Secrets and Surveillance

Elena’s POV

Lucien stared at me deeply .

It was like he already knew something was wrong.

“Why do you smell like a baby, Elena?” he asked again, and it was slower this time.

And I froze and my mouth opened, but no words came out.

He stepped back a little, but his eyes didn't move and they watched me.

I forced a fake smile.

“I… I passed a woman with a baby. In the elevator. Maybe it rubbed off.”

My voice sounded too light and careful and I didn't even believe it.

He didn’t nod, or smile and he didn't say anything. He just kept looking at me 

There was silence between us, and then, finally, he turned and walked away.

I didn’t move until I heard his door shut.

__

That night, I skipped dinner and I stayed in my room. I didn’t even open the door.

I sat on the floor beside my bed and hugged Jace’s teddy bear to my chest.

It was the one he gave me at the hospital, right before I left and it still smelled like him. It was warm, sweet.

I hugged it very tight, like it could protect me, like it could hide the truth.

Then I got up and my hands shook.

I got to my drawer and pushed the teddy bear deep under some sweater and I covered it with layers of old clothes.

It was too dangerous and If Lucien saw it, he would know.

I closed the drawer and my fingers stayed on the handle. I wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn’t come.

I lay in bed and I stared at the ceiling.

I didn’t sleep.

Lucien knew something was wrong and I saw it in his eyes.

And when Lucien started asking questions, he didn’t stop until he found answers.

—

In the morning, the house was too quiet.

There were no footsteps, no voices and there was no Lucien.

I walked out slowly and my heart beat faster with every step.

The living room was empty.

But on the table, I see a hot cup of coffee.

Steam curls up from the top. He made it not long ago.

Next to it, there’s a note in his sharp, cold handwriting:

“Be in my office by nine.”

I sat down on the edge of the couch and I held the coffee with both hands.

My fingers shook, but I tried to hold still.

I glanced up.

There’s a small red light that blinked on the security camera.

Is he watching me right now?

—

At 8:55, I walked into Lucien’s office. Lucien sat behind his desk, his face blank and his eyes were tired but sharp.

I stood quietly, and I waited for him to speak, but he didn’t.

Instead, he picked up a file and handed it to me. “Review this proposal,” he said. 

“And fix the numbers. We are meeting with the board at noon.”

I took the file with both hands. “Yes. Of course.”

He didn’t look at me again.

I turned and walked to the other end of the office where the small assistant desk sat by the window. I sat down and opened the file. My eyes scanned the numbers, but I wasn’t reading them.

I could feel his eyes on my back.

Time passed slowly. I stood up to get coffee. His private office door was open with just a crack. As I passed by, I heard a voice from inside.

“…she goes there almost every night.”

I stopped.

The voice wasn’t Lucien’s.

“Hospital, yes. I will send the photos today.”

I held my breath.

Then I heard Lucien’s voice, it was low, sharp and serious.

“Keep watching her. Every minute. I want to know what she’s hiding.”

My heart slammed against my chest.

He had someone following me.

He knew I was going to the hospital.

He didn’t trust me.

He was right.

I pressed a hand over my mouth and backed away from the door.

If he found out about Jace… about who he really was… I would lose everything.

—

After work, I rushed to the hospital.

The elevator took too long. My chest was tight the whole ride up.

When I stepped out, the doctor was already waiting near Jace’s room. His face looked tired, serious.

“What’s wrong?” I asked quickly.

He looked at me gently. “Jace’s condition is getting worse. We don’t have much time.”

“I’ll get the surgery,” I said. “I’ll find the money. I’ll—”

“It’s not about money, Ms. Rivera.”

I blinked. “Then what is it?”

“We need a donor. Someone with matching DNA. A parent, or a close relative.”

I still went.

“A… a donor?” I whispered.

He nodded. “A parent is best. A sibling could also work. We need someone with his blood. His genes.”

My legs felt weak. My fingers went cold.

“I can’t…” I said.

“If there’s someone else,” the doctor said softly. “Even the father…”

“There is no one,” I said quickly.

He looked at me. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. But my heart whispered something else.

—

That evening, I returned to the penthouse.

I dropped my bag on the table and sat on the couch.

In my hand was a small plush bunny with a blue bow.

Jace’s favorite toy.

I didn’t even know how it got into my purse. Maybe I took it by accident when I was leaving the hospital, I held it close. 

“Is that yours?”

Lucien’s voice came from behind me. It was cold and sharp.

I jumped. “What?”

He stepped closer. His eyes were on the toy. “The bunny. Is it yours?”

I hid it behind me. “It’s just an old toy. From when I was little.”

His eyes didn’t blink. He didn’t believe me.

But he said nothing. He just walked away.

I ran to my room and shoved the bunny deep into a box of scarves. But I knew it was already too late.

Lucien had started watching me closely.

And he was putting the pieces together.

—

The next morning, I stepped out of my room and heard the door to Lucien’s office shut.

Something told me to look.

I crept toward the hallway.

His door wasn’t fully closed.

I peeked through the crack.

Lucien sat alone, the morning sun bright behind him. His face looked darker than ever.

Then I heard it, just a soft sound. A small click, like something opened on his phone.

He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Just stared down at the screen in his hand.

His face was tight. His jaw locked. One hand clenched the phone so hard.

Then I heard him speak.

Low.

Rough.

“Who the hell…”

He paused.

“…is this child?”

My knees weakened. I backed away fast, my heart in my throat.

He saw something .

He knew something.