Page 35 of The Silver Fox Brother

I stare at the page, my brain trying to catch up to what I'm seeing. I lean forward, hit the intercom.

"Marcus."

He appears in my doorway ten seconds later.

"Yes?"

"Why is Winter Hayes Design on this list?"

He doesn't hesitate.

"The firm's been on a meteoric rise over the past two years. Strong portfolio, excellent client reviews, and they were actually referred by one of your previous contractors.

Marcus steps closer, gestures to the page.

"I pulled some background. She's done a couple of projects for Sterling Commercial—your family's firm. Her work is highly regarded in the industry. Architectural Digest is featuring one of her restorations in their November issue."

I keep my expression neutral, but my mind is racing.

Marcus is watching me carefully now.

"Do you know the firm well?"

I pause. Regain composure.

"Not technically."

The lie sits there between us, small and necessary.

"I'll review all of them," I say, closing the folder.

"Thanks, Marcus. That's all for now."

He nods and leaves, closing the door behind him.

I sit at my desk, the folder in front of me, and I don't move for a long moment.

Winter Hayes Design.

I open the folder again, pull out her page, and really look at it this time. The projects listed are impressive—West Village brownstone that I remember reading about, a Chelsea loft that was featured in design blogs, current work on a $3.5M penthouse.

She's good. That much is clear.

I open my laptop, type her firm's name into the search bar.

The website loads—clean design, professional, sophisticated. A portfolio page showcases her completed projects with high-quality photography. I click through them slowly. The West Village brownstone: original details preserved, modern elements integrated seamlessly. The Chelsea loft: industrial bones softened with warm materials, layered lighting, spaces that feel lived-in despite the high-end finishes.

This is exactly what I need for Sterling Tower.

I find an article from Architectural Digest's website—a preview of their November feature. The photos show a pre-war apartment transformed into something that feels both timeless and contemporary. The write-up praises her ability to "honor architectural heritage while creating spaces for modern living."

I sit back, staring at the screen.

She's talented. More than talented—she's exactly the kind of designer who could execute Sterling Tower's vision without losing the soul of it.

But she's also Rowan's girlfriend.

I close the laptop, but continue scanning the other nine firms from Marcus's list. I spend the next twenty minutes forcing myself to review them with the same scrutiny I gave Winter's page.