His gaze was unbearable

Alex’s pov

My heart raced as soon as I saw her. Genie was walking away from me, her steps hurried, her figure retreating toward the café’s exit. Just like that day, years ago. My breathing went up, and my mouth went dry. I wanted to call out to her, to tell her to stop, but no words came. Instead, I stood there like a fool, watching her hair sway behind her with every step. Her hair… It wasn’t the same. The sleek, golden-brown strands I used to love running my fingers through had been replaced by darker, waiver locks. It suited her, of course it did, but the change clawed at something inside me, like a reminder that too much time had passed. Still, I would’ve recognized her anywhere. Even with her back to me, I knew her. By the time I snapped out of my daze, she was gone. Disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind nothing but a faint trace of her perfume that made my throat ache with regret.

I sank into my chair, my hand fumbling for my phone. Scrolling aggressively through my contact list, I found the number I needed and pressed it, the ringing in my ear barely registering as my mind raced.

“Good day, Boss.”

“Tell me,” I said, barely keeping my voice level, “what’s the last update you gave me about Genevieve?” There was a pause, and I could almost hear the man on the other end scramble for an answer. 

“Sir, we couldn’t find anything about her.”

“Did my mother threaten you?” I interrupted, my voice cold.

“What? No, Sir. I don’t understand.”

“Listen carefully,” I said, leaning forward as if the intensity of my words could cross the distance between us. “If I find out you’re lying to me, I’ll cut off your balls and feed them to the dogs. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I just saw her,” I continued, lowering my tone so no one around me could hear. “Here. In Italy. She ran before I could get to her, and she’s denying who she is. I want you to dig deeper. I need every detail about her, everything you’ve missed, and I want it in an hour.”

“I’ll get to work right away, Sir.”

I ended the call and tossed my phone onto the table, and I could feel the frustration all over me. An hour. How the hell was I supposed to wait an hour? I was still trying to calm the storm in my head when the café door opened again. My eyes flicked toward it instinctively, and my heart stopped. It was her. She walked back in, her pace slower this time. My chest tightened again as I watched her, unable to tear my eyes away. For a moment, I thought she was coming back to me. But she wasn’t. My stomach sank when she walked right past me, not even sparing me a glance, and took a seat at a table across the room. Opposite a man in a dark blue suit. I clenched my fists, my pulse thundering in my ears. Who was he? And why was she sitting with him? There was jealousy sparked deep within me, as I forced myself to stay seated. Running over there and causing a scene wasn’t an option,not yet. But my eyes stayed locked on them, studying every move she made. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

*************

Genevieve’s pov

I dabbed the corner of my eyes with a handkerchief, brushing away the tears before they could betray me further. Even now, being in the same space as him felt like walking on broken glass. My nerves screamed at me to leave, but I had a meeting to attend, and I couldn’t afford to let my emotions dictate my actions. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car, clutching my handbag like it was a lifeline. The moment I walked back into the café, I felt his eyes on me. It was like a heatwave, searing through my skin, making every step heavier than the last. I didn’t look in his direction, I couldn’t. Instead, I focused on the table ahead, where my client was already waiting.

"Miss Fidelis?" Asher Edward Edward stood as I approached, his professional demeanor softening with a polite smile.

"Mr. Asher Edward Edward," I said, returning his smile with one of my own. It was automatic, practiced and a shield.

"Good afternoon. I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting," I said quickly, my words tumbling over each other in my attempt to sound composed. "I deeply apologize for the delay."

"It’s quite alright. Good afternoon," he replied with a slight nod.

We shook hands briefly before taking our seats, him waiting for me to settle before sitting down himself.

"You look beautiful," he said casually.

"Thank you," I responded, forcing another polite smile, though my heart wasn’t in it.

"Can I get you something before we begin? It’s on me," he offered, his tone warm but insistent.

"No, it’s fine," I said too quickly, trying to cover the anxiety bubbling inside me. The last thing I needed was unnecessary distractions.

"I insist," he pressed gently. "It’s the least I can do to keep you waiting."

Reluctantly, I relented. "I’ll have a small cup of yoghurt.”

He nodded, signaling to a nearby waiter to take the order. While he made small talk with the waiter, I could still feel him,Alex, from the short distance. His stare at me, and no matter how hard I tried to focus, it gnawed at the edges of my thoughts.

"Do you know him?" Asher’s voice broke through my haze, startling me.

I blinked. "The waiter?"

"No, the man behind us."

"No," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the painful lump forming there. "Why do you ask?"

Asher leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Because if looks could kill, I would be six feet under by now. He’s staring at you like he wants to burn a hole through you and throwing me a glare that could rival it."

I forced a small, disinterested laugh. "Really? He must be some maniac." I waved it off with a dismissive gesture. "Let’s proceed with the meeting."

I pulled out my tablet, steering the conversation back to business, but the tension in my body refused to subside. Every moment felt drawn out, stretched by the awareness of Alex’s presence. I didn’t dare look over my shoulder to confirm it, but I didn’t need to, his stare was something I could feel in my bones.

The meeting stretched on for twenty painfully long minutes, each second making my heart race faster. Alex’s presence unnerved me, his silent scrutiny throwing me off balance. I clung to the discussion with Asher, using it as a flimsy barrier between me and Alex’s gaze.

Finally, the meeting ended. I tucked my tablet and phone into my handbag with a swiftness that probably made me look ridiculous. Standing up, I offered Asher a polite handshake.

"We hope to hear from your company soon," he said, smiling as he rose to his feet.

"Of course," I replied, nodding quickly. "Thank you for your time. I’ll be in touch."

I turned on my heel, desperate to leave before Alex made any kind of move. The door was only a few steps away when I felt it. A firm hand grabbing my arm, halting me mid-step.