2

Sebastian exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. “I know things have been rocky, but ‘bleeding capital’ is a little dramatic. Don't you think?”

Theo’s jaw tightened. “Is it? Our private equity division is supposed to make strategic investments, not gamble on every high-risk startup that gives you a good pitch. We’ve sunk millions into companies that haven’t even passed their Series A funding.”

Sebastian shrugged, undeterred. “High risk, high reward. That’s how this business works.”

“No,” Theo said, voice firm. “That’s how you work. And right now, the only thing you’re rewarding is poor decision-making. Some of these investments should have never been approved.”

Sebastian met his gaze, his easy going demeanor fading just slightly. “Theo, You’re acting like I’ve tanked the company. We’ve had losses before, but we're still here. Standing strong.”

“This isn’t just about losses. It’s about patterns,” Theo countered. “I looked into the numbers—there’s no strategy, no sustainability. If this continues, our credibility with investors will crumble.”

Sebastian didn’t speak right away, his expression unreadable. Finally, he leaned forward, folding his hands together. “Alright. Let’s say you’re right. What’s your plan?”

Theo didn’t hesitate. “First, we put an immediate freeze on all new investments until I’ve assessed every active deal. And I mean all of them. Second, we restructure the decision-making process—no more unilateral approvals from you.”

Sebastian raised a brow. “I see. So in other words, you’re just going to take over?”

“I’m going to fix this,” Theo corrected. “And if you have a problem with that, we can take this to the board.”

A tense silence stretched between them.

Then, Sebastian huffed a quiet laugh and shook his head. “You haven’t changed, have you?”

Theo didn’t flinch. “Not when it comes to business. I haven't, and I see no reason why I should.”

Sebastian leaned back again, a smirk playing at his lips, but there was something calculating behind it. “Fine. Do what you need to do. But don’t expect me to roll over.”

“Knowing you as well as I do, I wouldn’t,” Theo said simply.

Without another word, he picked up the folder and walked out. He had a company to save.

The thing with his brother was that he could be reckless sometimes. Right from when they were little, Theo had always been the responsible one. Even as a young boy, he was always interested in going through the financial reports their father left on his desk, trying to understand how the family business and money worked. Structure, discipline, and strategy—that was how he operated.

Sebastian, on the other hand, had a natural charm that let him talk his way out of anything. He was the type to climb out of his bedroom window for a party the night before an exam, then show up the next morning and somehow still pass. He was reckless but lucky, always skating by on wit and confidence.

Their father used to say, “Theo, you think too much. And Sebastian, you don’t think enough.”

It wasn’t surprising that as they got older, Theo took on the heavier burdens while Sebastian enjoyed the freedom of taking risks. The problem was, in business, charm could only take you so far.

Now, years later, with their father now gone, nothing had changed. And Theo was back to clean up another one of his brother’s messes.

His mind was racing through the steps he needed to take, and as he pulled the door open and walked out, he nearly collided with Camille, who had just returned to the outer office to grab her coat.

“Oh,” she said, startled, her hand freezing mid-reach.

Theo stepped back, steadying himself. Up close, he noticed details about her that he hadn’t registered before—the quiet sharpness in her gaze, the way she held herself with composed efficiency. She wasn’t just Sebastian’s assistant; she was someone who kept things running, and she was beautiful. Not overly flashy… Just effortlessly captivating.

She had rich chestnut brown, wavy hair, which fell just past her shoulders. Deep hazel eyes with flecks of gold, and an oval-shaped face with high cheekbones, giving her an elegant yet approachable look.

Her skin looked smooth. Her lips full and well-defined. Her small nose was delicate and slightly upturned, adding to her charm without making her look too sharp.

Without thinking or even realising that he was doing it, Theo's eyes dropped to take her in fully. She was gracefully curvy—slim but with a defined waist and subtly rounded hips. She wasn't tall. In her heels she stood at around 5'7"—tall enough to stand out, but not towering, and in her blouse and tailored skirt, she looked… quite professional. Yes, that was the word he was looking for, Theo thought.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

“Leaving already, Mr Lawrence?” she asked, her tone polite but laced with curiosity.

“For now,” he replied. Then, after a beat, “How long have you been working for my brother?”

“Six months,” Camille said simply.

“Six months,” Theo repeated, as if he hadn't heard her clearly.

She nodded. “Yes.”

He studied her for a moment longer, as if assessing something deeper than her words. “Then you really must have a lot of patience.”

Camille blinked, surprised. Was that… amusement or judgment in his tone? She couldn't decide.

Before she could respond, Theo gave her a small, unreadable nod and walked past.

She exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath. Something about him felt different from Sebastian—not just in the way he spoke, but in the weight of his presence. Sebastian was very friendly and easy to talk to, but Theo was intimidating. She got a completely different vibe from him, and it unsettled her.

She waited for a few minutes, just to make sure she didn't bump into him again on her way out, then she grabbed her coat and headed home.

_____________

Camille stepped into the sleek, glass-walled office of Lawrence Private Equity & Investments the following week, the familiar hum of morning activity filling the air. The rhythmic clatter of keyboards, the low murmur of conversations, and the distant ringing of phones all blended into the usual corporate symphony.

But today, something was different.

The usual light chatter among employees carried a different energy—low whispers, stolen glances, and a subtle undercurrent of tension that hadn’t been there before, and It didn’t take Camille long to realize why.

Theo Lawrence was back.