Chapter 451

The Sunday sun hung high when Kieran Blackwood's friend grimaced at his phone screen. They were sharing brunch at The Grandeur when his companion peeked over curiously. "Seriously? It's the weekend," his friend groaned, spotting the work emails. "YodaVision isn't paying you enough to sacrifice your days off. I thought you were busy plotting how to ask Isabella Sinclair out."

Kieran's fingers paused over his phone. This wasn't about YodaVision - it was personal ambition burning through his weekend. He ignored the jab about Isabella. Before discovering she remained legally married, he'd spent weeks crafting perfect date invitations. Her confession about the pending divorce had changed everything. The separation was real, but that marriage certificate still existed...

"Earth to Kieran?" His friend's knuckles rapped the mahogany table. "You've been zoning out all morning. What's going on in that genius brain of yours?"

Kieran blinked back to reality. When he'd believed Isabella divorced, her ex-husband barely registered in his thoughts. Now knowing Alexander Whitmore had initiated the divorce proceedings, questions gnawed at him. Isabella was everything - brilliant, compassionate, effortlessly elegant. What kind of man would willingly let her go?

He was about to ask his friend to discreetly investigate Alexander when a familiar voice cut through the restaurant chatter. "Kieran Blackwood? Out before noon on a Sunday?" Victoria Kensington approached with a knowing smile, her designer heels clicking against marble floors.

Kieran's posture stiffened. "Victoria." His greeting carried frost. Since joining YodaVision, he'd maintained professional distance, especially after learning about her relationship with Alexander.

Unfazed, Victoria slid into the vacant chair. "Your sister contacted me again," she said, accepting the tea a waiter offered. "She's worried about you wasting your potential at YodaVision when the family business needs you." Her manicured fingers traced the porcelain rim. "Months away haven't changed anything. When will you consider coming home?"

Kieran's jaw tightened. He couldn't fathom why someone who once shared his passion for AI would push him toward dull corporate inheritance. "That's between the Blackwoods and me," he said curtly.

Victoria studied his stormy expression before continuing gently, "I understand your attachment to YodaVision. Believe me, I'd give anything to work there." She hesitated. "But your father's health is declining..."

"I know about his condition," Kieran interrupted.

Before tension could escalate, his friend interjected smoothly, "Ms. Kensington, are you dining alone today? I don't see Mr. Whitmore with you."

"Family outing," Victoria replied, glancing toward the entrance. "Alexander's returning from Salzburg tomorrow."

At that moment, Dominic Fairchild approached with a polished smile. "Ms. Kensington, what a pleasant coincidence."

Victoria nodded graciously before noticing his companion. "Mr. Ashford! It's been ages."

Sebastian Ashford offered a curt nod before his gaze locked onto Kieran. Recognition flashed between them like lightning.

Victoria began introductions, "This is Kieran Blackwood from YodaVision. Kieran, this is—"

"We've met," both men said simultaneously, their voices overlapping with eerie precision.

Victoria's smile faltered. Even Dominic's usually composed expression cracked with surprise. As far as they knew, these two men occupied entirely separate worlds - one a rising tech star, the other a elusive business magnate. Yet their charged silence spoke volumes of some unspoken history.