Secrets and Sparks
The office buzzed around me, but all I could hear was the echo of his voice, the way he said my name like he still owned it. Five years. Five years of trying to move on, five years of holding Luca as my world, and he just walked back in like no time had passed.
I tried to focus on my work, but every spreadsheet, every email blurred into thoughts of him. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as if touching the keys could somehow anchor me to reality. But reality was messy, confusing, and very, very him.
"Mommy?" Luca's voice cut through my fog. I looked up and saw him holding a crumpled piece of paper, eyes wide.
"What is it, baby?" I asked, masking my racing heart.
"Daddy made this for me!" Luca said, waving the drawing proudly. My stomach dropped.
I turned. And there he was, leaning casually against the doorframe, that same dangerous, smirking expression, holding the corner of the drawing like it was treasure.
"I hope you like it," he says softly, kneeling to Luca's height. "Let's see it, champ."
Luca handed it over. I kept my eyes elsewhere, pretending to busy myself with my work. But I couldn't help noticing the way his eyes softened when he looked at my son.
"You have an amazing mom," he murmured to Luca. "She's smart… honest… and brave."
Luca giggled as he wiggled under his father's playful poke. I had to bite my lip to stop from laughing too — or maybe crying. He was so gentle with him.
"You're trouble," I muttered, barely audible.
He looked up at me, smirk tugging at his lips. "You love it," he said softly.
I stiffened. That tone, that whisper of familiarity, it had haunted my dreams for years. And now, here it was, impossible to ignore.
Luca tugged on my sleeve again. "Mommy, he's nice. Can he stay for dinner?"
My breath hitched. Dinner? With him? I froze. Memories of pain, heartbreak, and the night he left resurfaced. I shook my head subtly, trying to focus on work.
He straightened, brushing imaginary dust off his suit, eyes never leaving mine. "Dinner… huh? You're tempting me, Aurelia," he murmured, voice low, dangerous.
Before I could respond, a coworker cleared their throat behind us. I glanced at them, cheeks burning. Embarrassment flushed through me — but also relief. I had an excuse to escape.
"I… I need to get back to work," I said, forcing a smile.
He didn't move. "We'll finish this later," he said, his voice softer now, almost a whisper. And then he turned and left the office.
But before he disappeared, I noticed something strange: a folded note slipped under the office door. My name written in a careful, familiar script.
I picked it up with trembling hands, Luca tugging at my sleeve. "Mommy, what is it?"
I opened it, eyes scanning the words:
'Meet me tonight. We need to talk. About us… and the past'.
My heart pounded. The past. Us. All the secrets I thought were buried.
Luca tugged again. "Mommy?"
"I… I have to work on some things, baby," I said, my voice shaking. But my mind was already racing. What could he possibly want to talk about?
The office felt smaller, the walls closer. Every corner of the room reminded me of him — the way he laughed, the way he made me feel like everything was possible… and the way he had broken me.
I looked down at the drawing Luca was made. He, the mysterious, Micheal, had drawn all three of us: me, Luca, and him, standing together. I felt a pang of longing I wasn't ready to admit. And yet, deep down, I knew the meeting he asked for tonight could change everything — or destroy me all over again.
I stuffed the note into my bag and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. My pulse raced as I pictured him waiting, that smirk that had haunted me, the sparkle in his eyes that promised both trouble and temptation.
Luca tugged at my sleeve once more. "Mommy, is Daddy mad?"
I forced a smile, crouching to his height. "No, baby. Daddy just… wants to talk."
He nodded, satisfied for now, and ran off to play with his toys. I watched him go, my heart heavy with both fear and anticipation.
The day dragged on, but my mind was elsewhere — on him, on Luca, on that note. I tried to work, but each time I heard footsteps, I wondered: was it him coming back? Or was it just my imagination?
And as I packed my bag to leave, I realized something terrifying…
Tonight, I had no choice. I would have to face him.
Face the man who once broke my heart.
Face the secrets we had both buried.
And deep down, I knew one thing for certain: nothing would ever be the same again.