It was as if the office had never sounded so loud, yet so smotheringly silent, all in one go.
Ever since the gala incident, everyone had been talking. Rumors, whispers, assumptions. About the dramatic scene, about the CEO's rival trying to embarrass him. And most of all… about the woman Leo stood with until the end.
Vanessa:
She had been avoiding Leo ever since. Not deliberately. More like… instinctively. Because every time she saw his reflection in the glass walls of the office, her heart squeezed painfully. She just couldn't forget the image of Vanessa clinging to his arm. Or the paparazzi flashes capturing it.
So she kept her distance from him.
But Leo noticed.
He didn't miss one second of it.
By midday, he'd had enough.
He found her in the analysis room, pretending to be immersed in spreadsheets.
"Lia," he said, voice more pointed than it was warranted. "Why are you avoiding me?
Her hands froze on the keyboard. "I'm just focusing on work."
"No," he said, stepping closer. "You're avoiding me."
She swallowed, refusing to meet his eyes. "Leo… I saw you with Vanessa. Everyone did."
He let his breath out in a gradual hissing of displeasure. "I didn't have any choice. She backed me into a corner in front of the cameras. It was some kind of trap."
"You didn't look trapped," Lia whispered.
That hit him like a punch.
Before Leo could answer, heels clicked behind them.
Vanessa.
Perfectly poised. Perfectly articulate. Perfectly deadly.
"Oh good," she said with a smug smile. "You two are together. Saves me time."
Leo went stiff. "Vanessa, not now."
But Vanessa's eyes were already on Lia, like she was assessing, provoking, and claiming ownership that wasn't hers.
"Lia," she said with honey-coated intonation, "you just really shouldn't misunderstand. Leo and I shared history. Deep history."
Lia's stomach twisted.
Leo stepped in front of Lia, his voice colder than steel. "Vanessa. Stop."
But Vanessa just smirked. "Why? It's true. She should know who she's competing with."
Competing.
The word shattered something inside Lia.
"I am not racing," Lia said quietly, taking a backward step. "I don't belong in. whatever this is."
She turned—fast—before the tears could betray her.
"Lia—" Leo leaned over for her.
But she was already gone.
Leave him standing there, drowning in a fire he never meant to start. Hers—the jealousy. His—the anger. And fear… fear that he was losing her.