Lexi

“What?!” Lucian and I snapped at Marcus simultaneously.

My face burned with embarrassment as I quickly stepped away from Lucian. The elevator had felt like a tiny box moments ago, but now it felt like a spotlight was shining on us.

I felt my body go numb at his gaze. Little wonder women circle around him like vultures.

I hate to admit it but I was furious at the way those spoilt brats were all over him at the hall.

“I said get a room,” Marcus repeated with a smirk, clearly enjoying our discomfort. “The whole building could hear the sexual tension.”

“There's no sexual tension!” I protested, my voice coming out higher than intended.

Why does he have to be the make version of Mia? I hissed.

“Right,” Marcus drawled, looking between us. “And I'm the Pope.”

Lucian cleared his throat, straightening his tie. “Enough, Marcus. What do you have on Kane?”

Marcus's expression turned serious. “Heart attack. Happened about an hour ago at his penthouse. Media's already calling it a stress-induced cardiac event from his recent... troubles.”

I felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Relief that Lucian hadn't actually killed someone, and disappointment that my story just got a lot less interesting.

“Any suspicious circumstances?” Lucian asked.

“None. His doctor confirmed he'd been having chest pains for weeks. The man was a walking time bomb.” He tsked.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen. My heart sank when I saw the name. Not again Frank Moore. I hissed inwardly.

“I need to take this,” I mumbled, stepping away from the two men. They continued their conversations in hushed tone.

“Lexi Carter.” I answered, trying to sound professional even though I knew what would come next.

“Where the hell is my story?!” Frank's voice boomed through the phone. “You've been playing house with Lucian Cross for weeks, and I haven't seen a single word!”

I glanced nervously at Lucian, who was deep in conversation with Marcus. “I'm still gathering information. These things take time.”

“Time? Time is money, Carter! I've got investors breathing down my neck, and circulation is down. I need that exposé on Cross, and I need it now!”

“But…”

“No buts! You have forty-eight hours to deliver something substantial, or you're fired. And don't think I won't blacklist you from every major publication in the city.”

The line went dead. I stared at the phone, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut.

“Bad news?” Lucian asked, apparently finished with Marcus. My chest tightened at the concern in his tone.

“Just work stuff,” I lied, shoving my phone back in my purse.

“We should head back to the penthouse,” Lucian said. “I need to make some calls about Kane's death.”

“At least I don't need security details any more.” I whispered.

Lucian nodded. “Good for you.”

The ride back was awkwardly silent. I kept stealing glances at Lucian, wondering if he suspected anything about my conversation with my boss. The recording I had of him was explosive, but I'd made a deal. Six months to prove he was a good man.

But what if I didn't have six months?

Back at the penthouse, Lucian disappeared into his office while I sat on the couch, staring at my phone. Another message had come in while we were in the elevator, this one from a number I recognized all too well.

Ethan Shaw.

“Payment is overdue. My patience is wearing thin. Pay up or face the consequences.”

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of everything crashing down on me. My father's gambling debts, my mother’s columbarium rent, my job hanging by a thread, and now this impossible situation with Lucian.

“Everything alright?” Lucian's voice made me jump.

I hadn't heard him come back into the living room. He was looking at me with that unreadable expression again.

“Fine,” I said quickly, shoving my phone away. “Just tired.”

He sat down across from me, his eyes never leaving my face. “You're a terrible liar.”

“I'm not lying.”

“Your left eye twitches when you lie. Did you know that?” He pointed at my left eye.

I touched my eye self-consciously.

“It does not.”

“It's doing it right now.”

I glared at him. “You're impossible.”

“And you're avoiding the question. What's wrong?”

Why is he concerned?

For a moment, I considered telling him everything. About my boss's ultimatum, about Ethan Shaw's threats, about the mountain of debt that never seemed to shrink no matter how much money I threw at it.

But that would mean admitting weakness, and I'd learned long ago that showing weakness to powerful men only gave them more ways to hurt you.

“Nothing's wrong,” I insisted. “I'm just processing everything that happened tonight.”

“Kane's death?”

“That, and…” I gestured vaguely between us. “Whatever that was in the elevator.”

Lucian's expression shifted, becoming more guarded. “That was nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“A moment of... proximity. It happens.” he said flatly.

“Proximity,” I repeated flatly. “Right.”

“Don't read into it, Lexi. We have a business arrangement, nothing more.”

The words stung more than they should have. “Of course. Business.”

My phone buzzed again. This time it was a text from my landlord. I quickly silenced it, but not before Lucian noticed.

“Popular tonight,” he observed.

“Just friends checking up on me.”

“Friends who make you look like you're about to throw up?”

I stood up abruptly. “I should go home. It's late.”

“Lexi.” His voice was softer now. “If you need help…”

“I don't need help," I cut him off. "I need to go home.”

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded. “I'll have Marcus drive you.”

“I can take a cab.”

“It's late, and you're upset. Marcus will drive you.”

My cheeks burned. How can he read me like that?

I wanted to argue, but I was too tired and too overwhelmed. “Fine.”

As I waited for Marcus to bring the car around, Lucian appeared beside me with a business card.

"What's this?" I asked, taking it.

"My personal number. If you need anything, call me."

“I told you, I don't need help.” I said, my voice cracked.

How can one man seem to have everything under control and I have to struggle just to pay my rent? This is unfair!

“And I told you, you're a terrible liar.” He said gently.

Marcus honked from downstairs, and I headed for the door.

"Lexi," Lucian called after me.

I turned back.

“Whatever's going on, it doesn't have to be your burden alone. I am your boss, I can help.” He whispered.

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to throw myself into his arms and let him fix everything. But I knew better than to trust a man like Lucian Cross with my vulnerabilities.

“Goodnight, Lucian.”

As Marcus drove me home through the empty streets, I stared out the window at the city lights. Somewhere out there, Ethan Shaw was probably planning his next move. Frank Moore was probably writing my termination letter. And I was caught in the middle, drowning in a sea of debt and impossible choices.

My phone buzzed one more time. A text from an unknown number: “Saw you at the gala tonight. We need to talk. - Victor Kane.”

I stared at the message, my blood running cold. Victor Kane was dead. So who was texting me?