Skyscrapers and Starlight – The Dragon’s Daughter
By Lea von Löwenstein
Chapter 11: Morning Light
Part 1: Breakfast and Butterflies
The Saturday morning sun painted the Drake penthouse’s master suite in watercolour hues as Alexandra stirred, wrapped in Egyptian cotton and memories. The scent of fresh coffee and warm croissants teased her awake.
“Good morning, wife.” Marcus’s voice was warm honey as he appeared in the doorway, balancing a silver breakfast tray.
She stretched languidly, taking in the sight of him in loose linen pants and nothing else. “You cook?”
“I have hidden depths,” he smiled, setting the tray across her lap. Fresh berries glistened like jewels beside perfectly scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, and what appeared to be…
“Are those pain au chocolat from La Maison?” She sat up, letting the sheets pool around her waist.
“Mmm.” He slid in beside her, dropping a kiss on her bare shoulder. “I may have sent the driver while you were sleeping. Though I did make the eggs and coffee myself.”
“Impressive.” She bit into a chocolate-filled croissant, making a sound that had nothing to do with breakfast and everything to do with pleasure.
Marcus’s eyes darkened. “If I’d known breakfast could make you sound like that, I’d have cooked days ago.”
She offered him a berry-stained kiss. “If I’d known you could cook like this, I might have revealed my identity sooner.”
“Speaking of revelations…” His fingers traced patterns on her spine. “Last night was…”
“Quite the innovation itself?” She smirked, stealing a piece of his bacon.
“I was going to say ‘life-changing,’ but yes.” He pulled her closer, careful not to upset the breakfast tray. “Though I’m beginning to think everything about you changes lives.”
“Only the ones I choose to.” She fed him a strawberry, watching his lips close around her fingers.
The breakfast grew cold, forgotten in favour of sweeter pursuits.
Part 2: The Press Gambit
Late morning sunlight streamed through the penthouse windows as Alexandra lounged in Marcus’s dress shirt, her tablet displaying draft press releases while he made fresh coffee.
“Think about it,” she purred, fingers flying across the screen. “‘Drake Industries Announces Revolutionary Partnership for Next-Generation Construction Technology.’ The timing is perfect – right before James’s doomed gala.”
Marcus leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her work. “Won’t this tip our hand?”
“On the contrary.” Her smile was pure silk. “We’re not announcing who the partner is. Just that Drake Industries has secured exclusive backing for,” she glanced at her draft, “‘groundbreaking quantum-based adaptive architecture technology that will revolutionise the industry.'”
“The speculation alone will drive James mad,” Marcus realised, bringing her a fresh espresso.
“Exactly. And when reporters dig…” She accepted the coffee with a kiss. “They’ll find patent applications we’re filing this afternoon. Preliminary research data. Everything to prove you’ve been developing this privately for years.”
“Have you already arranged all that?”
“Darling,” she stretched like a satisfied cat, “I made three calls while you were making breakfast. The press conference is set for two o’clock at Drake Tower. Your legal team is preparing the patents as we speak, and Global Titan’s R&D division is quietly backing your research data.”
“And the signing ceremony?”
“One month from today. March 5th.” Her eyes glittered. “By then, James’s Dubai deal will be ashes, and every major developer in Asia will be begging for your technology.”
Marcus pulled her into his lap, nuzzling her neck. “You’re terrifying.”
“Mmm. And yet you love it.”
“God help me, I do.”
Part 3: The Power of Two
The Drake Tower’s executive suite buzzed with activity as stylists and PR teams prepared for the two o’clock announcement. Alexandra perched on Marcus’s desk, watching him practice his speech while his tie hung loose around his neck.
“Nervous?” she asked, reaching for his tie.
“About announcing a multi-billion dollar partnership with an unnamed entity?” His laugh was slightly shaky. “Why would I be nervous?”
She stood, fingers expertly knotting his tie. “Because you’re about to step out of your father’s shadow and into your own light.”
“Our light,” he corrected softly, catching her hands. “This is us, isn’t it? Really us?”
“Always has been.” She smoothed his lapels. “From the moment you married a ‘delusional consultant’ who claimed to be Alexandra Chen.”
“About that…” He pulled her closer. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe—”
She silenced him with a kiss that tasted of promise and power. “You believed in me even when you thought I was nobody. That’s worth more than any name.”
A discrete cough from the doorway interrupted them. “Mr. Drake? Five minutes until the press conference.”
Alexandra straightened his tie one final time. “Ready to change the world, husband?”
His smile was radiant. “With you? Always.”
The executive suite’s private dressing room glowed with afternoon light as Alexandra circled Marcus like a curator examining a masterpiece. His Tom Ford suit was impeccable, but something in her eyes said she wasn’t quite satisfied.
“Hmm.” She tapped a manicured finger against her lips. “Something’s missing.”
“The suit’s perfect,” he protested mildly. “Your personal shopper practically measured my soul this morning.”
“The suit, yes.” She opened her Hermès bag, extracting a small burgundy box. “But a man about to announce the future needs something… ancestral.”
Inside the box, nestled in silk, lay a pair of jade cufflinks that made Marcus’s breath catch.
“Are those…?”
“Imperial jade,” she confirmed, taking his wrist. “Qing dynasty. They belonged to the last emperor who truly understood innovation.” Her fingers brushed his pulse as she fastened the first one. “He built the Forbidden City’s first telegraph system.”
“Alex…” He watched her secure the second cufflink. “These must be worth—”
“Less than the man wearing them.” She adjusted his pocket square, midnight blue silk against charcoal grey. “Though perhaps more than the entire Drake Tower.”
Her hands slid up his chest, straightening his already perfect tie. “There. Now you look like a man who’s about to revolutionize an industry.”
“I look like a man who married way above his station,” he murmured, catching her hands.
“Nonsense.” She brushed invisible lint from his shoulders. “You look exactly like what you are – my brilliant, innovative, slightly terrified husband who’s about to make history.”
A soft knock. “Two minutes, Mr. Drake.”
Alexandra stepped back, admiring her work. The jade cufflinks caught the light like captured stars, the suit moved like liquid shadow, and his eyes…
“Perfect,” she breathed, then gave him a gentle push toward the door. “Now go change the world. I’ll be watching.”
“From the shadows?” His smile was knowing.
“Always.” She straightened his tie one final time. “That’s where queens do their best work.”
