Nick took a step closer, his eyes burning with a desperate, angry fire. "Answer me, Honey! Are you having an affair behind my back while I've been worried sick about you?"
Phoebe didn't flinch. She simply stood there, her cold gaze fixed on the man who still had the audacity to call her 'Honey' after everything he'd done. Beside her, Julian's presence remained as steady and as cold as a mountain, his silence far more terrifying than Nick's screams.
A faint, mocking smile etched itself onto those crimson lips. "Are you seriously asking me if I'm having an affair?" A hollow, bitter laugh escaped her throat before she slowly shook her head, as if staring at a particularly pathetic joke. "Drop the drama, Nick! I have a more pressing question, what exactly is your reason for showing up at my office?"
Confusion flickered across his face, replaced quickly by an expression of wounded innocence. "I came here to see you. Is it wrong for a man to look for his girlfriend? I've had no idea where you were for days, and you haven't even bothered to reply to a single one of my messages."
Technically, what he said was true, yet the words felt like poison to her ears. She was long past done with his carefully crafted charades. "You still consider me your girlfriend?"
"What is that supposed to mean? Why are you suddenly asking that?"
The sound of sharp, piercing laughter filled the lounge, echoing against the marble walls. It was so loud and hollow that Julian momentarily averted his gaze, he could see right through it. He knew she was merely wrapping herself in a shroud of artificial strength to keep from shattering.
"If you truly believe we are still a couple, then let me clarify things for you," she stated, her voice dropping to a deadly, decisive chill. "Our relationship ends right here, right now. From this moment on, there is nothing connecting us. In fact, expect every single one of your work contracts to be terminated immediately."
His eyes widened in sheer disbelief, his face paling as the weight of the words sank in. The woman who had always been his greatest supporter had just become his most formidable executioner.
"Wait, why are you suddenly doing this? Why do you want to break up?" Nick's voice cracked with a mix of confusion and desperation. "Everything was fine between us, wasn't it, Honey?"
A heavy, weary sigh escaped Phoebe's lips before she finally looked him in the eye. "Our relationship was only 'fine' because I chose to be blind. It's too problematic to continue, and I've finally woken up to that reality."
"Woken up to what? Everything was perfect before you disappeared yesterday!" He paused, his gaze darting toward the man standing silently beside her. A sneer twisted his face as he pointed a finger accusingly at Julian. "Or is it because of him? Are you acting like this because this man got into your head?"
Before the finger could stay pointed for another second, Julian reached out and coldly swiped Nick's hand away. "Keep your filthy hands to yourself," Julian warned, his voice vibrating with a dangerous undertone. "And don't you dare point them at me again."
"It's the truth, isn't it?" Nick barked, refusing to back down despite the intimidation. "You must have manipulated her! You're the reason she wants to end things!"
It was clear that Nick was still living in his own delusion, truly believing that Phoebe had been perfectly fine with his previous behaviour. He had no idea the bridge had already burned to ashes.
"Enough!" Phoebe's voice cut through his shouting like a blade. "Don't you dare blame Julian for your own failures. If you're so desperate for a reason, I'll have my assistant send you a detailed list of every single mess you've caused in this relationship. I am beyond disgusted with all of this."
Refusing to give him another second of her time, she turned on her heel. She didn't just walk away, she reached out and firmly grasped Julian's hand, pulling him along with her. It was a silent, powerful statement, leaving Nick standing alone in the middle of lounge, fuming and humiliated.
*****
The city light flickered like distant stars through the floor to ceiling windows of the exclusive lounge. It was late, and the frantic energy of the office had finally been replaced by a heavy, velvet silence. After hours of burying herself in paperwork to drown out the lingering echoes of the confrontation with Nick, Phoebe had sought refuge in this dimly lit sanctuary, waiting for Celia to join her.
A rhythmic clink of fine china broke the stillness as a waiter approached her corner table. With practiced grace, he laid out a steaming bowl of creamy lobster bisque, its rich, golden aroma offering a momentary comfort, beside a delicate glass of honey infused chamomile tea. But it was the sleek, midnight blue velvet box placed right in the center that caught the amber light.
"Wait, I didn't order any of this," she said, her voice sounding tired yet sharp in the quiet room. "Why are you bringing this to my table?"
The waiter offered a small, respectful bow. "My apologies, Miss, but the order was placed in advance specifically for your arrival. This gift also for you." Without another word, he retreated into the shadows, leaving her alone with the mysterious spread.
A heavy silence fell once more. She stared at the velvet box, her curiosity finally outweighing the exhaustion that weighed on her shoulders. Slowly, she pried it open.
Tucked inside were three long-stemmed, dew kissed crimson roses, their fragrance sweet and intoxicating, filling the air around her. Nestled between the petals lay a diamond-encrusted teardrop necklace, its stones capturing the soft glow of the Café.
"This… this isn't cheap," she whispered to herself, tracing the cool, intricate craftsmanship of the silver chain. The roses were far too fresh, the jewelry far too exquisite. "There's no way this is from Nick. But if not him… then who?"
She remained lost in the sparkle of the diamonds until the sound of hurried footsteps and a breathless voice cut through the trance.
"I am so sorry! I know, I'm late!" Celia slumped into the chair opposite her, tossing her coat aside. "The city is a mess tonight. There was a massive accident near the intersection, and I thought I'd be stuck in that taxi until dawn!"
Phoebe snapped back to reality, quickly closing the box, though her hands trembled slightly. She offered a small, weary nod of understanding.
"Whoa!" Celia's eyes widened as she scanned the table, her energetic spirit instantly cutting through the heavy atmosphere. "You went all out! Did you already order for me too? This smells heavenly, I'm starving."
"Actually, I haven't ordered a single thing yet," Phoebe admitted, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I don't even know who sent all of this—"
"Wait, oh my God!" Celia gasped, leaning forward before the sentence could even be finished. Her gaze was locked on the edge of the velvet box peeking out from Phoebe's hand. "That necklace… it's stunning! It's absolutely gorgeous! Who is it from? Don't tell me Nick actually has taste now?"
"I highly doubt this is from him," Phoebe said, her voice devoid of any emotion. "I made it very clear to his face today that we are finished. There's no way he'd suddenly turn into a hopeless romantic after that."
Celia fell silent for a moment, her excitement momentarily dampened by Phoebe's cold logic. She chewed on her lip, considering the facts. "You're right. It doesn't fit his style, especially not after a public breakup." She leaned in closer, her eyes glittering with renewed curiosity. "But if it's not from Nick, then who on earth sent all of this? Someone clearly knows exactly where you are and what you like."
Phoebe didn't have an answer. She simply shook her head and gave a small, tired shrug of her shoulders, her gaze drifting back to the sparkling diamonds. The mystery of it all felt like a weight in the air, heavy, expensive, and strangely intimate.