Pretending

Chapter 22

Bruno’s POV

“You’ve been quiet lately. What’s wrong?”

Jeffery’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I blinked slowly and stared at my laptop screen, realizing I had been doing absolutely nothing for the past few minutes. The document in front of me was still empty.

My mind wasn’t here.

It hadn’t been here for a while now.

The only thing I could think about was Martina… and the way she ignored me the last time we saw each other at Collins’ office.

It kept replaying in my head.

Over and over again.

The way she looked at me like I didn’t exist.

Like I meant nothing.

It hurt more than I expected.

More than I wanted to admit.

“She really hates me now…” I muttered under my breath.

And honestly, she had every right to.

I hurt her.

I pushed her away.

Now I was paying for it.

“You’re not saying anything,” Jeffery said again, this time more firmly.

I looked up at him, trying to act normal.

“It’s nothing,” I replied.

But even as I said it, I knew he wouldn’t believe me.

Jeffery knew me too well.

“You know you can’t lie to me,” he said, folding his arms.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair.

There was no point pretending.

“Have you found out why Martina was at Collins’ office the other day?” I asked.

Jeffery raised a brow, then smirked slightly.

“Oh, so it’s about her. I knew it.”

I didn’t respond. I just waited.

“Well…” he continued, stepping closer to my desk, “you’re going to be surprised by what I found out.”

My brows furrowed immediately.

“What is it?”

“I just found out that Martina is Herrick’s new secretary.”

For a second, I thought I misheard him.

“What?”

“She went to Collins’ place that day to finalize a business deal. It was her first day at work,” Jeffery added calmly.

My eyes widened.

Martina?

Working with Herrick?

It didn’t make any sense.

“How?” I asked, my voice rising slightly. “How is that even possible?”

Out of all people…

Herrick?

“I heard she passed the interview and got the position,” Jeffery said.

I shook my head immediately.

“No… it still doesn’t make sense,” I said. “Martina is a dropout. Herrick wouldn’t just appoint her as his secretary when there are more qualified people.”

Even as I said it, something didn’t sit right with me.

Because I knew Martina.

She was smart.

Very smart.

But still…

Herrick wasn’t the type to take chances.

“Who knows?” Jeffery shrugged. “Maybe she did exceptionally well in the interview. And like you’ve always said, she’s intelligent. Maybe she proved herself.”

I stayed quiet.

Part of me wanted to agree.

But another part of me felt uneasy.

“I know…” I finally said. “But Herrick? I can’t imagine Martina working with him. You know how he is.”

Jeffery sighed.

“Yes, I know. But there’s nothing you can do about it. Besides, she has a better job now. It’s way better than those part-time jobs she used to do.”

That was true.

Martina had always struggled.

Working multiple jobs just to survive.

Now she finally had something stable.

“I believe she’s happy with the job,” Jeffery added.

I looked away.

“I just hope she’s fine,” I said quietly.

That was all that mattered.

Even if she hated me…

Even if she never wanted to see me again…

I just wanted her to be okay.

Jeffery watched me for a moment before shaking his head.

“Enough of all this sulking,” he said. “Your grandfather sent for you again. He wants you at his place.”

I groaned softly.

“That man won’t let me rest,” I muttered. “I should go now before he starts calling.”

Jeffery chuckled.

“I’ll have the car prepared.”

“Tell them to get it ready,” I said.

“Right away.”

He left the office, and I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.

My thoughts were all over the place.

Martina working with Herrick…

I didn’t like it.

Not one bit.

Herrick wasn’t someone you could trust easily.

He was flirtatious.

Arrogant.

Cold.

Unpredictable.

The idea of Martina being around him every day made something tighten in my chest.

But what could I do?

Nothing.

I had already lost the right to interfere in her life.

Not long after, Jeffery returned.

“The car is ready. You can leave now.”

I nodded and stood up, picking up my phone and keys before walking out with him.

We stepped into the hallway, heading toward the exit.

That was when we ran into Arianna.

She was walking toward my office, like always.

It was almost as if she had a fixed schedule for disturbing me.

I tried to walk past her without saying anything.

“Where are you going, Bruno?” she asked.

I stopped briefly, already irritated.

“And why should I tell you where I’m going?” I replied coldly.

Her expression changed immediately.

She placed a hand on her waist, clearly ready to argue.

But I wasn’t in the mood.

Not today.

“I’m your fiancée, remember?” she said. “I have every right to know.”

I let out a short, annoyed breath.

Then I walked past her without another word.

I didn’t have the energy for her drama.

Not when my mind was already occupied.

We stepped outside the company building.

The car was already waiting.

The driver quickly opened the door for me.

I got in without hesitation, and Jeffery closed it behind me.

The car drove off almost immediately.

The ride was long and quiet.

I leaned back, staring out the window as the city passed by.

But I wasn’t really seeing anything.

My mind kept drifting back to Martina.

To her face.

To her silence.

To the way she walked past me like I was a stranger.

My jaw tightened.

I deserved it.

I knew I did.

But that didn’t make it hurt any less.

After a few hours, we finally arrived at my grandfather’s villa.

The car came to a stop.

I stepped out immediately.

The guards at the entrance bowed as soon as they saw me.

I acknowledged them with a slight nod before looking up at the building.

The house stood tall and imposing, just as it always had.

Nothing about it had changed.

And yet, every time I came here, it felt heavier.

I already knew why he called me.

It was never for anything simple.

There was always something behind it.

I sighed slowly and straightened my posture.

There was no point delaying it.

I walked forward and entered the building.

Whatever it was…

I would deal with it.

Just like I always do.