Chapter 13 Chapter 13

Chapter 13 Chapter 13
Valentina

I could feel his heartbeat under my palm. The closeness between us wasn't just physical it was magnetic, dangerous. I could feel the pull deep inside me, the one that made my breath catch and my knees weak.

Why does it always end like this?
Why do I keep finding myself here close enough to feel his breath, to catch the scent of his cologne, to want something I shouldn't even imagine?

He's my husband's son. My stepson.

God, it sounds so wrong even in my head. And yet, the way he's looking at me right now... I can't even think straight.

His hand was still on my waist, his chest rising slowly under my palm. Every part of me screamed to move, but another part the part I didn't want to admit existed screamed to stay.
To close the small, torturous space between us. To feel his lips, even if it would ruin everything.

My heart was thundering against my ribs, loud enough for both of us to hear.

I shouldn't want this. I shouldn't want him. And just as the thought burned through my head, a sudden clang echoed from somewhere behind probably something dropping, or maybe just fate reminding me of reality.

The sound snapped me out of whatever spell I'd been under. I jerked back immediately, my breathing uneven as I stepped away from him.

He didn't move. He just watched me and that silence made everything worse. I couldn't even look him in the eye.

"Stop doing this to me," I blurted out, my voice trembling more than I wanted it to.

Lucien tilted his head, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "Doing what exactly?"

"This—" I gestured awkwardly, my fingers trembling. "This... getting too close. Touching me. Saying things that—"

He smirked, and I swear it did things to me that it shouldn't have.
"Don't you like it when I touch you?" he asked, voice low, teasing, almost sinful.

My throat went dry. I wanted to deny it but the words stuck in my mouth.
Because deep down... I knew the truth. I did like it. God, I liked it more than I should.

The way he made my skin feel alive, the way every glance from him lit something in me I didn't even know existed... it scared me. It thrilled me.

I bit my lip hard, shaking my head as if that could chase away the thoughts forming in my mind thoughts of him, of his lips on mine, of what would happen if I just gave in for once.

"No," I managed to whisper, though even to my own ears it sounded weak.

Lucien took another slow step closer, his gaze never leaving mine. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it might burst.

But instead of touching me again, he reached for his glass, downed the rest of his drink in one gulp, and placed it back on the counter.

"Go to bed," he said then he walked out leaving me standing there, feeling like the ground had just shifted beneath my feet.

I let out a shaky breath and pressed a hand to my chest. My heart was still racing.

"What is wrong with me?" I whispered to myself.

I should hate him. He's arrogant, rude, impossible to understand. Yet... I can't stop thinking about him. About the way his eyes darken when he looks at me. About the way my whole body reacts when he's near.

This isn't right. None of this is right.

I ran a hand through my hair, hating myself for even coming down here. If only the water jug in my room hadn't been empty, I wouldn't have needed to come here at all. I wouldn't have had to see him... or feel this.



Morning came too quickly. The air in my office felt too crisp, almost like it was mocking the mess spinning in my head.

Mr. Evans stood beside the new secretary, a polite smile resting on his face as he explained her role. "Mrs. Benedict, this is Miss Lydia Parker. She'll be assisting you with your schedules, meetings, and correspondence moving forward."

Lydia looked young probably close to my age with warm hazel eyes and that nervous excitement people have when they start a new job.

"Welcome," I said, trying to sound present while Mr. Evans went on about how capable she was.

"I've already briefed her on your preferences," he added, glancing down at his notes. "She'll handle your appointments, calls, and daily tasks."

I nodded. "Good."

He seemed satisfied and gave me a small nod before saying, "I'll leave you two to get acquainted," and left the office.

"What would you like me to do first, ma'am? Should I get you some coffee?"

I shook my head. "No, don't bother. And please call me Valentina."

She looked a little surprised but nodded quickly. "Of course, Valentina."

"What do I have for today?" I asked, eager to focus on something work-related.

She tapped her tablet, scrolling through the day's schedule that Mr. Evans must have shared with her. "You have a few pending documents to review before noon, a call with the finance board at eleven, and... a lunch meeting with Mr. Ambrose at one."

Ambrose. The same man who'd spent last night at the gala smiling, flaunting me in front of his business partners as if I were some prize he couldn't wait to show off.

And yet, this morning, when we came to work, he was different. Cold. Distant. He barely said two words to me in the car. How quick he is to show the real him.

Lydia looked up, waiting for a response. "Would you like me to prepare the documents for the meeting now?"

"Yes, please. Thank you, Lydia. That'll be all for now."

She nodded before leaving the room, closing the door softly behind her. I leaned back in my chair, exhaling.



I followed Mr. Evans down the long corridor, confused when he stopped in front of a door I'd never seen before.

"The private dining room, Mrs. Benedict," he said, opening it for me.

Private dining room? I didn't know such place existed in this building. 

The soft light spilling from the chandelier reflected off the polished wooden table. There were three seats. For a moment, I thought maybe Ambrose had invited a client. But when my eyes lifted, they met Lucien's.

Sitting there. Calm. Effortlessly composed. His sleeves rolled up, revealing those veins along his forearms. His dark gaze flicked toward me and my heart did that stupid thing again, stumbling against my ribs.

Ambrose gave me a brief glance as I pulled out a chair and sat. Food was already served grilled salmon, salad, wine everything perfectly set. But I could barely taste the air, let alone food.

"Lucien," Ambrose started a conversation cutting from his steak, "Have you spoken to the people in Prague?"

"Yes. The deal's been sealed. The transfer happened this morning." Lucien's voice was smooth. 

Ambrose nodded. "Good. I don't want any delay this time. Last time, we lost a client because someone got careless."

Lucien's jaw flexed, but he didn't rise to it. "It won't happen again."

Ambrose's eyes flickered up to him with that sharp glint of approval. "You're becoming more like me every day."

Lucien said nothing just lifted his wine glass and took a slow sip, his gaze momentarily distant.

Something about that silence unsettled me. It wasn't defiance. It was restraint. Like there was a storm sitting quietly behind his calm face something he didn't want his father to see.

Ambrose set his fork down and dabbed his mouth with a napkin, turning to me with that same measured authority that made people bend before they realized it.

"Valentina. You will be working on a project."

"A project?"

"Yes. It's part of the expansion deal with the European investors. I want you to take charge of the presentation, strategy, and reports. You'll coordinate everything with Lucien."

The fork nearly slipped from my fingers. With Lucien?

Ambrose didn't seem to notice the way Lucien was gripping his fork tighter than necessary but I noticed because I was monitoring his every movement. "You'll work closely with him. He knows the people, the data, and how things operate. I expect results."

What exactly is the man trying to put me through? Assigning me job one after another. 

"But I thought—"

"You signed a contract with me. Every task I assign, you handle. That was the agreement, wasn't it?"

There was no harshness in his tone but it didn't need one. His words carried all the authority of a man used to being obeyed.

I forced a small nod, my pulse racing. "Yes Sir."

He leaned back, satisfied. "Good. Evans will send you the details before the day ends."

Ambrose pushed back his chair, the legs scraping lightly against the floor. He stood, straightening his suit jacket.

"Lucien, meet me in my office when you're done here."

"Yes, Father."

And just like that, Ambrose Benedict walked out, the door closing behind him with a quiet click that somehow echoed.

I exhaled slowly and dropped the fork I'd been holding. It hit the plate with a soft clang. "Unbelievable," I muttered under my breath, leaning back in my chair.

"Do you always agree to anything you're asked to do?"

My head snapped up. He was looking at me, his expression unreadable but his tone carrying that quiet arrogance that made my blood boil.

I gave a small, humorless laugh. "Likewise, you. Last time I checked, when he said you'd be assisting me, you didn't object either."

His jaw flexed, his lips curving slightly. "There's no reason to. That's part of my job. I'm taking over the company in the future — and you..." his gaze dropped briefly to my lips before flicking back up to my eyes, "...need to learn. The only person who can teach you is me."

I couldn't help it I really laughed this time. A low, bitter sound. "Do you know you're annoying?"

"You tell me that a lot for someone who keeps ending up in the same room as me."

I raised a brow. "Trust me, it's not by choice."

He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing, studying me like I was some puzzle he was trying to solve. "You sure about that?"

I looked away, picking up my napkin just to have something to do with my hands. "Positive."

"You talk like you hate me."

"I do," I said, too quickly.

"You don't sound like you do."

"I'm done here." I announced standing up. Being around him will only make the matters worse. 

He didn't stop me, but I could feel his eyes following every move I made as I walked out.

And damn it, I hated how I could still feel the weight of his gaze like his touch, even when he hadn't laid a hand on me.