Chapter 31
The night was deep and silent by the time Marcus returned to his luxury hotel suite overlooking the Thames,
the city lights reflecting off the dark water outside his massive floor-to-ceiling windows.
He shed his jacket and unbuttoned his collar,
feeling a deep exhaustion that had nothing to do with business and everything to do with wanting to be home.
He sat on the edge of the plush sofa,
holding his phone,
waiting for the exact moment he knew Khloe would be awake across the ocean.
He dialed her number,
and she answered on the very first ring,
her beautiful face appearing on the screen,
instantly wiping away all his fatigue.
She was sitting in their bedroom,
the warm lamplight illuminating her soft features,
and she looked at him with an expression of pure love and concern.
"You look tired,
Marcus,"
she said softly,
her voice traveling through the miles to soothe his restless soul,
"was the meeting that difficult?"
"The meeting was fine,"
Marcus replied,
his eyes drinking in the sight of her,
"the regulators are no longer an issue."
"Then why do you look like you just fought a war?"
she asked,
a gentle,
knowing smile appearing on her lips,
as if she could read his mind even through a screen.
"I had to take care of a minor pest,"
Marcus admitted,
a small smirk touching his lips,
"Lord Sterling will not be bothering your foundation anymore."
Khloe gasped slightly,
her eyes widening in surprise,
realizing that Marcus had already found out about the phone call and had taken action.
"Marcus,
what did you do?"
she inquired,
both touched by his protectiveness and slightly worried about what his ruthless side had done.
"He signed the lease,
Khloe,"
Marcus explained simply,
"the original terms are locked in permanently,
and the construction can proceed without any delays."
Khloe stared at him,
a deep emotion welling up in her chest,
knowing how much he loved her to go to such lengths to protect her dreams.
"Thank you,"
she whispered,
her voice thick with affection,
"you really are my champion,
aren't you?"
"I am whatever you need me to be,"
Marcus replied,
his voice dropping into a deep,
intimate register,
"always."
"Come home soon,
Marcus,"
she said,
resting her hand against the screen as if she could touch his cheek,
"the bed is too big without you."
"I am leaving first thing in the morning,"
May you like
Marcus promised,
"I will be with you before the sun goes down."
