Chapter 167: Uncertainty

Alex’s voice dropped, quieter now but heavier. “You will because whether you like it or not, this is your position now.”

Lucas let out a low, disbelieving laugh. “You think you can control me like this?”

Alex held his gaze, unblinking.

“I don’t think,” he said softly. “I know.”

Silence crashed between them. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.

Lucas stood his ground, eyes locked with Alex’s, neither of them willing to yield.

Then, Alex’s phone buzzed.

The sharp vibration cut through the moment like a blade. For a split second, neither of them moved.

“I’m not your secretary,” Lucas said, his voice firm and final. “I never applied for this position, so I’m not taking it.”

He turned abruptly, already heading for the door. “I’m out of here.”

“You’ll be back, Lucas” Alex said coolly behind him. “To your position. My lawyer will contact you.”

Lucas didn’t stop. But his shoulders stiffened.

Then Alex’s phone buzzed again.

This time, Alex answered.

“Yes, Thomas, speak.”

Lucas slowed, just a fraction.

“Boss, it’s concerning last night’s issue,” Thomas said.

“What about last night's issues?” Alex asked, his tone uninterested.

Lucas froze.

On the other end, Thomas hesitated. “Boss, should we investigate it?”

“Investigate what?” Alex replied flatly. “There’s nothing to investigate, Thomas. Don’t waste your time on that. I’m not interested.”

The words hit harder than anything else in the room.

Lucas turned slowly now, disbelief written all over his face.

“I thought you were wiser than that, Alex.”

Alex’s gaze snapped to him, cold and unmoved.

But Lucas was already shaking his head. “Unbelievable,” he muttered. Then louder and sharper, he said with disappointment.

“You don’t even care enough to find out the truth. I wonder if you're the same man who claimed to love me with everything.”

I didn't claim, I did love you with everything, don't you dare mock what I felt and still feel,” Alex snapped.

Oh, really and you don't see it deemed fit to investigate what happened last night.

I've seen it all, so what else is there to investigate, hmm?

“I see, so that’s it”

Alex didn’t respond, he didn’t even blink.

That silence said everything.

Something in Lucas finally snapped. Anger surged back, stronger than before.

“Fine,” he spat. “Stay blind.”

And with that, he yanked the door open, stormed out, and jammed it back. The force of it echoes down the hallway.

Then the office fell quiet again.

Alex lowered his phone slowly, his expression unreadable.

But his grip on the device tightened

slightly.

The door slammed shut and the silence that followed wasn’t quiet.

It was loud. Loud with everything Alex refused to say out loud.

He stood there for a moment, unmoving, staring at the spot where Lucas had just been. Then suddenly, his fist came down hard on the desk.

“Damn it!”

The sound echoed through the office. He turned sharply, pacing, his hand dragging through his hair in frustration.

“How dare he…” Alex muttered, his voice low but shaking with restrained anger. “How dare he question what I feel for him?”

He stopped, breathing hard, jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

“He should be apologizing,” he continued, louder now, his anger spilling over. “He should be standing there, telling me it meant nothing, promising it will never happen again!”

But instead…Alex let out a bitter laugh.

“What did I get?” he scoffed. “Defiance, attitude, and that same damn innocence he keeps hiding behind.”

He turned back toward the door, eyes darkening.

“He still claims he’s innocent. This is so fucking hurting…and confusing.”

The words came out slower this time. Less anger, more doubt, and that was worse.

His expression shifted, just a bit, as flashes of the footage replayed in his mind. The kiss. The bed. The stillness.

Then Lucas’s voice, “I never went to bed with him.”

Alex’s brows furrowed. For a brief second, uncertainty cracked through the anger. He stilled for a few seconds.

“What if he was…” he started, then stopped himself immediately.

“No.” His voice hardened again.

“He was there. I saw it.” But somehow, the conviction wasn’t as solid as before.

He exhaled sharply, turning away again, gripping the edge of his desk like he needed something to steady himself.

“Then why…” he muttered under his breath, quieter now, almost to himself, “Why does it feel like something’s off?”

Silence answered him, and for the first time since morning, Alex wasn’t just angry. He was conflicted with what he believed he saw.

His eyes drifted toward the empty desk he had prepared for Lucas. Lucas had refused the chair but it's still there waiting.

His jaw tightened again, but this time, the anger didn’t burn as cleanly.

Because beneath it, doubt had begun to take root.

The kitchen was bubbling with orders when Lucas was taken out. Zenith wasn’t happy with that new development.

Instantly, he went to the restroom and pulled out his phone. He tried to be calm but behind that calm expression, everything was calculated.

For weeks he had been watching, listening, and following them.

From Derby’s hushed conversations, to Larrisa’s nervous glances, and to the way things had spiraled after last night. He knew it all including their connection with James.

“Don’t play smart with me,” Zenith had said a few weeks ago, his voice low and dangerous, as Derby and Larrisa stood stiffly in front of him.

Larrisa’s hands trembled slightly. “Zenith, you don’t understand.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly, sweetheart” he cut in, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Alex and Lucas? You guys want to separate them. I know you're Hunter, and some tiny details,

Derby’s face darkened. “What do you want?”

Zenith tilted his head, studying them like prey already caught.  “Simple. You let me in.”

“In?” Larrisa echoed. in confusion.

“Yes, in everything,” Zenith replied smoothly. “Or I expose all of you.”

A heavy, suffocating silence followed.

They exchanged a look filled with fear, and calculation. They both knew the truth, so they didn’t have a choice.

“Fine,” Derby muttered finally, jaw tight.

Zenith smiled victoriously.

Back at the restroom, he stood in front of the mirror.

Lucas had stormed out not long ago. Alex hadn’t come down to the kitchen. “The separation.was working already,” Zenith murmured. “That was faster than I expected, but why did Alex have to take Lucas as his secretary? Something is wrong.”

“If they couldn’t finish it properly,” he muttered, eyes sharpening, “I will.”

Without hesitation, he dialed a number. It went through as. a voice responded cautiously.

“Hello?”

Zenith’s smile returned, slow and deliberate. “James we need to meet.”

“For what?”

Zenith pushed off the wall, already walking, his tone dropping into something colder.

“For a better plan.”

Silence lingered on the other end. Then James spoke again, more guarded this time. “I thought the job was done.”

Zenith let out a soft chuckle.

“Not even close,” he said. “You created doubt. I want destruction.”

That got his attention.

“Where?” James asked.

Zenith’s eyes gleamed. “I’ll send you the location.”