11. No Lies

~Sienna~

As Lucas strode away, leaving me alone in the echoing hallway, I exhaled a long, unsteady breath.

My mind was still racing from the earlier presentation, from the surreal kiss he’d left on my cheek, and from the steady, knowing gaze he’d held as he walked out.

Everything about him was intense, calculated. A mix of gratitude and confusion tangled inside me, and yet—there it was again, that nagging feeling in my chest I couldn’t quite name.

I made my way back to my desk, catching looks from almost everyone I passed. Some were curious, others cold; a few wore amused smirks. It was clear by now that the news of my “engagement” had spread like wildfire.

Settling into my chair, I saw Aiden come out of his office, his shoulders hunched in a way I’d never seen. His once-perfect hair was slightly mussed, and he wore a dejected look that contrasted completely with his usually immaculate appearance. He stalked over to my desk, his face twisted in a scowl.

“Hope you’re happy now,” he sneered, his voice low enough for only me to hear, then turned on his heel and stormed away. Becca, from finance rumored to be fuckiing around with Aiden, shot me a scathing glare as she passed, her expression full of judgment.

For a moment, a pang of guilt hit me. But as quickly as it came, I brushed it off. Aiden’s cruelty had come back to haunt him, and I couldn’t feel sorry for the way he’d treated me.

But I didn’t have time to dwell on that before a familiar voice broke through my thoughts.

“Sienna! Now spill the tea!” Violet appeared around the corner, her bob bouncing as she practically skipped toward my desk, plopping herself down on the edge with a dramatic sigh.

She barely got the words out before her gaze landed on my outfit, and her jaw dropped.

“Oh my God, girl—who’s your fiancé, and did he buy you that?” she gasped, nearly yanking me off my seat as she tugged at the hem of my designer dress, her eyes darting between my heels and the diamond ring.

I laughed, though my nerves tingled under the attention. “Violet, it’s nothing special…”

“Nothing special?” she shrieked, then practically latched onto my hand, staring down at the ring with wide eyes.

“Holy Mary, mother of God! This thing must cost a fortune!”

A flush crept up my cheeks as I gently pulled my hand away, trying not to cringe under her scrutiny.

“It’s all fake, Vi,” I lied smoothly. “My fiancé works at the post office. Where would he get money for this?”

Violet’s face scrunched up in disbelief, her mouth pulling into a comically skeptical scowl.

“Oh please, Sienna. You don’t fool me. I might just have to test it to be sure.”

“No! Absolutely not!” The words flew out louder than I’d intended, earning a few curious glances from the desks nearby.

Violet raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized me for a moment.

“Fine, then,” she finally said, still staring at me with suspicion.

“At least let me meet him. I mean, I am your best friend here, aren’t I? I think I deserve to meet this mystery man.”

I scrambled for a reply when, just then, I spotted Ethan approaching, a serious expression darkening his usually warm face. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. Without a word, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the exit with a grip that was surprisingly firm.

As soon as we were outside, he turned to face me, his voice rough with urgency. “Tell me it’s just a rumor, Sienna!”

His gaze dropped to my hand, and the shock in his eyes deepened when he saw the diamond ring glittering there.

“So… it’s real? You’re engaged?”

“Yes, Ethan. I… got engaged,” I stammered, taken aback by his intensity. His usually kind face was twisted with frustration, almost anger, as if he could barely hold himself together.

“To who, Sienna? Grant?” His voice was louder than I expected, and I flinched. “ That jerk?”

“No, it’s not Grant. He… well, he ended things.”

My voice was a whisper, but I couldn’t meet his eyes, not with the turmoil brewing inside me.

“Then who the hell is it?” he demanded, voice raw. “I’ve been your best friend since college, Sienna. I think I deserve to know if this guy deserves you!”

The protectiveness in his tone threw me off. Ethan had always been there, a constant, reliable friend. But right now, there was something darker in his expression—jealousy? Anger? I wasn’t sure, but it made my heart pound, a strange mix of anxiety and gratitude.

“Ethan, please, calm down,” I said, trying to pull my wrist from his grip, but he wouldn’t let go. His eyes searched my face, hurt and frustration written in every line.

Before I could say anything else, a voice cut through the tension.

“Let go of her, young man,” Derrick’s voice called from behind, smooth and firm, as I looked over to see him leaning out of the window of Lucas’s sleek black Porsche, a no-nonsense expression on his face.

Ethan’s grip loosened reluctantly, and he let go, storming back inside without another word, leaving me to stare after him, bewildered. Today was already more than I could handle.

“Come on, Miss Wilde. It’s time,” Derrick called, nodding toward the car.

I glanced at my watch—1:40 p.m. Lucas had said he’d take me to the hospital at two, and he was already waiting.

With a last look toward the building, I hurried toward the car. As I approached, the door clicked open on its own, and I slipped into the backseat beside Lucas. His sleeves were rolled up, and without his usual formal jacket, he looked somehow softer, yet just as commanding.

His gaze flicked to me, lingering for a brief second before he turned his attention back out the window.

The door closed with a quiet thud, and Derrick pulled away from the curb, merging smoothly into traffic.

Lucas’s voice broke the silence, cool and precise.

“Seems like you’re always running into trouble every time I see you, Miss Wilde. Care to explain what that little scene was about?”

I swallowed, feeling my cheeks heat up as I tried to find a response that didn’t sound completely pathetic.

“It’s… complicated,” I said, keeping my tone even, though my nerves prickled under his scrutiny.

Lucas arched an eyebrow, his gaze intense. “I’m not fond of lies, Miss Wilde. Start talking.”