The Secret We Keep

The next two weeks were torture in the best way.

 By day, he was Mr. Luca.

 Cold suit. Sharp tone. Perfectly controlled expression.

 He signed million-dollar deals as though nothing in the world could disturb him.

 And I did my best to act like the same woman who had walked into Romano Enterprises as an ordinary intern.

 Except nothing felt ordinary anymore.

 By 6:03 p.m., my inbox would receive one email.

 No subject.

 No greeting.

 Just one word.

 Stay.

 That was our code.

 I would pretend to organize files while the office slowly emptied. Every time someone's footsteps passed my desk, my heart would jump.

 Then, eventually, his office door would open.

 "Close it," he would say.

 And just like that, the intimidating CEO disappeared.

 Not completely.

 But enough for me to see the man behind the title.

 We became experts at pretending nothing was happening.

 A glance across a crowded conference room.

 A quiet conversation that lasted a few seconds longer than necessary.

 The occasional moment when we found ourselves alone in the elevator and neither of us knew what to say.

 The secrecy should have made me nervous.

 Instead, it made every ordinary moment feel strangely important.

 One afternoon, I was carrying a stack of documents toward the boardroom when I nearly collided with him.

 "Careful," Luca said.

 "I am careful."

 He glanced at the enormous pile in my arms.

 "Clearly."

 I rolled my eyes.

 "Some of us actually have work to do."

 A tiny smile appeared on his face.

 It disappeared almost immediately.

 "Board meeting in five minutes."

 "I know."

 "Then don't be late."

 "Yes, sir."

 His expression changed at the teasing tone in my voice.

 "Kayda."

 I smiled innocently.

 "Mr. Romano?"

 He stared at me for a second before walking away.

 I had to bite back a laugh.

 This was becoming dangerous.

 Not because of what we were doing.

 Because I was beginning to care.

 ---

 The board meeting lasted nearly two hours.

 I sat near the end of the table, taking notes while Luca presented the company's latest acquisition.

 He was completely different in that room.

 Confident.

 Focused.

 Commanding.

 Everyone listened when he spoke.

 I watched him for a moment before realizing he was looking directly at me.

 I immediately lowered my eyes to my notebook.

 When I looked back up, he was already speaking to one of the directors.

 I told myself I had imagined it.

 Then my phone vibrated.

 I glanced beneath the table.

 One message.

 Stop staring.

 I nearly dropped my pen.

 I looked up.

 Luca didn't even glance in my direction.

 I typed back.

 You noticed?

 His reply came almost instantly.

 I notice everything.

 My heart skipped.

 I locked my phone and forced myself to concentrate.

 But for the rest of the meeting, I couldn't stop wondering how long he had been noticing me.

 ---

 That evening, everyone left earlier than usual.

 I remained behind, finishing a report.

 At 6:03 p.m., my inbox refreshed.

 One word.

 Stay.

 I stared at the screen.

 Then I heard footsteps.

 Luca appeared at the end of the hallway.

 "Still working?"

 "Apparently."

 He looked at the files on my desk.

 "You should go home."

 "You told me to stay."

 He paused.

 "That was before I realized how late it was."

 I stood.

 "Are you changing your mind?"

 His expression softened.

 "No."

 For a moment, neither of us spoke.

 Then his phone rang.

 He checked the screen.

 His entire expression changed.

 "Hello?"

 I watched him walk toward the window.

 He listened silently.

 Then his jaw tightened.

 "Who told you that?"

 I couldn't hear the response.

 His eyes moved toward me.

 Something about his expression made my stomach drop.

 He ended the call.

 "What happened?" I asked.

 "Nothing."

 "That didn't look like nothing."

 He walked back toward his desk.

 "Someone has been asking questions about you."

 My smile disappeared.

 "About me?"

 "Yes."

 "Who?"

 "I don't know yet."

 I stared at him.

 "Why would anyone be asking about me?"

 He didn't answer.

 Instead, he opened a drawer and pulled out a photograph.

 He placed it on the desk.

 I recognized the picture immediately.

 It was of my father.

 My breath caught.

 "Where did you get that?"

 Luca's expression was unreadable.

 "That's what I've been trying to find out."

 I stepped closer.

 "What does my father have to do with you?"

 He looked at me.

 "More than you realize."

 The room suddenly felt colder.

 All the playful moments of the past two weeks disappeared.

 For the first time, I understood that whatever secret existed between our families was much bigger than either of us.

 And someone else had started digging for it.

 Luca picked up the photograph.

 "From this moment on, Kayda, you need to be careful."

 "Why?"

 His eyes held mine.

 "Because I don't think you're the only person being watched."

 My heart began pounding.

 "Then who is watching me?"

 He didn't answer.

 And that silence told me everything.

 Our secret wasn't the only thing in danger anymore.