Thirty-Two
THIRTY-TWO
LUCAS
T he few days we’ve been back home have been excruciating. We barely interact like we used to—we barely interact at all.
If she doesn’t have any questions regarding work, she doesn’t speak to me. I’ve made breakfast every morning, but she’s never up for it, which only confirms my suspicions that she’s distancing herself from me because she adores breakfast.
Last Tuesday, I put on her favorite tv show—the one we’ve been watching together that always makes her run to the sofa, yelling at me to bring her a glass of wine—but nothing. Her bedroom door didn’t open.
And then, yesterday, I tried to get her to go for lunch with me, but she dismissed me with the excuse that she was swamped with work.
As I sit down at my desk, trying to focus on work, my mind keeps wandering back to Leora. I can't stop thinking about her and what I can do to make things right between us. I know that I need to apologize, but I also know that it may not be enough.
To make matters worse, Louis Grimaldi has been out of the country, so I haven’t been able to have a meeting with him yet. I won't get that chance either, as he returns just two days before the opening. According to Estelle, Marc Duval is leaning towards voting for me, which means I might have enough people for a majority vote in my favor. It’s keeping me up at night. I can’t afford to fail.
After a few hours of work, I decide to take a break and head to the cafeteria in the building to grab a sandwich, hoping to clear my mind. Just as I’m about to sit down at a table, I see Leora walking in.
Her eyes land on me, hesitating for a moment before walking over, probably to keep up the charade of our happy marriage.
"Hey," I say, probably a bit too excitedly.
"Hey." Her voice is low and guarded.
"Please, have a seat." I gesture to the chair in front of me.
"Oh, I have to get back to Camille and Simon."
Of course she does.
I try to mask my disappointment, but she must see right through me. "Maybe another time?"
She nods before looking around, catching a few of our colleagues watching us. I think that’s the only reason she leans down to give me a peck on my cheek before walking away.
I watch her go, wishing I could just talk to her and clear the air between us.
"Trouble in paradise?" Liam’s voice interrupts my thoughts and I jump a little in my seat. I look up to see him standing over me, a teasing smirk on his face. He’s wearing his usual office-wear: jeans, a t-shirt, and a leather jacket instead of a blazer. He’s never been one to follow the rules of proper office attire.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Don't play dumb," he says, sitting down across from me. "It's obvious that something's up between you and Leora. You two have been avoiding each other like the plague."
Is it that obvious?
"You don’t know what you’re talking about."
He sizes me up with a dumbfounded look, his eyes searching for the truth in my words, but I can see the doubt lingering there.
"Lucas, I’m your brother. I know when something is up."
I let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the situation. I don’t want to involve him, but it might be the desperation that makes me speak up. "Things have been a bit tense since Paris," I admit.
"And what happened exactly?" Liam’s eyebrow shoots up his forehead as he leans in, clearly curious.
I hesitate for a moment before speaking. "We had a little argument." Not exactly the truth, but it’s as much as I’m willing to give. His eyebrows furrow as if he doesn’t quite understand.
"I didn’t handle it the best, and I don't know how to fix things."
Not the whole truth, but close enough.
Liam nods thoughtfully. "Well, maybe you should try talking to her about it. Tell her how you feel and try to work things out."
I nod. "I know, but every time I try, she finds ways to distance herself and avoid me—even at home."
"Why do you give her the opportunity to avoid you? Don’t try to talk to her. If you’re the reason why she’s hurt, then you better be the reason why she’s happy again. You have to be more assertive. Talk to her, Lucas."
"What if she doesn’t want me to?"
He smiles at me and shakes his head. "Man, I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Believe me, she wants you to."
"How does she look at me?"
"As though you’re the missing piece of her puzzle. It’s the way her eyes light up when she catches a glimpse of you and how she tries to hide a smile every time you walk in. This girl is head over heels in love with you," Liam replies, his voice, filled with a knowing warmth that reassures me and makes my heart race all at once.
Is she in love with me?
"When did you grow up to be all wise?" I ask him, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
Liam pats me on the back and gives me a reassuring squeeze. "You’ve got this, man. Just be honest with her. Why don’t you ask her to be your date to your annual charity dinner with the kids you help out? I bet she would love it. No one with a heart could say no to kids in need."
Why didn’t I think of that? When I told her about my charity, her eyes lit up like a lighthouse. I had considered skipping the dinner this year, not wanting to force her to spend time with me and pretend for a whole evening when she’s clearly uncomfortable and upset with me. But now, that's exactly what I want. Maybe a bit of pressure will help her see and feel the connection we truly have.
I smile gratefully at him. "That’s a great idea." I stand up, squeezing Liam's shoulder. "I’ll go ask her now."
With a sense of purpose, I make my way to Leora's office, my palms sweaty and a knot of nervousness tightening in my stomach. I approach her door and gently knock, waiting for her response.
"Come in." Her sweet voice welcomes me. As I step into her office, she lifts her head in greeting, her beautiful green eyes staring up at me.
"Lucas."
"Can we talk for a minute?"
"Oh, I actually have a lot to do." She averts her gaze back to her computer.
"It won’t take long." I proceed to take a seat on the chair in front of her desk. My eyes go to the picture of us hanging on the wall, and her gaze follows.
It’s a damn good picture.
Leora's eyes flicker with curiosity when they meet mine. There’s a hint of concern behind them, but she doesn't say anything yet.
"How does your evening look?" I know exactly how her schedule looks, and she knows it. But I want her to answer me.
She reaches up, her delicate fingers brushing against the strands of her hair, gently tucking it behind her ear. "I have no plans."
"Great, then you’ll accompany me tonight for my annual charity dinner."
"I’ll accompany you?" Her questioning tone, as always, adds to my already bubbling frustration. Why does she always have to fight me?
"Yes, you’ll be my date."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
My words hang in the air, and in her eyes, I see something I haven’t seen in a while—something I’ve missed. Intrigue.
Before she can say "no," I add the most important part. "Some of the kids will be there. They would love to meet you."
As if on cue, her face morphs into that of pleasant surprise. Her eyes widen slightly, and there’s a genuine smile growing on her face that brightens the room. The mention of the children seems to have touched a soft spot within her. Liam was right.
"The kids would like to meet me ?" she asks in disbelief.
I nod, my own smile spreading across my face. "Yes, they might have heard a thing or two about you." Last time I saw them, I spoke about her a lot and they begged to meet the woman I seem to be falling for. Even after presenting her to many people, introducing her to these kids will be even more special and cherished.
Leora’s expression softens even further, and a hint of blush colors her cheeks. "I would love to meet them, Lucas."
"Great, I guess we can round off the day and head home then."
A ding comes from her phone, quickly diverting her attention. Her brows furrow as she lets out a huff.
"Is everything okay?" I ask, my voice filled with genuine concern.
She sighs and sets her phone down on the table, the screen facing down. "Y-Yes, everything is fine. It’s just some work related issues," she stammers, the pitch in her voice subtly shifting, and her eyes won’t meet mine.
That’s weird.
I pause for a moment, narrowing my eyes as I watch her shift under my stare.
"Really? I’ll gladly help out," I offer, trying to figure out what has caused the sudden change in her.
"No, No. You have so much to do, don’t worry. But I might need to stay at the office a little longer."
"I’ll wait for you."
Another ding and her gaze goes to the phone quickly before they meet mine again. This time she doesn't pick it up.
"You don't have to do that. Go home, take a shower, and relax a bit. You deserve it. I won’t stay too long. I’ll just get some things in order with Camille."
Something seems odd; she’s jittery and nervous. Her gaze never meet mine, and I have a sense that something is wrong. But instead of pushing her away even further, I reluctantly agree to let her stay and let her know I’ll send a car.
Leora manages a faint smile, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. It’s as if she’s nervous.
She’s hiding something.