The Woman He Buried

At exactly half past five, Cassian Vega stepped out of the executive boardroom and loosened his tie.

Three hours of negotiations had finally come to an end. Behind him, directors filtered into the hallway while assistants gathered laptops, contracts, and presentation folders from the long conference table.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. A reminder lit the screen.

Anniversary.

Cassian paused, the tension in his shoulders easing. A small smile formed as he tapped Isla’s name and called.

It rang once.

“Happy anniversary,” she answered immediately.

He let out a quiet laugh. “I was hoping to say that first.”

“You were too slow.”

“I’ve been stuck in meetings all afternoon,” he said, leaning back against the glass wall overlooking the city.

“I figured.”

“The board meeting just ended.”

“So you’re free?” Isla asked.

“I wish.” He exhaled. “The investors want dinner at six.”

Her silence told him she already understood.

“I’m sorry,” he added.

“It’s all right.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“They flew halfway across the world, Cassian.” She tried to sound light, but he knew her well enough to hear the disappointment she was hiding. “I’ll probably still be at work anyway.”

“You too?”

“End-of-month reports,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll be here late.”

He frowned. “So we’re both working on our anniversary.”

“Looks like it.”

A brief silence settled between them.

“I owe you dinner,” he said finally.

“You owe me more than dinner,” she teased softly.

“I know.” Cassian said.

Her voice softened. “Go. Your investors are waiting.”

“I’ll call you later.”

“I’ll be waiting.” A pause. Then, gently, “I love you.”

There wasn’t a second of hesitation. “I love you too.”

The call ended.

Cassian slipped the phone into his pocket just as Brody Garrett, his legal adviser and closest friend, stepped beside him.

“Isla?” Brody asked, already guessing.

“Our anniversary.”

Brody winced. “Ouch.”

“Tell me about it.”

Before they could say more, one of the foreign investors approached with a practiced smile.

“Mr. Vega, dinner is ready.”

Cassian straightened, the personal moment folding neatly back into business. “Let’s continue.”

In another part of the city, Isla Marquez slipped her phone back into her handbag and returned to her desk. Stacks of unfinished reports waited beneath the soft glow of her desk lamp. She rolled up her sleeves and exhaled quietly.

One more hour, she told herself. Maybe two.

She wasn’t upset. Cassian never hid behind excuses. If he said he was busy, he meant it. Besides, she had her own plan.

He thought she would be working late. She intended to keep it that way. The surprise would be worth it.

At six o'clock, the executive dining room at Vega Tower welcomed a select group of guests, government officials, foreign investors, legal advisers, and senior executives.

Dinner continued where the negotiations had left off. Courses were served between conversations, and every successful agreement was followed by another toast.

Cassian accepted the first, then the second. By the third, he set his glass down with a polite smile. “I think I’ve reached my limit.”

One of the investors laughed. “In my country, refusing a toast is considered bad luck."

Another lifted his glass. “To long partnerships.”

The table echoed the toast.

Cassian smiled politely and took another drink.

Across the table, Sasha Marquez watched in quiet silence.

Fabian Marquez's eldest daughter, she had grown up alongside the Vega family. For years, relatives and family friends had joked that she and Cassian looked perfect together. Eventually, the jokes became expectations. No one ever asked whether either of them wanted it.

Earlier that afternoon, she had stepped out of the boardroom to answer a phone call. Passing Cassian's office, she hadn't meant to linger.

But she had. And she had heard enough.

Happy anniversary. I love you.

Simple, certain words. Enough to tell her exactly what tonight meant. She hadn't reacted then. She didn’t need to.

Now, she lifted her wine glass with an effortless smile. "To new beginnings."

The investors readily joined her.

Cassian offered another polite smile... and drank again.

By the time dinner ended, it was past eight-thirty. Guests began to leave in small groups, exchanging handshakes and final remarks.

Brody checked his watch. “I’ve got another client waiting.”

Cassian waved him off without looking up. “Go.”

“You sure?” Brody asked.

“I’ll survive.”

Brody hesitated, then glanced at Tristan Marquez, Sasha’s older brother. “You staying?”

Tristan shook his head. “I’ve got contracts waiting.”

Cassian gave a distracted nod. The room felt heavier than it should. When he stood, the floor tilted slightly beneath him.

Neither Brody nor Tristan noticed Sasha lingering near the doorway.

“I’ll make sure he gets home,” she said calmly.

Brody glanced at her, then at Cassian. “You sure about that?”

Cassian waved a hand dismissively. “My assistant will be here soon.”

Brody hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll head out.”

Moments later, the room emptied.

Across the street from Vega Tower, the bakery was nearly closing. A bell chimed softly as Isla stepped inside.

The old baker looked up. “You’re late today. I was about to close.”

“I know,” she said with an apologetic smile. “Work ran over.”

He chuckled and reached for a small chocolate cake already waiting in the display case.

“The usual?”

She nodded. “And a candle.”

He paused. “Celebrating something?”

Her expression softened. “Our anniversary.”

His face brightened. “Then congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

He carefully boxed the cake and tied it with a satin ribbon.

Outside, the city was settling into night. Lights flickered on in high-rise windows, and traffic thinned into steady streams.

Isla looked across the street. Vega Tower still glowed against the night sky.

Perfect. He would still be there. She hadn’t told him she was coming.

Balancing the cake in one hand and a small gift bag in the other, she crossed the street.

Security at the tower greeted her warmly. “Good evening, Miss Isla.”

“Good evening.”

“Mr. Vega is still upstairs,” one guard added.

She smiled faintly. “I thought he might be.”

“The executive elevators are ready.” The guard said.

“Thank you.”

She stepped inside, and the doors slid shut, sealing her into a quiet, mirrored space. For a moment, she studied her reflection, slightly tired, slightly hopeful.

But happy.

The elevator rose smoothly, floor by floor, until it slowed and opened onto the executive level.

The hallway was nearly dark. Most offices had shut down for the night. Only one room remained lit.

Cassian’s office.

A small smile formed on her lips.

She adjusted the cake box in her hands and walked quietly toward the partially open door.

Then...

She stopped.