The Picture That Shook Me

Chapter Fourteen — The Picture That Shook Me

Alina’s POV

I didn’t want him to see me.

I woke up earlier than usual, dressed quickly, and left the house quietly. My heart pounded with only one thought, I must go to the office alone.

Not because I hated him. No. It was because of the rumors.

Everywhere in the company, people already whispered that Vanessa was the CEO’s girlfriend. Everyone treated her like she owned the place. If they saw me in Lucien’s car… if they saw me coming out with him… the gossips would multiply, and I would be buried alive under them.

I walked faster, almost running toward the small gate. I could take a cab and go quietly. Nobody would notice. Nobody would ask questions.

But just as I was about to step out, a shadow blocked me.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Lucien’s deep voice.

I froze. My head turned slowly, and there he was, tall, sharp, but with that annoying little smile on his lips.

Before I could answer, he reached out and knocked my head lightly with his finger.

“Why are you running away from me, hmm?” he teased. “Do you think I won’t notice?”

My cheeks warmed. I looked away. “I… I just want to go to the office myself.”

He tilted his head, eyes narrowing in mock seriousness. “Why?”

“Because… because I don’t want gossip,” I whispered. “People already say you and Vanessa are together. If they see me in your car, it will be worse.”

He chuckled low, leaning closer. “So you’re avoiding me because of what people think?”

I bit my lip. “It’s not only that. I just… I want to live quietly. I don’t want trouble.”

His eyes softened for a second, but then he sighed and straightened. “Too bad, Alina. You’re not going quietly today. You’re coming with me.”

“No!” I gasped, stepping back.

“Yes.”

I shook my head quickly. “Lucien, please. I don’t want…”

But he moved faster. In one motion, he opened the car door and gave me a look that said, get in, or else.

“Lucien…” I tried again.

“Alina,” he cut me off firmly. “You’ll sit here. Beside me. Not in a cab. Not today.”

My hands trembled as I clutched my bag. His voice left no room for argument. Slowly, hesitantly, I sat inside.

He smirked, sliding in next to me. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

I turned my face to the window, refusing to meet his eyes. But my heart was beating so fast I thought he could hear it.

As the car started moving, silence filled the space. It wasn’t awkward, it was heavy. Too heavy.

Then, without warning, he leaned over at a red light and pressed his lips against my cheek.

I froze. My breath caught.

“Lucien!” I hissed, pushing him slightly. “What are you doing?”

He laughed softly, eyes glinting. “You worry too much. Relax. No one saw.”

I covered my cheek with my palm, trying to calm the wild storm inside me. Why did that small kiss make me feel like I was falling into fire?

When the company’s tall building came into view, I quickly turned to him. “Please… please drop me before the gate. I don’t want anyone to see me with you.”

For once, he didn’t argue. He looked at me for a long second, then nodded. “Fine. If that makes you breathe easier.”

The car slowed a few meters before the gate.

“Thank you,” I whispered, almost running out before anyone could see.

He called after me, his voice teasing. “Don’t run too fast, Alina. You’ll make people think I’m chasing you.”

I didn’t dare turn back. My cheeks were burning as I walked straight into the building, pretending everything was normal.

At my desk, I tried to focus on work. I typed, erased, typed again. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. The feel of his lips on my cheek wouldn’t leave me. The sound of his laugh kept replaying in my ears.

Why do I feel this way? I thought. Why do I feel like I can’t breathe whenever he’s close?

I forced myself to calm down. Papers, numbers, emails, I needed to drown myself in them.

But then…

Click. Click. Click.

The sharp sound of heels approached. I looked up, and my heart stopped.

Vanessa.

She didn’t smile. Her red lips curved in something sharper, darker. She didn’t greet me. She didn’t even pretend to be polite.

She slammed something on my desk.

A phone screen.

My breath caught.

On it was a picture.

Me.

Stepping out of Lucien’s car.

My face pale, my bag clutched tight. His car shining behind me.

I felt the blood drain from my body.

Vanessa leaned closer, her perfume choking me. Her eyes burned like knives.

“So,” she whispered, her voice dripping with poison, “this is what you’ve been doing, Alina?”

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. My world spun.

Vanessa smirked. “You thought you could hide it, didn’t you? You thought nobody would see. But guess what? The whole company will see now.”

She straightened, her voice louder. “Let’s see how far you last when everyone knows you’re sneaking around with the CEO.”

The picture burned in my eyes.

And for the first time, I realized, this wasn’t just gossip anymore.

It was war.