting in a jail cell waiting for his trial but the real monster was still out there, hiding in the shadows and plotting against my woman.I slid the heavy glass door open and walked back into the warm house, trying to force my face into a calm, normal expression. As I walked into the living room, I stopped and watched the scene unfolding in front of me.Sarah was sitting on the carpet, patiently helping Amelia build a massive castle out of colored plastic blocks. Amelia was giggling, her cheeks flushed with happiness as she carefully placed a blue block on the very top tower."Look, Sarah! It's a palace for Mommy!" Amelia cheered, clapping her small hands together."It's absolutely beautiful, princess," Sarah said, her voice incredibly sweet, soft, and gentle. She reached out and lightly patted Amelia's curls, smiling warmly. "Your mommy is going to love it when she comes downstairs."I leaned against the wooden doorframe, watching them closely. Sarah had been an absolute blessing to this household over the past few weeks.She was quiet, she knew the security codes for the gates, she kept a perfect schedule, and most importantly, Amelia completely adored her. In a world full of corporate sharks and vicious enemies like Helen and Julian, this house felt like the only true sanctuary we had left."Morning, Sarah," I said, stepping into the room.Sarah looked up, her sweet smile widening just a bit, looking completely relaxed. "Good morning, Mr. Brandon. I hope Miss Aria is resting well. She looked so happy when she came home yesterday.""She is," I said, giving her a brief, appreciative nod. "Thank you for taking such good care of Amelia. It gives Aria the peace of mind she needs right now.""It's my absolute pleasure, sir," Sarah said smoothly, turning her attention back to the block castle. "Amelia is a perfect angel. I'll make sure she stays quiet so her mommy can sleep a little longer."I watched her for another moment before checking my watch. I needed to leave the house for the day, but leaving Aria always made my protective instincts flare. Still, looking at Sarah cradling a toy to show Amelia, I felt a wave of relief.I walked over, kissed the top of Amelia’s head, and whispered a quick goodbye. I walked out the front door, got into my car, and drove away from the estate.Since my main corporate company headquarters was located right here in my own home city, I didn't have to travel far to manage my assets.However, because I spent almost all my time staying close to Aria, I had been living out of a luxury penthouse suite at one of the finest hotels in the downtown district.I drove there first, pulling into the private garage and taking the secure elevator straight up to my room.Once inside the quiet suite, I changed out of my casual clothes and threw on a crisp, tailored suit jacket. I needed to look the part of the unbothered billionaire while my team worked to dismantle our enemies in the background.I grabbed my tablet, checked a few pressing financial files, and made sure Marcus had completed the wiring process for Aria's company. Everything on the public front was running like clockwork.But my main mission for the morning was to visit my construction site.After leaving the hotel, I drove to a massive, gated construction lot located right in the middle of the city. I pulled up to the security gate, and the guards immediately recognized my car, opening the heavy metal barriers with deep bows.I parked near the main structure and stepped out, strapping on a hard hat over my dark hair. I walked onto the busy construction site, my eyes scanning the rising steel beams and the thick concrete foundations.This was my ultimate secret project. I was building a massive, state-of-the-art secondary corporate headquarters right here. I had kept the entire project completely hidden from the public, and especially from Aria.She valued her independence so much, and if she knew I was moving my multi-billion dollar corporate hub just to be minutes away from her, she would think I was overstepping.But I didn't care. I needed to be close to her. I needed to know that if an emergency happened, if a shareholder went rogue, or if Julian showed his face again, I could cross the distance and stand in front of her within minutes.The project manager rushed over to me, holding a set of blue architectural prints. "Good morning, Mr. Brandon. The foundation for the main executive tower is completely poured, and the secure server rooms are being built underground just like you specified. We are ahead of schedule.""Good," I said, looking up at the skeletal frame of the building. My dark eyes hardened with absolute determination. "Double the shifts if you have to. Keep the security tight, and make sure no information about this location leaks to the press. I want this building fully operational soon.”"Understood, sir. We will get it done."I nodded, watching the workers move across the scaffolding. This building would be my fortress.Aria was building her empire, and I was going to let her shine—but right here from this very tower, I would be watching over her every single step, ensuring she remained completely safe from the dangers of the world.

Chapter 232