Chapter 8

Lila’s POV

The sun had barely risen when I stepped into the office that morning. The hum of early morning activity buzzed around me, with colleagues chatting over coffee and shuffling through papers. Normally, the rhythm of the office helped me find my own focus, but today, everything felt off.

I dropped my bag onto my desk and flipped open my laptop. The screen blurred in front of me as I tried to organize my tasks for the day. The slight nausea I had felt earlier hadn't subsided, and the persistent headache at my temples made it hard to think.

The strategy meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m and I dreaded it not just because Drew would be there, but because I knew I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. My thoughts were scattered, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to pull myself together.

When the meeting finally began, I took a seat near the middle of the table, purposefully avoiding eye contact with Drew. He was seated at the head, his usual commanding presence impossible to ignore.

As the discussion began, my stomach churned again. I pressed a hand to my abdomen, hoping no one noticed. Drew’s voice carried across the room, sharp and precise as he directed the conversation. My eyes briefly met his, and though his expression didn’t change, I could feel the weight of his gaze.

Halfway through the meeting, I felt a sudden wave of dizziness. My vision swam, and my palms grew clammy. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself, but the discomfort only intensified.

“Lila?” Drew’s voice broke through my haze.

I blinked up at him, realizing everyone was looking at me. “I...I’m fine,” I stammered.

“You don’t look fine,” he said, his brow furrowed.

“I just need a moment,” I said quickly, standing and excusing myself before anyone could say more.

By the time I returned to my seat after excusing myself to the restroom, I tried to maintain an air of normalcy, though Drew’s occasional glances in my direction made that difficult.

“Does anyone else have input?” Drew’s sharp voice pulled me back into the moment. His eyes scanned the room, but when they landed on me, his brow furrowed slightly.

I averted my gaze, hoping he wouldn’t call on me. Thankfully, someone else chimed in, allowing me to escape the spotlight.

The meeting finally ended with Drew announcing that any pending updates should be sent to him directly by the end of the day. His tone was clipped, but I could tell he was watching me as we all filed out of the room.

I returned to my desk, trying to focus on the tasks ahead, but my phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Max: Hey, have you eaten? There’s a café near your office I’d like to check out. Join me if you’re free.

I hesitated, the morning’s events weighing heavily on me. But a part of me wanted the distraction, and Max always had a way of lightening the mood.

Me: Sure. Text me the address.

The café was a charming little place with rustic décor and a warm ambiance. Max was waiting for me at a corner table, his easy smile a welcome sight after the tension of the morning.

“Hey,” he said, standing to pull out my chair.

“Hi,” I replied, managing a small smile as I sat down.

“You look... not great,” he said gently, his eyes studying me. “Rough day?”

“You could say that,” I muttered, glancing at the menu.

“Let me guess,” he said, leaning forward. “It has something to do with Drew.”

I froze for a moment before narrowing my eyes at him. “Why would you say that?”

“Because I know you, Lila,” he said simply. “And I saw what happened last night. The way he walked past you without even looking at you, it was brutal. Are you okay?”

The concern in his voice was genuine, and for a moment, I considered telling him everything. But I held back, still unsure of how much I could trust him.

“It’s complicated,” I said finally, looking away.

Max didn’t press immediately, but his silence spoke volumes. He waited until our orders arrived before trying again.

“Lila,” he said softly, breaking a piece off his pastry. “I know I’ve been out of your life for a while, but you can talk to me. I’m not just some guy from your past. I care about you.”

I bit my lip, still hesitant.

“Do you remember that time in high school when you volunteered to help organize the charity event?” he asked, his tone light but pointed.

I blinked at him, surprised by the memory. “Yeah, I remember. What about it?”

“Do you also remember how the committee tried to pin that disaster of a mix up on you? When the caterer canceled last minute, and they said it was because you forgot to confirm?”

I frowned, nodding slowly. That had been one of the most humiliating moments of my life until Max had stepped in.

“You were the only one who believed me,” I said quietly.

“Because I knew you’d never make a mistake like that,” he said, his gaze steady. “And I still believe in you, Lila. Whatever’s going on with Drew or anything else you don’t have to face it alone.”

His words hit me harder than I expected. I looked down at my plate, emotions swirling in my chest.

“Thank you, Max,” I said softly, meeting his eyes.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he said with a small smile. “Just... don’t shut me out, okay?”

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed with an email notification. I glanced at the screen, my stomach tightening as I read the subject line.

Subject: Emergency Meeting — Immediate Attendance Required

Body: All team members are required to report to the main conference room immediately. This is a matter of utmost importance.

“What’s wrong?” Max asked, noticing my sudden shift in demeanor.

“I don’t know,” I said, standing abruptly. “There’s an emergency meeting. I have to go.”

“Lila…”

“Thanks for lunch,” I said quickly, cutting him off as I stood to hurry back to the office. “I’ll call you later.”

Back at the office, the tension was palpable. Colleagues whispered in hushed tones as we gathered in the conference room. Drew was already there, his expression unreadable as he stood at the head of the table.

“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” he began, his voice calm but serious. “We have a situation that requires immediate attention.”

My pulse quickened, unease settling in the pit of my stomach as I listened.

“The project has been compromised,” Drew continued, his sharp gaze sweeping over the room. “And we need to find out how and why.”