Chapter 54 Fifty Four

Chapter 54 Fifty Four
VALERIE

By the time Lucas and I returned to the office, I had learned how to keep my emotions folded neatly out of sight.

I wore composure like armor, convincing enough to pass for fine.

The office buzzed with relief and normalcy, as though nothing had shifted while we were gone. Work resumed smoothly—efficient, uninterrupted—despite the quiet truth that everything had changed.

Lucas and I hadn’t arrived at the office together. I had insisted on it, said it was better that way. Two weeks of absence had already stirred enough curiosity.

It didn’t help that his accident had coincided too neatly with my own disappearance. People noticed patterns, even when they pretended not to.

I arrived early, before most of the staff filtered in, and still, the looks came. Curious. Speculative.

I offered a polite smile and a rehearsed explanation, something vague enough to discourage follow-up.

By the time I reached my desk, my body felt like it was being weighed down by anvils.

I flipped through my files, page after page of work I had abandoned while life unraveled quietly elsewhere. Numbers, clauses, margins—things that made sense in a way people didn't.

I was halfway through annotating a report when a knock landed softly on my door.

“Come in,” I said, setting my pen down.

Sofia peeked in, her smile bright enough to almost hurt. I leaned back as she stepped inside and shut the door.

“Hey, Valerie.”

“You do realize that was a smart move, right?” she said, eyes bright. “I mean how did you even come up with something that convincing?”

A small smile tugged at my lips. I knew exactly what she meant—the explanation I’d given everyone the moment the questions started.

“I just needed it to make sense,” I said quietly. “Enough to stop the curiosity.”

Sofia studied me for a moment, like she could hear everything I wasn’t saying.

Her phone chimed.

She glanced down at the screen and rolled her eyes lightly. “I’ll be right back.”

“Alright,” I said.

She slipped out and shut the door behind her.

I exhaled slowly and turned back to the files spread across my desk.

A few seconds passed before the door opened again.

I stilled.

I didn’t lift my head. I didn’t need to. His cologne reached me first—familiar and unmistakable.

I kept working, the pen moving steadily across the page, even as he stopped in front of my desk.

“You’re really not going to look at me?” Lucas asked.

I kept writing.

“We need to talk, Valerie.”

“Do you need a report?” I asked quietly.

I finally raised my eyes.

His hurt was immediate. Visible.

“Is this what we are now?” he asked. “Just business?”

“I’m tired,” I said honestly. “Please don’t push me.”

He placed his hands on either side of my desk.

The movement made my chest tighten. I glanced at his hands, then looked back down.

“I get that you want to avoid questions. But what happened to us coming in together? Letting me handle it?”

“I didn’t want people asking questions.”

“I would’ve handled it.”

“I don’t need handling,” I replied. “I just need peace.”

“And shutting me out gives you that?”

I didn’t answer.

“You’ve been distant,” he said softly.

“You cried last night. You won’t tell me why.”

My pen stilled.

I lifted my head slowly.

Our eyes met and I held his gaze.

For a second, the office disappeared.

The walls, the desk, the files between us; there was only the way his gaze stayed on mine, steady and expectant, like he was waiting for me to finally say the thing he already knew was bound to happen.

My throat tightened. My chest burned. I could feel it then—the tears pressing dangerously close, the fragile edge I had been holding onto since the café, since Vanessa, since the realization that loving him meant losing him.

His eyes softened just a fraction, as if he sensed how close I was to breaking.

“Valerie,” he said quietly.

That was it. That was all it took.

I looked away first.

“I already said enough,” I whispered, my voice thinner than I wanted it to be. “Please… just leave.”

The silence stretched.

When I looked back up, the hurt on his face was unmistakable—raw, unguarded. Frustration followed quickly after, tightening his jaw, hardening his eyes like a shield snapping back into place.

“Fine,” he said.

He stepped away.

The door slammed shut behind him, the sound sharp and final, echoing straight through my chest.

I stared down at the page long after the ink blurred and the words stopped making sense.

I pressed my palm against my eyes, rubbing gently, willing the tears to stay.

Every heartbeat thudded painfully against my ribs.

When the door opened again, I didn’t look up.

“Valerie.”

I snapped my head up. Adrian stood there, brows drawn, eyes concerned. I forced a small, fragile smile.

“Oh… hey, Adrian. It’s you.”

He squinted, then pulled out a chair and sat. “Yeah. You okay?”

I nodded quickly. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He studied me. “You don’t look like it.”

“I’m fine.” I picked up a file, keeping my eyes averted. “And you?”

He let out a low chuckle. “Better. Much better… now that you’re back.”

I let a faint smile slip.

He leaned in. “And your mom? How is she?”

Confusion swept over me. “Pardon?”

“Your mom,” he repeated gently. “You said she was seriously ill.”

I blinked, suddenly recalling my excuse to everyone. “Oh… yeah, that. She’s better now, thanks for asking.” I looked away and let out a quiet breath.

I stole a glance at him. His eyes weren’t suspicious. Just thoughtful.

He cleared his throat and pinched the bridge of his nose, a habit I’d noticed whenever he hesitated to speak carefully.

“Valerie,” he said softly, “umm… is there… anything going on between you and Mr. Castillo?”

I stiffened, my chest tightening.

I let out a shaky laugh. “Now… why would you ask that?”

“Because none of it adds up,” he said, voice steady but firm. “Two weeks ago, I dropped you off at what you said was your place. Now… Mr. Castillo said it’s his. And just now, I saw him leaving your office… the look on his face wasn’t one a boss gives an employee. It felt personal. So I have to ask—are the two of you involved?”

I parted my lips, but nothing came. Damn you, Lucas.

A shrill squeal ripped through the hallway.

Adrian’s gaze snapped toward the door.

“Did you hear that?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

The noise escalated. Staff ran. Voices rose.

He rose. “I’ll see what’s happening.”

I followed, each step heavier than the last.

When I rounded the corner, my steps halted.

Across the hallway, Vanessa… had her arms wrapped tightly around Lucas.

“Oh, Lucas… baby,” she cooed. “How I’ve missed you.”

Lucas stood frozen, shock written across his face.

I couldn’t move. My heart began thumping wildly within my chest.

She said she would give me time.

So why was she here?

And just like that, I understood…

She had come to take her place.

And I was already leaving.