Chapter 105 Breakfast


    Chapter 105 Breakfast


    “Careful, you’re drooling.”


    Dawn froze.


    For a second, her mind went nk. Then she realized he had gotten her again.


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    He always managed to twist thest word back on her. The only way to keep up with him was to stop ying fair. That was the lesson she learned after living with him.


    She pulled out her chair, sat down, and smirked. “Drool just means respect for you, Chef Jackson. You should take it as apliment.”


    Ethan raised his brows like he hadn’t seen thating.


    By the time he looked again, she was already chewing her food with deliberate slowness, pretending to enjoy it while her thoughts wandered somewhere else.


    His expression shifted.


    He peeled an egg with calm precision, the shell breaking away in neat kes. “How’d you sleepst night?”


    Her fork paused, but she kept her expression neutral. “Pretty good.”


    “Really?”


    She stayed quiet.


    Finally, she looked up. His half–smile carried that weightless confidence that always made her feel like he saw straight through her.


    With a sigh, she set the corn cob down.


    “Not really. I had a rough dream.”


    “Want to tell me?”


    He dropped the peeled egg on her te. “Or not. It’s just a dream. It doesn’t deserve your day. Eat your egg.


    She stared at him for a beat, then gave in and took a bite. The yolk was warm and creamy, cooked to perfection.


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    Chapter 105 Breakfast


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    Her mood wasn’t ruined by the dream. What unsettled her was Austin and Sydney, always circling at the edges of her life.


    They weren’t enough to crush her, but their shadow never faded.


    “Austin called me yesterday.”


    The words slipped out before she could stop them. She shut her eyes briefly and shook her head. “I live in Northville now. I said everything that needed to be said already.”


    She was speaking to Ethan, but she was also reminding herself.


    Whatever she owed Austin came only from the fact that he had raised her. It was a debt she nned to repay. Nothing more.


    She finished the egg in two quick bites, drained half her ss of milk, and stood. “I’m heading out. You enjoy your food without me.”


    “I’ll drive you—”


    “It’s alright. I’ll take


    my


    car.”


    Before he could answer, she was gone.


    Ethan chuckled under his breath, but his gaze slid to her unfinished te. The smile faded. He pulled out his phone and made a call.


    Tony picked it up.


    “Where’s Austin right now?” asked Ethan


    On the other end, Tony spoke up without even thinking.


    “You think I’m a GPS tracker or something, boss?”


    Ethan said nothing.


    “Fine, fine. Give me a second.” That was Tony.


    Tony knew from experience that his silence carried more weight than any shouted order.


    And the truth was, he did know where Austin was<b>. </b>


    In their world, dozens of group chats tied powerful people together–tools to trade favors, swap rumors, and make sure the wrong toes weren’t stepped on.


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    Chapter 105 Breakfast


    Over time, they had splintered into circles of every kind.


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    Gossip groups, CEO hubs, bossdy collectives … Any group you could imagine, Tony was in <ol><li>it. </li></ol>


    Tony was in all of them.


    So when he asked, it took less than a minute for someone to answer.


    “Austin’s in Trifton. Word is he’s nosing around the Northline project. Sounds like he’s serious about it. Wait–that’s our turf, isn’t it?”


    It was. That had been the reason Ethan left town earlier in the week.


    “Yeah.”


    His voice was ice. His fingers tapped the table in a slow, steady beat. “Spread the word. Osborne Group is my intended partner.”


    Tony blinked. “You mean it?”


    “Why not?”


    “Alright.”


    He didn’t dare say


    otherwise.


    The project team already had their favorites lined up. If Ethan made his move now, the old guard would fight it tooth and nail. But once Ethan said it, there was no turning back.


    Ethan’s face showed nothing. His eyes were too deep to read. “Do it. I’ll handle the rest.”


    The news reached Austin by afternoon.


    He sat with his head bowed, fingers pressed to his temples, thinking of the call he had made to Dawn the night before. His assistant, Osbert, shifted nervously by his side.


    “Sir, should we reach out again?”


    They had already tried twice, and the project manager wouldn’t even take their calls. But now, out of nowhere, came inside information.


    Jackson Group had been leaning toward Osborne Group all along. That wasn’t rejection. That was a signal.


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    Chapter 105 Breakfast


    Osbert’s pulse raced with hope. His boss, though, stayed quiet, weighing it.


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    Atst, Austin drew a long breath. His voice came out low and rough, like gravel.“If they’ve already given us a sign, there’s no reason not to respond. Set up a meeting with their Mr. Jackson.”


    Osbert’s eyes widened. “With Mr. Jackson himself? Do you think he’ll agree to see us?”