Mag-log inLyra pushed open the office door.The first thing she saw was Victoria still standing beside Damien's desk, her hand resting near his shoulder in that casual way that suggested familiarity and claim.For half a second...just half a second, Lyra felt the familiar tightness in her chest.But she pushed through it.She walked into the office with purpose and presence. She didn't hesitate. She didn't show discomfort. She simply moved across the space with the kind of calm confidence that suggested she belonged here just as much as anyone else.She positioned herself in front of Damien's desk and greeted Victoria with a warm, professional smile."Good morning, Victoria," Lyra said. "Shall we start with the authentication? I'm eager to begin."Victoria's expression shifted into something pleased.She looked at Damien, and there was a glimmer of something...approval, perhaps in her eyes."I like your employees," Victoria said smoothly. "She's so ready to dive into work. I appreciate that kin
Lyra walked into Stella Design House at 8:45 AM.She'd spent the entire night planning and spiraling at some point. But strategically mapping out how she was going to approach the Collection project with Victoria. She'd made notes on authentication processes, on how to manage client expectations, on timelines and deliverables and every detail that could possibly go wrong.She'd also made a decision about herself.The girl who ran away was gone. This morning, a different version of Lyra walked through those doors. One who was calm. One who was focused. One who had made peace with the fact that if she was going to stand beside him, she couldn't fall apart every time something hurt.Emma was waiting for her at her desk, coffee in hand."Good morning," Emma said warmly, handing her the coffee. "I'm going to bring you the documents for The Marchetti Collection later once I get them from Mike. We need your signature on the updated timeline and budget adjustments. Is that okay?"Lyra took th
The elevator doors closed.And Lyra fell apart.She didn't make it to the ground floor before the sobs started. Her entire body began to shake, tremors that started in her chest and radiated outward until her hands were shaking so badly she could barely stand. Her breath came in gasps...short, desperate pulls of air that never seemed to fill her lungs completely.She pressed herself into the corner of the elevator, trying to make herself smaller, trying to disappear.The elevator dinged as it passed the fifteenth floor. Then the fourteenth. She held her breath, hoping no one would get on. Praying that she could make it to the lobby alone, could make it outside, could find somewhere...anywhere to fall apart without an audience.By some miracle, no one entered.She made it to the lobby and walked through it with her head down, her hand over her face, moving quickly toward the back exit. She couldn't face the main street. Couldn't face people looking at her. Couldn't bear to have anyone
Damien looked up from his desk. His gaze moved from Victoria to Lyra, and in that movement, Lyra saw the comparison being made. Victoria in her perfectly tailored emerald dress, her dark hair styled to perfection, her presence commanding and confident. And Lyra in her navy blazer, her emotional composure hanging by a thread, her eyes revealing far too much."Yes," Damien said. He gestured toward Victoria with a kind of casual possession. "Lyra, this is Victoria Solare. She's from Solare Design House. She's here regarding the authentication of an antique collection, and I'm assigning you to work with her on this project."The words landed like stones.Victoria turned fully toward Lyra now, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She extended her hand in greeting."Lyra," Victoria said, her voice warm and smooth. "I've heard so much about you from Damien. He speaks very highly of your work. I'm very much looking forward to working with you."Lyra's hand moved almost automatically t
The early morning client meeting had run longer than expected.By the time Lyra returned to Stella Design House, it was 11:15 AM. She climbed the stairs back to her floor, expecting the usual hum of afternoon activity, the quiet focus of people working on their projects.Instead, she felt it immediately.The atmosphere was different.Heavy.Electric with something unspoken.She saw Emma standing near the design station, talking in low tones with another employee....Sofia, who worked in client relations. Both women had their heads close together, voices hushed, the kind of posture that came when people were sharing gossip they didn't want overheard.When Emma saw Lyra, she straightened up immediately and excused herself from the conversation.She followed Lyra into her office and closed the door behind them.Lyra set down her portfolio and turned to look at her assistant."What's going on out there?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light. "The entire floor feels like something's ha
*In The Hallway*She made it three steps before she had to stop walking.She stood against the wall, her portfolio pressed against her chest, trying to breathe.Around her, the office moved normally. People passed by without noticing her internal shattering. The world was continuing on like she hadn't just had her heart completely dismantled by a man who looked at her like she was invisible.She pushed off from the wall and made her way back to her office.She closed the door and sat down in her chair.And she let herself understand, really understand, what had just happened.He could do this to her. He could call her into his office and treat her like any other employee. He could ignore her, dismiss her, cut her with words that were technically professional but felt like weapons specifically designed for her destruction.And she would have to accept it.Because she worked for him now.Because he owned her company.Because there was nowhere to run.She had thought coming back to work
Lyra set her phone down with shaking hands and stood up.Her legs felt weak, her body hypersensitive. Every movement of fabric against her skin made her gasp.She walked to the full-length mirror in her room and looked at herself.Her hair was disheveled from the flight and the stress. Her face was
Lyra stared at her phone screen, her heart still racing from the encounter in the hallway.DarkVeil: Welcome home, little one. Did you miss me?Her fingers trembled as she typed back.LyraNight: How did you know I got to New York? I didn't tell you I was flying home.The three dots appeared immedia
"The Mercers. They were good people. Are good people." Karla's eyes filled with fresh tears. "They passed away six months ago. Car accident. That's when I did the DNA test. I had no one left and I just... I needed to know if there was anyone out there who shared my blood."Isabelle made a soft soun
LYRA POV:The plane touched down at JFK with a jolt that matched the anxiety thrumming through Lyra's veins.She'd barely slept during the flight, her mind spinning with questions her mother refused to answer over the phone. Urgent. Family matter. Need you home. The words had echoed through her hea







