All Chapters of The heir's mask : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

At the start of a new week, Vanderbilt had scheduled the meeting for the acquisition of Ken’s small cybersecurity company, so Ken found himself in the Vanderbilt Tech boardroom on that Monday morning. Barely concealed tension filled the air as sunlight cast long shadows across the polished mahogany table. The acquisition of Ken’s startup—Aegis Shield—was deep in due diligence, and today’s so-called “informal” strategy session had half the executives pretending they weren’t watching the two youngest men in the room like it was premium entertainment.Steve Vanderbilt presented like he owned the world—which, in many ways, he did. Eleanor sat to his right, watchful as ever, her sharp eyes flicking between her son and the others. Lila was mercifully absent, thanks to Steve’s plot of possession, but Mark Dorkul had been invited as Steve’s “special consultant.” Steve had made certain Mark sat right beside him.“Mark’s insights on integration have been invaluable,” Steve announced smoothly, h

Ken sat frozen on the edge of the hotel bed, tears still wet on his cheeks, his heart hammering so hard he could barely breathe. The room felt smaller than ever, the walls closing in as conflicting emotions swirled inside him.“Ken.” Steve’s voice came again, darker this time, laced with that dangerous calm. “I’m not leaving. I am the only one for you, the only one who would keep you company and not leave for anything.”Ken wiped his face roughly and stayed silent, his mind racing with a thousand unspoken thoughts. After a long, suffocating pause, he heard Steve’s footsteps retreat down the hallway. Only then did he exhale shakily. Not now, man.He couldn’t face Steve tonight. Not with Sophia’s text still glowing on his phone and the taste of old memories lingering in his mouth. Not when everything felt so painfully unfinished. *Not now. I can’t stand you.* Then he smiled faintly because Steve’s aggression had technically improved in its pull, but he still wanted to watch everything u

Ken Thompson sat in the corner of the hotel lounge, his mind still reeling from everything he had gone through. Steve was still troubling him. He was in the same hotel where he had first run into Sophia. After the confrontation with Steve three days ago, he needed neutral ground to meet with a potential investor who might help him extract himself from the Vanderbilt acquisition—and whatever would help him stand out. His head was still spinning from Steve’s threats, the surveillance revelations, and the suffocating realization that every safety net in his life had Steve’s name stitched into it.In a secluded corner booth partially hidden by sheer curtains, Steve Vanderbilt sat with Mark Dorkul practically straddling his lap. The kiss they shared was deep and hungry. Mark moaned softly into it.Ken’s stomach twisted violently. He couldn’t look away. His eyes remained fixed on them for several moments.The way Steve kissed him—raw, dominant, claiming—sent a confusing spike of heat throug

Finally, the party noise had died down a little.Even with the silver half-mask, Steve still recognized Ken by his shoulders. He stood staring out at the dark water, lost in thought. His suit jacket was off, sleeves rolled up to expose his forearms. The sea wind tousled his dark hair, and Steve’s fingers itched to grip it.Steve couldn’t stop watching him. Every shift of Ken’s weight, every tight breath, the way his throat worked when he swallowed another glass of champagne—Steve tracked it all. A masked woman brushed past Ken, trailing her fingers along his arm in blatant invitation. Ken didn’t follow.Steve’s grip tightened on his own glass until it threatened to shatter.He had ditched Lila twenty minutes earlier with a vague excuse. She knew her role—smile for the cameras, keep Eleanor happy. Right now, Steve didn’t care if the entire board saw him staring at Ken. Ken was the only thing that mattered.Ken pushed off the railing and moved toward the shadowed lounge area on the uppe

Ken’s back hit the cabin door with a dull thud,with his heart hammering like a war drum. Sophia’s worried voice lingered just outside.“Ken? Please, if you’re in there with him—”Steve’s lips brushed Ken’s ear, his voice dripping with amusement. You “Better answer her, baby. Or should I invite her in for a front-row seat? With beautiful entertainment and excellent tours.”trust me I will deliver Ken shoved at Steve’s chest. “Stop it. You’re such an asshole. Shut up before you make this worse for both of us.”Steve grinned, sharp on ken but he didn’t step back. Instead, he pressed closer, rolling his hips in one slow, teasing grind. “Make me.”Ken exhaled shakily as Sophia finally retreated down the corridor. The second her footsteps faded away Steve Vanderbilt looked at him like he was the main course and the entire reason for the party with so much he couldn't explain “You’re enjoying this way too much,” Ken muttered, trying to ignore how his body responded to every point of contact