confrontation

Henry Donahue's pov

Maeve's father, and business owner, Henry Donahue sat behind his mahogany desk, his eyes blazing with fury as he gazed at Christian, his foster brother. The cold stone column in the corner of the room seemed to mirror Henry's icy demeanour. Years of silence had passed since Christian's disappearance after his father's death, and now, his sudden return had ignited a firestorm.

The scent of old leather and polished wood filled the room, a stark contrast to the tension hanging in the air. Henry's voice was low and menacing. "You should have never entertained her antics.

Christian leaned back in his chair, his expression unruffled. "With all due respect, she came onto me," he said, his tone smooth, devoid of apology. " I had no idea she would do such," 

Henry's face reddened, his jaw clenched. "You could have had all the women in the room this night but you chose to approach my daughter, of course, you goddamn had something to do with this, she's only 17 years old, What did you expect?" His voice echoed through the walls, the sound waves vibrating with anger.

Christian raised his eyebrow, his gaze steady. " I didn't realize she was off-limits." his tone even, almost amused.

Henry's scepticism was palpable. "You're telling me that a woman who looked 25 years old could be 17" he leaned forward, his elbows on the desk, his eyes piercing. "Do not play stupid with me. The last time we spoke I was sure I said I never wanted to see you back here, and you defied me," 

Christian's smile was subtle, his eyes glinting with amusement, " If you think, she is the reason why I came back then you are mistaken" Henry scoffed, 

"I have old business to attend to, something you are already aware of, I suppose, I noticed your boys still kept tabs on me" 

"It's hard not to notice when you left the trail for me to follow," Henry said as his gaze darkened, and he added, " What you're digging up seems pointless. the case has long since been cold. Anything found now will still be the same story" 

"I refuse to believe it as it is" Christian replied, his voice firm and resolute.

Henry's shoulder sagged, a small sigh escaping his lips. He rubbed his finger through the bridge of his nose, a gesture of weariness. "As long as you stay away from my family I will not interfere with what you do in this city. Keep your distance away from her as well." His warning laced with a subtle threat, his gaze dropping briefly before meeting Christian's.

"My advice to you would be to settle down and have your own family. stop digging up the ones who have long since left this world. nothing good will come out of it." 

"Unfortunately, there wouldn't be the right woman for me" 

Maeve stood outside her father's office, her ear pressed against the door. The warm wood grazed her skin as she strained to listen. her father's angry voice was a low rumble while Christian's calm tone sliced through the tension. 

"Unfortunately, there wouldn't be the right woman for me"

Maeve's heart stung. His words echoed in her mind, a stark contrast to the connection they shared just hours ago. The pain was a dull ache like a bruise forming. 

The door swung open, and Christian stepped out. Their eyes met, but he didn't acknowledge her. Not even a flicker of emotion. He walked past, his gaze fixed ahead, leaving Maeve feeling belittled and confused. The soft carpet muffled his steps as he disappeared down the hallway. Maeve watched, anger simmering. How dare he ignore her? 

She replayed the kiss they shared, questioning its significance. whether it had just been a fleeting moment for him. The memory of his lips on hers now felt tainted.

"MAEVE!!!" Her father's stern voice shattered her thoughts. she turned, composing herself. Henry's expression was thunderous, his eyes blazing. "I was about to call for you. enter and shut the door behind you" She gulped.

Henry's voice, calm yet unyielding as steel, filled the opulent office. "You are not to ever interact with him ever again, are my words clear to you" 

Maeve began to explain, "What you heard was a misunderstanding, if I had__"

But Henry's tone shifted, his voice slicing through her words like a sharp blade. "Maeve, do you understand me!" His calm facade cracked revealing his sheathed anger. 

Maeve was startled, her eyes widened before dropping to the polished marble floor

"Yes, Father," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the tickling grandfather clock. 

His body which had tensed up, relaxed into his chair once more, his expression twisted into that of disappointment and his brow furrowed at her, "I was shocked and disappointed to hear you did such, but I can only blame him. He must have tricked you somehow." His words dripped with disdain. "Do you understand the grave danger you would have faced if he hadn't been a relative?" 

Maeve's voice trembled, her hands clenched into fists. "He didn't make me do anything. I made a choice on my own, and for all I knew, the only way I stood wrong was not knowing he was related, partially..." she added the last part.

His jaw clenched, once more at her statement, "Silence!, Maeve. you're blind to danger. Men like him will hurt you." His voice rose, echoing off the office walls. "I half expected you'd need more time to grow decent, but you've made a spectacle of yourself in front of my important guests."

Had it not been her guest? At her party. she thought

Maeve's anger flared, her heart racing as she bit back, "I can handle myself" 

Henry's tone turned menacing, his voice low and gravelly. "if you could none of this would have happened and think of your sister's reputation that you drag alongside with you" There it was once more, the part she despised being mentioned, it pricked at her skin. 

Maeve's eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched. and she said through gritted teeth, "Why do you all make everything about her?" The air thickened with tension.

Henry's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing at her defiant gaze, "what does that mean?" 

Everyone in this family were never going to look at her, they would only point the finger in her direction, lessen her stance and courage. she was tired of having to hear the atrocities that came out of their mouth on her. Her gaze dropped and her eyes blazed with a scornful glare at him. She had had with them and their dismissal. It took one night, to come to this conclusion.

With a fierce determination, Maeve stood tall, her shoulders squared. "You want to know what's going to happen" This time her voice commands his attention. "To hell with all of you. I'm done with all of this crap. Consider me disowned" She spun on her heels, the soft ruffle of her dress echoing through the room. 

As she stormed out, she bumped into their attorney, who apologized, his voice conciliatory. Maeve didn't even pause to look back at him, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

"Maeve Brooklyn, come back here this instant!" Henry shouted, his voice booming through the corridors. The attorney entered, noticing Henry's disturbed expression. He had grasped the situation between them. however, made no words about it.

He laid out documents and confiscated camera cards. "They have been taken care of and no one will leak this to the public" he assured Henry, who sighed with relief, his broad shoulders relaxing.

The attorney's gaze narrowed at Henry, "What about Christian? Do we still need to keep an eye on him?" he asked, raising his eyebrow inquisitively. 

Henry's expression turned serious, his brows furrowed deeply, "Yes, pay close attention to him. There's no telling what he might do to affect the Donahue name"