Lena's POV I blinked, threw off for a second. Apex, the weight of the name, its prestige, and the associated possibilities were limitless. If this agreement was sealed, it would jump our projects to a different level entirely. “Where?” I asked, leaning forward. He offered me a little grin. “The seminar is in Thailand,” he said. “If you want to bring in more investors for our projects, you will have to go there. Apex doesn’t do virtual meetings, not for this purpose and not for this level.” Thailand. That was an unexpected turn. My thoughts leaped into action. For how long will I be away? What was the seminar about? Am I even prepared for it? “This is important, correct?” I said that I already knew the answer, but the confirmation was needed. “Yes Lena,” Damien said with conviction. “Opportunities such as this are not offered by Apex to everybody. Their interest in our company means more than pleasure. But you are not assured. You will have to stand in for us, deny clear defeat
Lena stepped inside her apartment and let the door settle with a soft hit behind her. For a split second, she simply stood there, leaning on it until the silence of her house engulfed her. The day had indeed been long and tiring, and she could feel the exhaustion coming from the thought of the trip that lay ahead of her. She shut her eyelids, inhaling the air before breathing it out audibly after some time, all the air in her lungs leaving them in a quick and unsteady manner. Eventually, she took a push off the door and proceeded to the direction of her room. Each movement weighed more than the previous one, as though, at last, her physique was acknowledging the exhaustion of the day. When she finally entered her room, she froze at the threshold, studying the well-known area. The made-up bed which had been made the previous morning seemed to be extremely comfortable, but her attention was elsewhere, on the chest of drawers that was across the room. She heaved a breath and turned to
Lena settled into the passenger seat and smelled of Damien’s car. It was clean, unscented, and comfortable. He got into the car, started the engine, and she fastened her seatbelt. A music station was turned on, and they moved away from the curbs of the street heading towards the airport. The ride was calm for some time with neither speaking any word as they were deep in their thoughts. Lena stole glances at Damien from time to time, looking at him and the way the light poles outside were flickering on and off as shadows were created with every flash. There was something safe about him, a calm, resolute confidence that she had in her. “Are you nervous?” he asked suddenly after a long pause. “A little bit,” she said, hesitating for a moment, then added, “OK, maybe a little more than a little.” He gave her a look then turned his gaze away after a second. “You will be alright. You have been through all this before. Just be your own self, and they will understand why it is the best inv
The flight attendants started the service after the seatbelt sign was turned off. Lena opened her eyes and exhaled a breath she never knew she was holding. She squirmed in her seat, reclining it a little, and attempted to ease tension in her muscles which, however, felt tightly coiled in a stress knot. A flight attendant with a courteous expression on her face came up to her. “Good evening, madam. May I offer you a drink or some food?” She looked up in hopes of returning a similar courtesy smile. “Yes, please. Only water for the time being, however.” The attendant made a gesture which meant ‘yes’. “And what would you like for your order? Grilled chicken with vegetables or a vegetarian pasta?” “The chicken sounds good,” came a light reply from Lena, sounding rather weak. The attendant exhaled, stating that it would be out soon and returned to the next row. While Lena bounced back again, she shut her eyes again for a while but her inner fidgety annoyance held her from staying still
The constant noise of engines running and the low light in the cabin, after a while, made Lena fall asleep, albeit not peacefully. Her body, which was already tired from all the stress and preparation of the day, finally succumbed to the fatigue she had been battling all day long. Her head was slightly tilted towards the seat edge as the seat back could no longer contain her, her files still held loosely in her palms. Hours went by in the blink of an eye, and she was lost…when the irritating sound of the clouds broke the silence. “Men and women, I am the captain of your ship. We will be touching down at Bangkok airport in about 20 minutes. Kindly ensure that your seatbelts are fastened and that all hand baggage is secured. We trust that you have enjoyed the flight.” Lena opened her eyes and blinked several times, momentarily lost as she remembered where she was, surrounded by darkness and faint sounds of activity. Her muscles were rigid, and her hair, which was previously held in a
Lena followed the steward carrying her stowed bags toward the elevator. The body ached after a lengthy flight. Sadly, every step seemed heavier. The steward, so impeccably dressed in a hotel uniform, moved swifter with a demeanor that could be described as polite but efficient. He then opened the elevator door and gestured for her to step in. The ride up was quiet and peaceful, accompanied by the soft humming of the elevator. Lena surveyed her reflection on the polished walls and took a good stare at how tired she was. Her hair was slightly out of shape from her earlier messy bun because of dark circles under her eyes, which were much more pronounced under the brightness of the elevator's interior lighting. She made a mental note to fix herself before doing anything else. At the other side of the elevator doors, the steward escorted her along a wide, thickly carpeted hallway with walls that displayed contemporary artworks, each piece of which was spotlighted with warm illumination.
This was the moment when a soft, purposeful knock came at the door and brought Lena back into focus. She crossed the room to open the door and found standing before her a polite young woman clad in a crisp uniform. In her hands was a tray covered with a polished silver dome. "Room service," the woman said with bright prettiness. "Thank you," said Lena, stepping aside for her to go inside. The attendant moved gracefully into the room, almost rehearsed in her movements, and placed the tray on the small dining table by the window. "If there's anything else you need, ma'am, please don't hesitate to call us," she said, still arranging and straightening the table settings. Lena smiled. No. That Shall Suffice. Thank you. Nod of the attendant, and she went back to the door and softly shut it behind her. Lena turned back to the table and gazed at the covered tray. The glowing in her stomach made it quite impossible to miss just how long it had been since she last had a meal. She reached o
Lena stood pressed back against the door of her hotel room with a racing mind. Had she actually seen him? Or her mind was playing tricks on her? Grant was not supposed to be there. He was supposed to be at home drowning in business meetings and dealing with Damien. Anyhow, the reason for accepting this invitation for a seminar was to distance them... from the sordid tension building at work, not having the much-needed conversations, and even from all those memories that she wanted to forget.Breathe, Lena, she told herself. She took a deep breath and put her ear to the door and listened. No sound, no footsteps coming closer. With slow caution, she turned the lock and opened the door just a sliver, peeking out into the hallway. Empty. Her heart slowed its wild beating. Perhaps she had only imagined him. After all, she was sick, hungry, and drained emotionally. It would hardly be a stretch for her mind to come up with a familiar face, especially one weighed by so many unresolved feel
Grants PovI, too, stood up and walked closer. "You think it's easy for me? That I don't feel every damn day the weight of what we've conjured up?"She turned to face me and her eyes were welling up with tears which she didn't let fall. "Then why are you still here, Grant? Why can't you let me go?"The question cut deeper than I was willing to admit. I raked my hand through my hair; the frustration and pain were starting to overwhelm me. "Because I can't," I said finally, barely above a whisper.Her breath stuttered, and I thought I caught a flicker of some hope? Doubt? I'm not sure in her eyes. But then she steeled herself, her features hardening. "This partnership needs to end," she said with all firmness. "For both our sakes.”I stepped up to her, gazing right at her. "You really think that severing our partnership is going to erase me from your life? From your heart?"She flinched but didn't withdraw. "This isn't about erasure. It's giving space for healing."I laughed bitterly a
Grant's POV After all, the drive to Lena's company did feel longer than it should have. Perhaps it was the tension tightening the shoulders or the whirling thoughts taking flight in my head, but it stretched endlessly as I held the steering wheel, knuckles white. The city buzzed around and went on without knowing the storm that was breaking under. Each block drew another step closer to her office that day, a reminder of the confrontation ahead.I had spent the entire night replaying the decision to come here, wondering if it was the right one. Part of me knew it wasn’t about the partnership or the company, this was about seeing her. About facing what we left unsaid.Ahead loomed the sleek glass facade of her corporate headquarters, modern design mirroring the morning sunlight. I rolled into the parking garage, my engine reverberating against the concrete walls. I parked near the elevator to compose myself for a moment before stepping out.The lobby was pristine, the type of space des
Gants POV It was warm and golden in the dining room; a chandelier threw its warm light across the polished mahogany table. The vast expanse of it was excessive for just three placed settings as it had always been-opulent, formal, and cold, like the house itself.As I stepped into the dining room, all eyes fell on me. Sitting with a glass of red wine, poised yet again, she was Cassidy. Blonde hair lit up by light framed delicate features, and the smile, that turned out to be a sunny one upon seeing me, was shown. The same smile she used to have when she used to disarm me, but this time, it got on my nerves."You just made it," my mother said as she walked in from the other side of the great room. She gestures toward the seat laden across from Cassidy. I didn't sit down. Instead, I stood, arms crossed, at the head of the table, surveying the scene with irritation and exhaustion. "I thought Cassidy was going to leave."The smile on Cassidy's face faltered momentarily but was back on ag
Grant's POVTo begin with, at this hour, the hotel lobby seemed pretty quiet; one could hardly hear the hustle and bustle typical of a morning. Following some steps back was my assistant, Elliot, who seemed so much tied to his clipboard. All this was like a heavy weight in my chest, matching the tension in my stride, each step leading away from Lena. I did not turn back into the room, no turning around on the memories, and certainly not even to the ache I was doing everything I could to suppress.Elliot swayed slightly above the entrance before he spoke, aware that he shouldn't be much of a bother with his voice taking caution. "Are you sure you do not want to bid Lena goodbye?"I clenched my jaws tighter, the question rattling more than I would want to let on. My fingers creaked the leather handle of my suitcase under the weight of pressure. "What's the point?" I said gruffly without looking at him. "It's done. She has made her decision." Elliot took offense and held up his pace fo
Lena's POVI stood on the curb clutching my bag handles tightly and watching the morning sun ignite a golden hue all over the city. Beside me stood Damien, tall and composed, though he was scanning my face as if searching for some treasure that, honestly, I don't think I could ever give him. He had a steady bearing; a kind of quiet observer with a mind as sharp as possible with a knack for problem-solving. But this one, he couldn't solve no matter how badly he wanted to."Lena," Damien started, his voice low and steady. "You don't have to do this at all. Walk away for now, sure. But running away entirely? That's not you."He tilted his head so that I could meet his stare. My heart ached with all that concern etched into his features. Damien was my rock in everything, yet he couldn't understand the weight of my decision. It was not merely about leaving Grant; it was about everything I had previously attached to my identity."Running away isn't what I'm doing, Damien," I said softly, th
Lena's POV Oh, great unbelievable silence that is thick and suffocating, under our broad and stretching between us. I could feel the warmth of his gaze on me, the desperate creeping into all of his movements, touching my hand again, but I pulled it away before he could have. ""Lena," he breathed, his voice barely audible now, emotions raw. "I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted this. Please, don't do this."My silent refusal matched the tears bubbling within me. This was the kind of thing I hated. That it had come to be like this. But there was no denying the reality. Everything he did-everything that I had come to learn about him-had put me in a different set-up. Changed me as an individual from viewing him, from viewing myself, too."Grant, I can't live all my life in the shadows, wondering if what people say is not true. I deserve more; I deserve the truth, and I deserve someone who can be honest to me, someone who will not keep secrets.”His face twisted in pain, and for a
Lena's POV "I can’t keep living in the shadows, Grant. I can’t keep wondering if everything I’ve been told is a lie. I deserve more than that. I deserve the truth, and I deserve someone who can be honest with me, someone who doesn’t keep secrets."His face twisted in pain and for a moment seemed so vulnerable to me, so broken, that I was almost tempted to lower my defenses. Almost. But the strength I had found in myself during the last few days, the clarity that had come in learning to see the truth for what it was, held me firm. I couldn't let him back in. There was no basis to what we had created: everything was built on the flimsy foundation of half-truths and lies. Not when the price of trusting him again would cost me my peace of mind, dignity, and self-respect."I'm sorry, Grant," I whispered, almost choking with all the emotion floating between us. "But this is it."Grant was standing there, frozen, and the weight of my words was now sinking into him like stones being let down
Lena's POV I stared at him, trying to decode what he might mean. There was something in that voice, something raw that I had never heard before. As if he was breaking the walls which always kept me at a distance. But at the same time, that thought did not vanish from the chest."I am not asking for immediate forgiveness," he continued. "Though I want you to know that for everything I did, all has been for us. For you. For this." He gestured between us, his hand trembling slightly. "I never intended to harm you. I swear."For one moment, everything that I could do was stand and look at him, trying to read his expression. His sincerity seemed real as it was dissected into parts, but that in no way kept him from hiding something. The gap between his words and those documents in my hand was too wide to be bridged just by an apology."I don't know what to believe anymore," I murmured, the words escaping before I could stop them. "I don't think I can trust you anymore."Grant's face crumpl
Lena's POV The truth had already started unwinding. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered and despite my good attempts to fix them, they did not fit in a way that made sense.By the time I reached my apartment, it felt as though the weight of the folder was sheer unbearable, as if the papers inside really pressed down on me with the force of all the things I had avoided. I placed it on the kitchen counter, but even now, it was as if it was still in my hands, the aura of its presence lingering in the air around me taunting me with the decisions that I had to make.I paced, trying to clear my mind, but the thoughts came faster now. What had Grant been hiding? What was he really capable of? And Damien… Could I trust him? Could he really be the one to expose Grant for who he truly was, or was he just using my vulnerability to get what he wanted?Frustration built as I ran a hand through my hair. Obviously, the evidence Damien had given me would not be something ignore-worthy. Irrespect