Unfinished Business

Lucien’s own words echoed through his mind the next morning as he sat in his high back chair, staring blankly at the leather file on his desk. He had not read a single line of the report in front of him for over an hour. He repeatedly told himself that the moment meant nothing.

Pulling her closer had been a necessary correction because Isabella had crossed a line she was not supposed to. It was strictly a move dictated by their arrangement, yet a stubborn part of his mind kept replaying how naturally Evelyn had fit beside him. She had not flinched or pulled away. Instead, she had stood there with a quiet confidence, looking as if she truly belonged by his side.

He leaned back and exhaled slowly, watching the morning light filter through the floor to ceiling windows of his office. A strange, tight sensation clawed at his chest. It was a feeling of things slipping through his fingers. He was a man who built his entire life on the foundation of absolute order, yet lately, the walls felt like they were leaning inward. He refused to let mere familiarity turn into something deeper just because they shared the same house, but the lack of control over his own thoughts was starting to grate on his nerves.

A sharp knock interrupted his thinking, Alex stepped inside holding a tablet.

“The board meeting has been moved to eleven o’clock,” Alex said. He paused before adding, “Your father called earlier this morning.”

“I will return his call later,” Lucien replied. His voice hardened as he shifted his focus. “The footage is what I care about. I asked for a full review weeks ago, so tell me why this investigation is still dragging on.”

Alex straightened his posture, his expression growing cautious and uneasy. “There is an issue. The cameras were completely off that night.”

The office went silent. Lucien stared at him, his eyes narrowing into a cold glare. He felt a surge of cold fury at the breach. For Lucien, security was not just about cameras; it was the physical manifestation of his control over his world. To have it bypassed so easily felt like a personal insult.

“All of them?” Lucien asked, his voice dangerously low.

“The main hall, the west corridor, and the service entrance were all dark,” Alex explained.

“Every single camera covering that section was manually disabled. To make matters worse, there were no gate records for any unauthorized vehicles or visitors.”

Lucien stood up slowly, letting out a short, humorless laugh. The air in the room felt heavy, and his pulse hammered against his ribs. Someone had walked through his life like a ghost, and the realization that he was vulnerable in his own sanctuary was a bitter pill to swallow.

“So someone entered my property, shut down the entire system, and walked out without being seen. I pay an entire team of people to prevent exactly this from happening. I want every staff member reviewed immediately. Check their schedules, their access logs, and their personal finances. If someone on the inside helped make this happen, I want them found before they realize we are even looking for them.”

Alex nodded once in understanding, but before he could make his exit, the heavy office door swung open. Isabella walked in, perfectly dressed in a tailored suit and looking completely at ease. Her eyes flickered between the two men before settling on Lucien with a knowing look.

“Well,” she said lightly, “this feels like terrible timing.”

Lucien gave Alex a sharp look of dismissal. The assistant gathered his tablet and left the room without saying another word. Isabella walked further into the office and placed her designer bag on the chair across from his desk as if she owned the space.

“I thought I would give you some time after the scene yesterday,” she said, smoothing out her skirt. “However, I needed to speak to you urgently, so I did not think formality mattered much between us.”

“It always matters,” Lucien countered. He gripped the edge of his mahogany desk until his knuckles turned white. “In the future, you should call my assistant before showing up.”

Isabella tilted her head, watching him with a calm and piercing gaze. “I have been to your house many times, Lucien. In all those years, I have never seen anyone who was not family move around that house like they belonged there. She seemed very settled and far too comfortable, which caught me off guard.”

“She is not a guest,” Lucien said. His voice was flat, leaving no room for argument. “She is my wife.”

Isabella held his gaze for a long moment. “You made that very clear yesterday. I am not questioning the title you gave her as much as I am questioning the timing of this sudden devotion.”

“You are here for business, Isabella, so keep your focus there,” Lucien snapped. His patience was at a breaking point.

She smiled faintly and opened the thick file she had brought with her. “As always, we return to business. The merger remains the priority, and the board is expecting your final sign off before Monday morning. Your father is growing impatient with the current timeline. He expects to see results, no more excuses for why this is being delayed.”

As she spoke, his mind began to spiral. He looked at the merger papers, then back at the door Alex had exited. He felt as though he was standing on a chessboard where the pieces were moving on their own.

Isabella eventually stopped speaking and studied him over the top of her folder. “You are distracted, Lucien. Being busy is normal for you, but this is something entirely different. You look unsettled.”

The word hit him like a physical blow. “If you came here to discuss the merger, then finish your report,” Lucien said, closing his own file with a sharp thud that echoed in the quiet room. “If you have nothing else of substance to say, I have work to do.”

Isabella picked up her bag and moved toward the door, pausing at the threshold to look back at him.

A sharp and calculating light sparked in her eyes as she watched him. Her smile was no longer soft or friendly; instead, it was edged with a silent, cold threat.

“For what it is worth, Lucien, I have never seen you play a part so convincingly. It is a dangerous game you are starting with this girl, and I would hate to see how much it costs you.”