Lucas had read the same line three times.
And still—
It didn't register.
"…Mr. Lucas?"
He blinked.
Looked up.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
A long table.
Sharp suits.
Eyes on him.
A meeting.
Right.
"…Yes," he said, straightening slightly.
One of the senior managers leaned forward.
"You were saying we should proceed with the expansion?"
Lucas paused.
Had he said that?
Because now—
Looking at the numbers in front of him—
That would be a mistake.
A costly one.
"…No," he said slowly. "We hold for now."
A few glances were exchanged across the table.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Lucas saw it.
That flicker of doubt.
And for the first time since taking over—
He felt it too.
"…We'll review again next week," he added, closing the file
The meeting ended shortly after.
But the silence didn't.
Back in his office, Lucas didn't sit immediately.
He stood by the window.
Hands in his pockets.
Eyes unfocused.
The city stretched endlessly below.
Busy.
Alive.
But his mind was somewhere else entirely.
"If he matters that much… Why hide him?"
Lucas closed his eyes briefly.
Because the answer wasn't simple.
It wasn't just fear.
It was everything.
Family.
Expectations.
Reputation.
The life he was supposed to live.
And Michael—
Didn't fit into any of that.
Not publicly.
"…Damn," he muttered under his breath.
Buzz
He looked down.
Michael.
For a moment—
His chest tightened.
Then he answered immediately.
"Hey."
"Hi," Michael replied.
Short.
Lucas leaned against the desk.
"How are you?"
"I'm good."
Another short answer.
Lucas frowned slightly.
"…What are you doing?"
"Studying."
Pause.
"With someone," Michael added.
That made Lucas still.
"…Someone?"
"Yeah. A classmate. Daniel."
Lucas didn't respond immediately.
Not because it was wrong.
But because something about it…
Didn't sit right.
"Oh," he said finally.
Silence.
"I should get back to it," Michael added.
"You just called," Lucas said.
"I know."
Another pause.
Then—
"I'll call you later."
The line went dead.
Lucas stared at his phone.
The conversation lasted less than a minute.
"…What is happening?" he muttered.
Across the world—
Michael dropped his phone beside his notebook.
Daniel looked up.
"Everything okay?"
Michael nodded.
"Yeah."
Daniel studied him for a second.
"You always say that," he said lightly.
Michael gave a small, tired smile.
"It's easier."
Daniel didn't push.
Just nodded.
And went back to his notes.
And somehow—
That felt better than explaining everything.
Back in his office—
Lucas sat down slowly.
Everything felt… off.
Michael's tone.
The short answers.
The mention of someone else.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
For the first time—
A thought crossed his mind that he didn't like.
Am I losing him?
The door knocked.
"Come in."
Lina stepped inside.
Calm.
Composed.
Like always.
"I wanted to talk to you," she said.
Lucas leaned back slightly.
"…About work?"
She shook her head.
"No."
That was new.
She stepped closer.
"You weren't yourself in that meeting."
Lucas looked away.
"I'm fine."
Lina didn't move.
"This isn't about work," she said quietly.
Silence.
Lucas didn't respond.
Because he knew—
She was right.
She took another step.
Not intrusive.
But intentional.
"You've been distracted for days," she continued. "And it's getting worse."
Lucas let out a slow breath.
"…It's nothing."
Lina tilted her head slightly.
"If it was nothing… you wouldn't be like this."
That landed.
Lucas ran a hand through his hair.
Because now—
He was tired.
Tired of holding it in.
Tired of thinking alone.
Tired of pretending everything was under control.
"…You're crossing a line again," he said quietly.
Lina nodded.
"I know."
Then softer—
"But I don't think you actually want me to stop."
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Lucas looked at her.
Really looked this time.
And for the first time—
He didn't see someone prying.
He saw someone… waiting.
"…There's someone," he said finally.
The words felt strange.
But real.
Lina didn't interrupt.
We didn't plan it," he continued. "It just… happened."
His voice wasn't strong.
It sound careful.
Measured.
Like every word had weight.
"He's not here," Lucas added. "He's in the U.S."
A small pause.
"We met before everything changed."
Lina's expression softened slightly.
"And now?" she asked gently.
Lucas let out a quiet breath.
"Now… I think I'm losing him."
That was the first honest thing he had said out loud.
And it hit harder than expected.
Silence followed.
But not the uncomfortable kind.
Then—
Lina smiled.
Not in surprise.
Not in judgment.
But in understanding.
"So that's why," she said softly.
Lucas frowned slightly.
"Why what?"
"The way you talk to him," she replied.
"The way you look at your phone."
She shook her head lightly.
"You care about him a lot."
Lucas didn't deny it.
Because now—
There was no point.
"I thought…" he started, then stopped.
"What?" Lina asked.
"That you'd react differently."
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Like what?"
Lucas hesitated.
"…Badly."
Lina let out a small laugh.
"Why would I?"
Lucas didn't answer.
Because he didn't have one.
She stepped back slightly, giving him space.
"If anything," she said, "I think you're the problem."
Lucas blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
She smiled.
"You're hiding something important… and expecting it not to affect him."
That hit.
Hard.
"You think he doesn't feel it?" she continued. "The distance? The hesitation?"
Lucas looked down.
Because deep down—
He knew.
"He probably thinks he's losing you," she added.
Silence.
Because that…
Was exactly what Michael was feeling.
"…So what do I do?" Lucas asked quietly.
It wasn't pride anymore.
It was real.
Lina didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"Give him time," she said. "But don't disappear while doing it."
Lucas nodded slowly.
Trying to hold onto that.
Trying to understand it.
Then—
She said something else.
Something that changed everything again.
"Can I talk to him?"
Lucas froze.
"…What?"
Lina met his gaze.
Calm.
Seriously.
"I want to hear him," she said. "Understand him."
Silence filled the room.
Because that request—
It wasn't small.
It wasn't simple.
It meant letting someone else into something that had always been hidden.
Protected.
Secret.
Lucas didn't respond.
Because for the first time—
The question wasn't just about hiding anymore.
It was about trust.
And whether he was ready to let someone else see what he had been trying so hard to protect.
And somehow—
That felt even more dangerous than being exposed.