From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress (Riley and Lucas) novel Chapter 164

Chapter 164 Walking Away

Chapter 164 Walking Away

He drew a slow breath, deciding to cut to the chase and speak plainly.

“Riley, you heard about the afternoon meeting, right?” Lucas‘ tone grew serious. “Aiden’s coming… and Sebastian too.”

Riley picked up her water glass, took a small sip, and remained silent.

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Lucas continued, “Sophia has been leading this project from day one. But you know she’s still green–she misses the finer points and deeper technical details. Especially with someone like Sebastian across the table… I’m concerned she won’t be able to hold her own.

“That’s why I’d like you to join the meeting this afternoon.”

Riley’s fingers tightened slightly around her glass.

She held Lucas‘ gaze, waiting for him to go on.

He didn’t give her a formal title–not project consultant, not technical advisor.

Instead, he laid it out plainly, “Just be there and listen. If Sophia overlooks something or gets asked a technical question she can’t answer, you can step in and cover for her.”

There it was. He wanted her to back Sophia up and clean up whatever went wrong.

That same simmering anger she’d just talked herself down from flared up once more.

Riley set her glass down slowly.

“No,” she refused flatly.

Lucas‘ brow furrowed at once. “What do you mean, no? Riley, this isn’t the time to play games! You know how critical this project is for the company!”

“I know exactly how critical it is,” Riley replied, meeting his irritated stare with a frightening calm. “But I have another commitment this afternoon.”

“I need to go to Harper Group.”

“Harper Group?” Lucas was genuinely taken aback, surprise written across his face. “I thought everything was running smoothly there. What’s so urgent that you have to head over now?”

“I’m not sure,” Riley said, keeping her expression neutral as she began to bend the truth. “Vincent told me this morning. I won’t know the details until I get there. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to call him and check.”

She dropped Vincent’s name confidently, certain Lucas would never actually make that call.

After all, Lucas had too much pride to put himself in that position.

His expression darkened further.

He pressed his lips into a thin line and studied Riley for a long moment.

Chapter 164 Walking Away

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But Riley looked so composed and natural that he began to wonder if something had indeed come up at Harper Group that he

wasn’t aware of.

Finally, he swallowed his frustration. “Fine, go ahead.”

There was no point in continuing the lunch.

Riley stood and left.

Back at the office, she grabbed her bag and walked straight out, ignoring the curious looks from the entire department.

She hailed a cab and gave the driver the address for Harper Group.

Half an hour later, the taxi pulled up in front of the Harper Group building.

Riley made her way up to the top floor and into the executive office suite without any trouble.

Vincent was reviewing documents when she appeared, his face registering clear surprise.

“Ms. Harper?” He rose quickly from his desk. “Is everything all right? I wasn’t expecting you today.”

Riley shook her head, weariness showing in her eyes.

“Everything’s fine,” she said quietly. “I just… needed some time alone.”

With that, she walked toward the office she hadn’t entered in quite a while.

Before pushing the door open, she paused and glanced back at Vincent. “Oh, and Vincent–if anyone from Ashford Group calls this afternoon, whether on my line or your cell, just tell them I’m in a meeting with you and unavailable.”

Vincent was sharp; he understood immediately.

Taking in Riley’s tense brow and the irritation she couldn’t quite hide, he put the pieces together.

Riley looked like someone who’d had an argument and retreated to her own space to cool off.

He didn’t pry. “Understood,” he replied simply.

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