Marry Ex's Billionaire Uncle After Divorce (Aurora and Jasper) novel Chapter 155

Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Knocking

(Aurora’s POV)

“This is the best pasta I’ve had in a long time.”

It was a simple thing to say. I don’t know why it settled something in me, but it did.

“It’s just aglio e olio,” I said. “There’s nothing to it.”

“Still.”

We talked for a bit after that nothing important, just the easy back-and-forth of two people who’d gotten used to each other’s company. Then he poured himself a coffee and looked at me over the rim of the cup.

“You haven’t been sleeping,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

I wrapped both hands around my own mug.

“There was a man,” I said. “Last Thursday, outside the building. He bumped into me on the sidewalk – hard enough that it wasn’t an accident. Baseball cap, tall, thin. The way he smiled at me was wrong. I can’t explain it better than that. It was just wrong.”

Phineas set his cup down.

“Dark jacket?” he said.

“Yes.”

“Angular face. Deep-set eyes.”

I looked at him. “You saw him?”

“I saw someone matching that description near the entrance when I came in tonight.” His voice was flat and precise. “I didn’t think much of it at the time.”

He picked up his phone. He dialed without hesitating, and when someone answered he didn’t bother with pleasantries.

“This is Phineas Everett. I need security coverage increased around the Everett Tower perimeter and along the primary commute corridors – the routes employees use between the building and the nearest transit stops. Foot patrols, not just cameras. I want this in place by tomorrow morning.” A pause. “This is about the safety of our female staff. Make it a priority.”

He hung up.

I watched him put the phone back on the table.

That was it. No deliberation, no *let me think about it*, no asking me if I was sure. He’d heard what I said, decided it was a problem, and fixed it. The whole thing had taken about forty-five seconds.

The tension I’d been carrying for the past week – the kind that had been sitting between my shoulder

blades and following me down every well lit street quietly released.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to.

(Author’s POV)

Outside the building, across the wet street, Neil stood in the shadow of a doorway and watched the lobby

lights through the glass.

He’d seen them come in together. The girl and the man in the expensive coat.

He spat on the ground.

*Nice place,* he thought. *Nice man.* His daughter had landed well for herself. That was useful

information.

He came back the next day. And the day after that…

By the third day he noticed the new security presence – broad-shouldered men in dark jackets moving through the parking structure, stationed at the side entrances, walking slow circuits around the building perimeter. He counted four of them before he stopped counting.

He swore under his breath and pulled his cap lower.

The girl wasn’t giving him anything to work with. She came and went by car, door to door, and she never walked anywhere alone after dark. A week of watching and he had nothing to show for it.

He shifted his attention.

The boy was easier. Leo Caldwell, seventeen, attended a high school about a mile from the apartment. Neil had gotten the name from a contact who knew how to find things for the right price. Every afternoon, the kid walked home alone. School to apartment, ten minutes on foot, quiet residential streets most of the

way.

Neil was waiting at the corner near the school gate on a Wednesday afternoon when Leo came out.

The kid had his sister’s coloring – dark hair, the same careful eyes, He walked with his head up, not looking at his phone, which meant he noticed Neil before Neil had taken two steps toward him.

Neil put on his friendliest expression.

“Hey – you’re Martha’s boy, right? Leo?”

The kid stopped. He looked at Neil the way you looked at something you weren’t sure was dangerous yet.

“Who’s asking?”

“Name’s Dawson. Neil Dawson. Your mom and I go way back.” He kept his voice easy, relaxed. “I’m in town for a few days. Thought I’d stop by, say hello. Walk back with you?”

Leo looked at him for a long moment. His face gave nothing away.

“My mom’s not home today,” he said.

upter 10 Amtcking

Then he turned and walked away, fast

Neil went after him for about twenty feet before his lungs gave out. He bent over, hands on his knees,

chest heaving. Years of bad living had stripped him down to nothing useful, and the kid was already half a block ahead, not looking back.

Neil straightened up and watched him go.

He wasn’t worried. The boy knew his name now. That was enough for one day.

Leo didn’t slow down until he was through the apartment door.

Martha was in the kitchen when he came in, still catching his breath. She turned around with a frown.

“Leo. The doctor said – you can’t be running like that. Your heart-”

“I know.” He dropped onto the couch and pressed his hand to his chest, waiting for his pulse to settle. “I know, Mom. I’m fine.”

She came to the doorway. “You had your umbrella. Why were you running?”

He looked up at her.

“There was a man outside school,” he said. “Waiting by the gate. He said he knew you. Said his name was Dawson – Neil Dawson.” He kept his voice even. “He wanted to walk me home. Something about him felt off, so I left.”

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