Chapter 300: Invitation

Chapter 300: Chapter 300: Invitation

The quiet of the Twin Islands lingered long into the night. Far from the constant hum of Aurelia’s urban glow, the sky above the crescent beach had cleared into an ocean of sharp, diamond-bright stars. The gentle, rhythmic lapping of the tide against the shore was the only sound echoing through the timber walls of the cedar cabin.

When morning broke, the horizon paled into soft shades of lavender and brushed gold.

By nine o’clock, the morning mist over the water had dissipated under a warm sun. On the grassy clearing near the tree line, the Eurocopter H145 stood ready, its black airframe glistening with fine dew. Elias and Miller had already completed their morning security perimeter checks and stowed the small travel bags back into the helicopter’s cargo hold.

Jake and Catharine walked down the dirt path from the cabin together, their fingers tightly intertwined. Catharine leaned her head gently against Jake’s shoulder as they walked, a soft, radiant smile playing on her lips. The quiet stillness of the island had washed away every lingering trace of exhaustion from her everyday life.

Beside her, Jake walked with calm, measured steps, his free arm wrapped comfortably around her waist, pulling her close against his side as the cool sea breeze stirred her hair.

"Do we have to go back?" Catharine asked softly, turning her head to press a gentle kiss to his shoulder. "Can’t we stay a little longer?"

"You know you got work tomorrow," Jake replied softly, looking down at her with a tender warmth in his dark eyes. He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips against her temple. "But having you in my arms with nothing but the sound of the ocean... I didn’t want the morning to come."

Catharine’s smile widened, her dark eyes sparkling as she looked up into his face. "I know the feeling. I wish we could stay here forever." She tightened her grip on his hand, her voice dropping to a warm whisper. "Promise me we’ll come back soon."

"I promise," Jake said gently, pressing another soft kiss to her lips right there on the path before they reached the landing pad. "Whenever you want, this place is ours."

Elias stepped forward as they reached the landing site, holding the wide door open with his usual quiet professionalism, deliberately keeping his eyes trained on the perimeter. "All systems cleared for departure, Mr. Rivers. The charter jet is fueled and waiting at Port Casal."

"Thank you, Elias," Jake said softly, helping Catharine into her seat first and making sure she was comfortable before climbing in right beside her.

With a deep turbine whine that swelled into a steady thrum, the helicopter lifted gracefully off the grass. It hovered for a brief moment over the emerald canopy before pitching forward, soaring out across the turquoise expanse of the open sea.

Catharine leaned back against Jake’s chest, and he naturally wrapped his arms around her, letting her rest back comfortably as the Twin Islands shrank into two dark green gems on the horizon.

The return journey was smooth and peaceful. From the short flight across the channel to the landing in Port Casal, and finally the two-hour flight back north aboard the Gulfstream, Jake kept Catharine close, their shared warmth making the trip feel effortless.

By midday, the black Brabus G-Wagon was rolling smoothly off the runway tarmac at Veyra International, cutting through the crisp autumn air toward the city center.

As the armored SUV merged onto the high-speed elevated highway, the sprawling skyline of Aurelia rose up to meet them. Towering glass skyscrapers reflected the afternoon sun, their massive digital displays flashing across the city.

Catharine leaned over, resting her head against Jake’s arm, intertwining her fingers with his under the soft leather interior of the G-Wagon.

"Back to reality," Catharine murmured with a quiet sigh, looking at their joined hands. "I’m already missing the cabin."

Jake turned his head, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing the back of her fingers gently. "The city might be out there, but in here, it’s still just you and me."

Catharine melted a little against his side, her eyes soft with affection. "You really know how to spoil me, Mr. Smooth talker."

"Only because you deserve every bit of it," Jake whispered back, pulling her closer so her head rested right against his chest.

Jake nuzzled her neck softly, pressing a lingering kiss right against her skin, making a sweet shiver run down her spine.

"I love you, Catharine," Jake whispered genuinely, his tone completely stripped of his corporate reserve, showing only the deep, devoted man he was when it was just the two of them.

Catharine turned in his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck and looking up into his dark, passionate eyes. A brilliant, soft smile broke across her face.

"I love you too, Jake," she murmured softly.

---

High above the bustling financial district of Aurelia, inside the sleek, obsidian-glass executive boardroom of Golden Investments, the morning briefing was already underway.

Jake sat at the head of the long mahogany conference table, his fingers laced together as he listened to Alice Chase project a series of live market feeds onto the massive wall display.

"The secondary equity transfer for Fate Pharmaceuticals has cleared exchange regulations," Alice reported smoothly, her pen tapping lightly against her tablet. "Eighteen percent of the total company stock is now officially registered under Miss Maya Vane’s cryptographic identifier. Harold Trunk has formally lost his majority standing and his iron grip on the board."

Jake nodded once, his dark eyes remaining calm and impenetrable. "And how is Trunk reacting?"

A thin, cold smile touched the corner of Alice’s lips. "He spent the entire weekend screaming at his legal counsel. He realizes that with eighteen percent in friendly hands, any emergency board motion he tries to pass will be instantly vetoed. He’s effectively been castrated in his own company."

"Good," Jake murmured, leaning back slightly in his leather chair. "He brought his filth onto my property. Losing majority control is just the cost of admission."

"Understood," Alice replied, swiping to the next slide, which detailed the logistics for their upcoming travel schedule.

Before Alice could move to the next topic, Jake’s phone rang.

Jake glanced at the name on the screen and held up a hand. "Pause the briefing for a moment, Alice. I need to take this."

Alice bowed her head slightly and stepped back toward Elias as Jake tapped the phone to answer the call.

"Jake," Darius Rivers’ voice boomed smoothly through the high-definition speaker, carrying the familiar warmth and authority of his uncle. "I hope I’m not interrupting an important meeting. Though considering how thoroughly you’ve managed to dominate the news cycle over the last few days, you seem to be keeping yourself quite busy."

"Not at all, Uncle," Jake replied smoothly, a rare, faint touch of warmth softening his tone. "I’m just wrapping up a morning briefing. How have you been?"

"I’m fine, Jake. But I’m calling about the rumours going around the city," Darius said, his voice dropping into a slightly concerned, stern register. "Word around is that you stripped fifty percent of Harold Trunk’s majority stake in Fate Pharmaceuticals and handed eighteen percent of it to a university student. People in high-society circles are whispering that you’re getting arrogant after taking down the Newman Group—that you think you’re untouchable and can just bully corporate chairmen whenever you feel like it."

Jake’s dark eyes narrowed slightly, though he remained completely calm. "Is that what they’re saying?"

"It is," Darius replied, shaking his head on the other end. "And frankly, Jake, when I first heard it, I was worried. It sounded out of character for you. You’ve always been calm and calculated, not impulsive. Pulling a stunt like that doesn’t sound like the nephew I know."

"That’s because it isn’t, uncle," Jake said coolly, leaning forward over the table. "Trunk tried to corner and intimidate a young guest under my roof at the gallery. He had his bodyguards block her path and tried to force her into his car."

There was an immediate, dead silence on the line.

"He did what?" Darius asked, his tone dropping instantly into a cold, dangerous register that proved he was very much a Rivers.

"You know I wouldn’t tolerate something like that under my roof," Jake continued, his voice sharp and steady. "Stripping Trunk of his majority control and handing the stake to Miss Vane was me being merciful. If I wanted him erased, Fate Pharmaceuticals would already be dismantled."

A deep, hearty laugh suddenly echoed through the speaker—Darius’s initial concern completely vanishing into pure, unadulterated family pride.

"Well, damn it, Jake! Why didn’t anyone lead with that?!" Darius chuckled warmly, sounding thoroughly amused. "The greasy bastard deserved every bit of it! That’s my boy. A Rivers never lets trash disrespect their house or their guests. Good on you for crushing him."

Jake allowed a faint, genuinely amused smile to touch his lips. "I thought you’d see it that way."

"Absolutely," Darius agreed, his tone shifting into something more enthusiastic. "In fact, this brings me to the main reason I called. The annual Rivers Family Meeting is coming up next month. Now that your inheritance trust has been fully activated, you’re officially eligible to attend."

Jake’s posture straightened slightly, his dark eyes sharpening. "The family summit?"

"Yes," Darius said warmly. "It’s time you take your proper seat at the main table with the rest of the family. I expect to see you there."

"I’ll be there, Uncle," Jake answered smoothly. "Send the details to Alice."

"Will do. Take care of yourself, nephew," Darius said before disconnecting the call with a soft click.

The boardroom returned to its quiet, humming stillness. Alice stepped forward, a subtle smile on her face, while Elias stood at attention near the door.

"Shall we proceed with the asset reallocation for the SaveBack Inc. secondary market drop, Mr. Rivers?" Alice asked professionally.

Jake stood up smoothly, adjusting his cuffs as his dark gaze swept over the sprawling city skyline outside the glass.

"Proceed," Jake said calmly.

---(