Chapter 10
Alison
"You look beautiful, Alison."
Victor's appreciative gaze swept over me as we settled into our table at La Maison, the city's newest five-star French restaurant.
I'd spent more time than I cared to admit selecting tonight's outfit—a midnight blue dress that hugged my curves without being too obvious, elegant but not overtly seductive.
I'd told myself the effort was for my own confidence, not because of what had happened with Lucas earlier. The marks he'd left on my neck were carefully concealed beneath a silk scarf that matched my dress.
"Thank you," I replied, accepting the menu from our server. "This place is lovely."
"Only the best for my star executive," Victor said smoothly. "And to celebrate your excellent work on the Preston proposal."
The afternoon had been a blur of meetings and projections, with no mention of my encounter with Lucas. If Victor suspected anything had happened beyond our conversation at the café, he didn't let on.
"Preston seemed impressed with our numbers," I agreed, studying the wine list to avoid Victor's intense gaze. "Though Hawkins is still strong competition."
Victor's mouth tightened momentarily before relaxing into an easy smile. "Lucas has always been a formidable opponent. But he's distracted these days—his engagement to Victoria Black seems perpetually stalled, and rumor has it there's dissent within his company's board."
I sipped my water, careful to keep my expression neutral. "His personal life isn't my concern."
"No?" Victor raised an eyebrow. "He seemed quite interested in yours this morning."
"Lucas is... territorial," I said carefully. "Even about employees he discarded years ago. It's just his nature."
Victor nodded, accepting this explanation. "Well, his loss is my gain. You've been an invaluable asset to Nexus, Alison. I hope you know how much I appreciate having you back in the States."
The genuine warmth in his voice caught me off guard. In the five years we'd worked together, Victor had been very professional, respectful of my boundaries as a single mother. Of course, there had been hints of personal interest, but they'd been subtle enough for me to ignore comfortably.
Tonight, however, there was an unmistakable undercurrent to his attention that went beyond professional appreciation.
"I have something for you," Victor said, reaching into his jacket pocket. "A small token of my esteem."
He placed a velvet box on the table between us. Not ring-sized, thankfully, but still intimate enough to make my pulse quicken with uncertainty.
"Victor, you didn't need to—"
"Please," he interrupted gently. "Open it."
With hesitant fingers, I lifted the lid to reveal a delicate platinum bracelet, subtle diamonds catching the candlelight. It was elegant, expensive without being ostentatious, and entirely inappropriate from an employer.
"I can't accept this," I said, closing the box and pushing it back toward him. "It's too much."
"Not as a supervisor, perhaps," Victor conceded. "But as a man who admires you greatly? Who has watched you grow into one of the most capable, intelligent women he knows?"
I swallowed hard, uncertain how to navigate this shift in our relationship. "Victor, I'm not... I'm not ready for anything complicated. My focus needs to be on Leo and establishing our new life here."
To my relief, Victor didn't press. "I understand," he said, his smile warm rather than disappointed. "Consider it a friendship gift, then. No expectations attached."
After a moment's hesitation, I took the box back. "Thank you. It's beautiful."
"I have something for Leo as well," Victor added, producing a second, larger box. "I remembered how much he enjoyed the model train set in my office."
Inside was a miniature vintage locomotive, meticulously detailed and clearly expensive. The thoughtfulness of the gesture touched me—Victor had always been kind to Leo during our time in Frankfurt, respectful of my role as a mother first, executive second.
"He'll love this," I said sincerely. "You've always been so good to him."
"He's a remarkable boy," Victor replied. "Bright, intuitive. You've done an exceptional job raising him alone."
I felt a familiar pang of guilt at the reminder of Leo's missing father. "Thank you. It hasn't always been easy, but he's worth every sacrifice."
"Have you ever considered that he might benefit from a male presence in his life?" Victor asked carefully. "A stabilizing influence?"
The question hung between us, its implications clear. Before I could formulate a response, movement near the entrance caught my eye.
Lucas Hawkins stood in the doorway, surveying the restaurant with predatory focus. My heart stuttered as his amber gaze locked with mine across the room, his expression darkening as he took in the intimate table setting, the gift boxes, and Victor's attentive posture.
"Alison? Is everything all right?" Victor followed my line of sight, his shoulders tensing as he spotted Lucas. "Interesting coincidence."
"Is it?" I asked, suddenly suspicious of both men and their carefully orchestrated appearances in my life.
Victor's lips quirked in a humorless smile. "This is Lucas's go-to restaurant when trying to impress investors. The fact that we're both here tonight is... unfortunate."
Lucas was being seated now, across the restaurant, but with a clear view of our table. As he settled into his chair, he caught my eye and smirked, lifting his water glass in a mocking toast that made my cheeks burn.
"We could leave," Victor offered, clearly noting my discomfort.
"No," I said firmly, determined not to be chased away. "Our dinner has just begun, and I'm not giving Lucas the satisfaction of disrupting it."
Victor's expression softened with approval. "That's what I've always admired about you, Alison. Your backbone."
We ordered our meals, making a determined effort to ignore Lucas's presence. Victor kept the conversation flowing easily, discussing Leo's adjustment to his new school, my thoughts on the city's changes in the past five years, and our shared memories of Frankfurt.
It was pleasant, comfortable even, until I excused myself to visit the restroom.
"Don't be long," Victor said, his fingers brushing mine briefly. "Dessert should arrive soon."
The restroom was tucked down a quiet hallway, away from the main dining area. I was just checking my scarf in the mirror, ensuring Lucas's marks remained hidden, when the door swung open behind me.
Lucas stood in the doorway, filling it with his imposing presence, his eyes flashing dangerously in the soft lighting.
"This is the ladies' room," I pointed out coldly, my heart racing despite my calm exterior.
"I know." He stepped inside, letting the door swing shut behind him. "We need to talk."
"We have nothing to discuss." I moved to step around him, but Lucas was faster, backing me against the wall.
"Nothing to discuss?" he repeated, his voice a low growl. "After what happened this morning?"
The memory of our encounter in the café's conference room sent heat rushing through me. "That was a mistake that won't be repeated."
"Liar," Lucas murmured, his body caging mine against the wall without actually touching me. "I can see what you really want."
"You can see nothing, Lucas," I snapped, fighting the magnetic pull between us. "I'm here on a date, Lucas. With Victor. Who has been nothing but supportive and respectful for five years."
Lucas's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with something that looked suspiciously like jealousy. "Victor Chen is not the man you think he is."
"And you are?" I challenged, lifting my chin defiantly.
Instead of answering, Lucas reached into his pocket and pulled out my hair tie from that morning, dangling it before me. "Remember this?" he asked.
"Keep it as a souvenir," I said icily. "It's all you're getting from me."
His lips curved in a predatory smile. "We both know that's not true." He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "I could tell Victor what happened between us this morning. How you moaned my name. How your body responded to mine."
I stiffened, anger flaring hot and bright. "You wouldn't dare."
"Wouldn't I?" Lucas twirled the hair tie around his finger. "Or maybe I'll just walk out there right now and ask Victor how he feels about the marks I left on your skin." His fingers brushed the edge of my scarf. "The ones you're so carefully hiding beneath this pretty silk."
"That's blackmail," I breathed, heart hammering in my chest.
"I prefer to think of it as...incentive." Lucas's gaze dropped to my lips. "Stay away from Victor, Alison. He's dangerous in ways you can't begin to understand."
"The only danger I see is standing right in front of me," I retorted, gathering my courage to push past him.
Lucas caught my wrist, his grip firm but not painful. "I'm trying to protect you."
"I don't need your protection," I snapped, yanking my arm free. "I've managed just fine without it for five years."
Something flickered in his eyes—regret, perhaps, or frustration. But it was quickly replaced by that familiar, maddening arrogance.
"We'll see," he said softly.
I glared at him, refusing to be intimidated. "Are you done? Victor is waiting for me."
Lucas stepped back, that infuriating smirk returning to his lips. "By all means, don't keep him waiting. Enjoy your...date." The word dripped with disdain.
I straightened my scarf with as much dignity as I could muster and moved past him, pausing at the door. "Stay away from me, Lucas. I mean it."
"I've never been good at following orders, Alison," he replied, his voice a low rumble that sent unwanted shivers down my spine. "You should know that by now."
I returned to our table, painfully aware of Lucas's eyes following me across the restaurant. Victor looked up with a warm smile that faltered slightly as he studied my expression.
"Is everything all right?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Fine," I assured him, reaching for my water glass to cool my flushed cheeks. "Just...warm in here."
Victor's gaze shifted briefly toward the restrooms, then back to me. "Did Lucas approach you?"
I hesitated, then nodded. There was no point denying it. "Briefly. Nothing important."
Victor's expression hardened. "His obsession with you is becoming problematic. First the café this morning, now following you to the restroom? It borders on harassment."
"I can handle Lucas," I assured him, though I wasn't entirely convinced myself.
"You shouldn't have to," Victor countered.
"Not alone, at least." He reached across the table, covering my hand with his.
"Alison, I've respected your boundaries for five years.
I've never pushed for more than you were willing to give.
But seeing Lucas's renewed interest in you after how badly he hurt you, I can't stay silent any longer. "
My stomach knotted with apprehension. "Victor—"
"Let me finish," he said gently. "I care for you, Alison. Deeply. And for Leo as well. I've watched you rebuild your life after Lucas destroyed it. I've seen your strength, your determination. I admire everything about you."
The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable, making this more than just a strategic move in his ongoing chess match with Lucas.
"I'm not asking for a commitment," Victor continued. "Just a chance. Let me show you what a relationship based on mutual respect and admiration could be like."
I glanced across the restaurant to where Lucas sat, his gaze burning into us, watching Victor's hand covering mine with barely contained fury.
"I'm not ready," I said honestly, turning back to Victor. "After everything with Lucas, I've kept relationships at arm's length for a reason. Leo has to be my priority."
"Leo will always be your priority," Victor agreed. "As he should be. But that doesn't mean you can't allow yourself happiness as well. Think about it, that's all I ask."
He lifted my hand, pressing a kiss to my knuckles in a gesture that felt both respectful and possessive—and which I knew would be driving Lucas mad from his vantage point.
"I should get home to Leo," I said, suddenly exhausted by the emotional tug-of-war between these two powerful men. "The babysitter isn't available after nine."
Victor immediately signaled for the check. "Of course. I'll drive you."
The ride to my townhouse was quiet, comfortable even, with Victor respecting my need for silence. When we arrived, he walked me to the door like a perfect gentleman.
"Thank you for the gifts," I said, holding the two velvet boxes. "The locomotive for Leo was very thoughtful."
"I'll see you tomorrow at the office," Victor replied. "And Alison? Think about what I said. You deserve happiness—real happiness, not whatever toxic pull Lucas Hawkins still exerts over you."
With a gentle squeeze of my hand, he returned to his car, waiting until I was safely inside before driving away.
Emotionally drained, I decided to head to bed.
The elevator in our building connected directly to each townhouse unit, providing private access to every floor.
As I stepped inside and pressed the button for my floor, I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes, letting the events of the day wash over me.
The elevator had barely begun its ascent when it stopped abruptly. The doors slid open, and my eyes flew open to find a hand stopping them from closing—a large, masculine hand with a familiar platinum watch glinting at the wrist.
My heart stuttered as the doors reopened fully to reveal Lucas Hawkins, his amber eyes burning with determination as they met mine.