"Nick… please help me. My zip's stuck again," Kate called from inside her dressing room, her voice slightly desperate.
This was the thirtieth dress she had tried on that morning, and none seemed to sit right. It wasn't her figure — her body was still toned, slim, almost runway-perfect. But somehow, nothing hugged the way she wanted. The frustration clung to her more tightly than the fabric itself. She signed, stepped out of the dress,and tossed it on the growing pile of rejected outfits.
Nick said nothing.
He stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window in their master bedroom, a glass of untouched espresso cooling in his hand. Fully dressed in a charcoal-grey three-piece suit with subtle silver pinstripes, his eyes were locked on the skyline, but his mind was far away. The anonymous message from the night before still echoed in his thoughts.
His silence lingered.
Kate let out a breath and stormed into the walk-in closet. Rows of color-coded designer gowns lined the walls. Chanel. Valentino. Versace. Dior. Beneath them, shelves of stilettos gleamed under soft LED lighting. Jewelry drawers, polished and organized, offered rows of diamonds and gold, but none of it felt right today.
She grabbed the blue silk dress she had picked up at the mall with Nick. Simple. Elegant. Tight where it needed to be. She slipped into it, tied her hair into a sharp ponytail, and added long crystal earrings that brushed her collarbone. As she adjusted her earrings, she muttered under her breath.
"I can't believe I'm wearing this to welcome that spoiled brat Chloe," she muttered under her breath. "But I'm doing this for Nick. Only for him."
"I didn't catch that," Nick said from the bedroom, glancing over his shoulder.
Kate quickly turned her expression. "Nothing, babe, I'll be ready in a jiffy. I'm almost ready." Nick didn't press further.
He returned his attention to the glowing tablet in his hand, scrolling through corporate databases and investment forums. Still no listed owner. No public face. No information about the Elevate Expansion Project beyond its eye-watering fifty-million-dollar commitment.
Downstairs, the sound of clinking pans and soft jazz spilled from the kitchen.
Naomi stood over the stovetop, dressed in a soft blush robe, gently flipping asparagus spears in butter. Behind her, a golden tray of miniature croissants cooled beside fresh-cut fruit, and hollandaise sauce bubbled low in a copper saucepan. She glanced up as Nick entered.
"Have you had anything to eat?" she asked.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "No appetite."
Naomi arched an eyebrow. "You'll run yourself into the ground. You need to eat."
Nick gave a tired smile and said nothing, turning instead to the small figure that suddenly darted into the room.
"Good morning, Daddy!" Sophia chirped, throwing her arms around his leg.
Nick scooped her into his arms and spun her gently. "Good morning, my little angel." He handed her a bright red apple from the basket and kissed the top of her head.
Just then,Kate descended the stairs in a heels , smiling with practiced warmth painted across her lips.
"Shall we?" she said softly, stepping beside Nick.
She helped Sophia button her coat, adjusting the collar with delicate fingers, then smoothed her own dress once more before following Nick to the car.
They stepped into the waiting Bentley parked out front, the chauffeur opening the doors with precision. Kate slipped into the passenger seat beside Nick, and Sophia climbed into the back, kicking her shiny black shoes against the floor mat.
The ride to the airport was silent at first. Nick's hand rested on the wheel, his phone mounted beside the dash, his mind still scanning names and links.
Kate turned to watch him. His brow furrowed just slightly.
"Are you still thinking about last night?" she asked carefully.
He didn't respond.
Kate hated that. She hated not knowing what occupied his mind. She especially hated when it wasn't her.
A gust of wind blew across the highway as they neared the airport.
They pulled up in front of the Private Arrivals Terminal at JFK International Airport. The building was sleek and discreet, with glass-paneled walls and steel pillars. A private security officer nodded as Nick showed his ID, and the car was allowed to wait near the arrivals exit.
They didn't wait long.
Chloe Carter emerged from the automatic doors less than five minutes later — effortlessly overdressed for an international flight. She wore a fitted white trench coat cinched at the waist, a silk champagne-colored blouse, wide-leg slacks, and pointy nude Louboutin heels. Her oversized Dior sunglasses covered half her face. Behind her rolled two Louis Vuitton suitcases, pulled casually by a personal porter.
"Well, look who's here to welcome me," Chloe announced with a smirk. "My darling angel."
Sophia squealed and ran into her arms. Chloe scooped her up with a smile, planting kisses on her cheeks. Then she turned and walked straight to Nick, pressing a kiss to his cheek and embracing him.
"Hi, big bro."
Kate stepped forward with a polite smile. "Welcome back, Chloe. How was Nor—"
Chloe breezed right past her without making eye contact.
"New York still smells like middle-class ambition," she said dramatically, inhaling the air. "I missed this chaos."
Nick walked to the trunk and opened it, loading her bags without comment. As Kate reached for the front passenger door, Chloe suddenly cut in.
"This is my spot," she said with icy sweetness, sliding in and adjusting her coat without apology.
Kate stared at her for a beat, lips slightly parted. But she said nothing. Instead, she stepped into the back seat beside Sophia.
Chloe leaned forward, tossing her sunglasses into her lap. "So… what's new on Wall Street? Any juicy takeovers while I was away?"
Nick kept his voice even. "A new player in the game - Elevate Expansion . There's a tech summit coming up. Huge money involved. A company called Elevate Strategic Group is behind it. Fifty million dollar investment. But no public identity tied to it."
"Sounds like old money trying to stay invisible," Chloe replied. "Probably just another gray - haired billionaire hiding behind a board of robots. Everyone's pretending to be a ghost these days ."
Kate added, "It could just be a soft launch. Maybe they're planning to announce later."
Chloe turned her head slowly. "Darling, I know you mean well… but this is business. You don't need to guess."
Nick's hand tensed around the steering wheel.
"That's enough," he said, glancing at his sister. "Kate is my wife. Show her some respect."
Chloe didn't apologize. She simply looked out the window, unbothered.
They reached the Carter estate fifteen minutes later. Chloe kissed Sophia goodbye, gave Nick a sideways hug, and walked inside without so much as a glance at Kate.
Nick closed the door behind her, then turned to Kate.
"I'll be back soon. I have somewhere to check out."
He climbed into the car alone and tapped the address into the GPS.
It didn't take long to reach Midtown.
The building was tall, all glass and steel, modern yet uninviting. A narrow gold plaque near the door read:
Elevate Strategic Group
Nick straightened his suit, adjusted his cuffs, and walked through the glass doors into the polished lobby.
Just as he stepped into the towering glass lobby of Elevate Strategic Group, the atmosphere shifted — elegant, cold, and immaculate. The soft hum of distant voices blended with the faint scent of leather and citrus. A receptionist sat quietly behind the marble front desk, typing efficiently, her attention focused on the screen.
But before Nick could approach her, another woman emerged.
She walked with quiet authority — poised, deliberate. Her silver-gray blouse fit seamlessly into the waist of a tailored pencil skirt, and her heels tapped sharply against the polished floor with every step. In one hand, she held a digital tablet; in the other, she carried silence like armor.
She stepped directly into his path — not aggressively, but with the kind of calm that suggested she didn't need permission to take charge.