Unexpected words

Unexpected words

Hearing him say I was going to Singapore almost made my heart jump out of my chest. I didn’t understand—what were we even going there for? Wasn’t it too early for something like that?

I bit my lower lip, my breath shaky as I tried hard to avoid his gaze.

I forced myself to speak, even though my throat felt tight.

“Sir… what are we going to do in Singapore?” I asked. My voice came out smaller than I expected, like fear was slowly closing in on me.

He lazily lifted his eyelids, and the moment he did, it felt like a silent command. I looked up immediately, and our eyes locked.

Just as quickly, I looked away, my cheeks burning for reasons I couldn’t even explain.

He tilted his head slightly and leaned forward in his chair, giving me his full attention now.

“We’re going to Singapore for a serious meeting, Lyla. Something very important,” he said coldly.

I froze a little at the tone of his voice.

“And I would appreciate it if you don’t question my decisions, Miss Lyla,” he added.

My brows twitched.

“Sir, I’m sorry if I offended you, but if I’m expected to travel with you, I have the right to ask what it’s about,” I replied, nervously biting the inside of my cheek.

Honestly, I didn’t even want to go. I had no interest in following him anywhere. My sister was the one pushing all of this.

My mother was in her custody, and I knew one wrong move from me could put her in danger. Ellie wasn’t someone to underestimate—she had taken a life without hesitation. Sometimes I wondered why I still called her human.

“Anything else?”

Diego’s cold, husky voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I blinked, slightly startled.

“Yes,” I said—and instantly regretted it. Why did I say yes?

“How may I help you, Miss Lyla?” he asked, his tone now flat, almost bored.

Gosh… what am I even supposed to say now?

“Um… sir, when are we leaving?”

Silence fell between us. He just stared at me like I had grown a second head.

“The day after tomorrow.”

A small wave of relief washed over me.

Thank God. At least I had time… time to deal with Ellie.

“So,” he said, leaning back in his chair, his gaze slowly dragging over me, “are you going to keep standing there, or will you come inside my office?”

My brows furrowed.

“I don’t understand, sir,” I replied, trying to maintain eye contact.

“There’s a bed inside my office,” he said, a faint smirk forming on his lips.

Slowly, I began to understand what he meant.

“I… I don’t understand, sir. To do what?”

This time, he stopped moving completely and stared straight into my eyes.

“To do what we did last time,” he said, his smile widening.

My body went rigid, like I’d just been hit by something heavy. My heart raced so fast it felt like it would burst out of my chest.

I shook my head quickly.

“Nothing, sir. I… I need to get back to work,” I muttered and almost ran out of his office.

My heels echoed loudly against the marble floor, but I didn’t care. I just needed to get away.

When I got to my office, I grabbed onto the table for support, his words replaying over and over in my head.

“To do what we did last time…”

So he remembered.

Of course he remembered. What was I even thinking?

I sank into my chair like a lifeless body and tried to focus on my work, using it as a distraction.

But it was hard.

Very hard.

\---

Later that day, after I finished work, I stepped outside—and there he was, already waiting in the car.

My heart nearly stopped.

How was I supposed to face him now?

I inhaled deeply, standing in the parking lot.

“Just pretend nothing happened. You didn’t hear anything,” I muttered to myself.

I walked to the car and greeted everyone, but he didn’t respond.

And I told myself I didn’t care.

But I did.

The entire ride was filled with heavy silence. Every now and then, I could feel his gaze on me, and it made my skin crawl.

I sat as close to the door as possible, like I could disappear if I tried hard enough.

His cologne filled the air, intoxicating, making it impossible to think about anything else.

The moment the car stopped, I rushed out and headed straight to my room.

I slammed the door shut behind me and almost screamed in frustration.

I couldn’t even stand being around him for a minute—how was I supposed to travel with him to Singapore?

No. I couldn’t go.

I had to talk to my sister.

Ellie… who didn’t even deserve to be called one.

A sudden knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. I frowned and walked over to open it.

Ellie.

Speak of the devil.

She walked in confidently, a bright smile on her lips, and I couldn’t help but feel confused.

Why was she smiling like that?

She said it with a wide smile, and I couldn’t stop the bitter laugh that escaped my lips.

“I can’t believe you’re actually happy about this,” I said, shaking my head. “Your husband is going away with another woman, and you’re smiling like it’s nothing?”

The words slipped out before I could stop myself.

Her smile faded instantly.

Her expression darkened as she slowly rose from my bed, her eyes locking onto mine with a chilling calm.

“You don’t get to question me,” she said coldly. “You don’t get to decide how I behave or what I do.”

She took a slow step closer, her voice dropping even lower.

“You’re nothing but a slave I chose to help. Don’t mistake that for fr
eedom.”

My chest tightened as her gaze hardened.

“Because with just one call…” she paused, her lips curling slightly, “your mother disappears.”