Lucas sat behind his desk, piles of paperwork scattered in front of him, the weight of Amos's absence adding to his already busy schedule.
His focus wavered momentarily as he recalled the phone call from Amos a few days ago.
The accident had been severe—a truck collision that left Amos injured and bedridden. It had also derailed their efforts to uncover the person responsible for planting the camera in his mansion.
Lucas had urged him to recover first and not worry about the investigation for now, but that meant the task had fallen entirely on his shoulders.
As he buried himself in the paperwork, a knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.
He glanced up and called out, "Enter."
The door opened, revealing Julia, her entrance deliberate and graceful. She wore a simple but elegant dress, her hair perfectly styled, and in her hands was a lunchbox. The scent of freshly prepared food filled the room as she approached, placing the lunchbox on his desk.
"Thought you could use a break," she said, offering him a smile.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, grateful but hesitant. Ever since Amos's absence, Julia had been making regular appearances at his office with meals for him.
It wasn't something she'd done before, and while he appreciated the gesture, it felt odd.
After all, Julia was a renowned actress, always busy with events, interviews, and award ceremonies.
Why was she going out of her way to bring him food?
"Thanks, Julia," Lucas said as he opened the lunchbox, revealing a neatly arranged meal.
He smiled faintly, but his thoughts lingered on something he had been meaning to say. "I've been thinking… maybe Mrs. Hayden could take over bringing lunch. I appreciate what you've been doing, but I know you have a lot on your plate too. I don't want to burden you."
Julia waved off his concern, her smile not faltering. "It's really no trouble. I like helping where I can, and besides," she added with a playful tilt of her head, "I enjoy spending a bit of time with you."
Lucas nodded, though he couldn't shake the unease that crept into the back of his mind.
Her presence had become more frequent, and though it was under the guise of friendship, he couldn't help but wonder if there was something more behind it.
Julia had always been an enigma—polished, poised, and charming—but something about her lately seemed… off.
She sat down across from him, folding her hands on the table. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about the Academy Awards coming up soon."
Lucas raised a brow, his attention shifting. "You've been nominated again, right?"
Julia shook her head, her smile wavering. "Not yet... But I would... Best Actress, for Shadows of Betrayal. It would be exciting, but it would also be a lot of pressure. I was hoping you could attend, you know, for support."
The request caught Lucas off guard.
He wasn't one for award shows or Hollywood galas.
"I'm not sure, Julia," Lucas said carefully, "I've got a lot on my plate right now with the company and… some investigations."
Julia's smile faltered for a split second, but she recovered quickly. "I understand, of course. But it would mean a lot to me if you came. You've always been a good friend, and it's a big night for me."
Lucas met her gaze, and for a moment, he saw the vulnerability in her eyes, a side of Julia she rarely showed.
"I'll think about it," he said finally, trying to buy himself time.
Julia nodded, though the disappointment was evident in her eyes.
She rose from her seat, smoothing down the front of her dress. "Don't think too long. The invitations are going out soon."
As she turned to leave, Lucas couldn't help but feel like there was more at play here than a simple lunch and a friendly invitation.
His gut told him to be cautious, but for now, he pushed those thoughts aside. There was too much on his mind already, and with Amos out of commission, he needed to stay focused.
Once the door closed behind her, Lucas stared at the lunchbox for a moment before sighing deeply.
As he began to dig into the lunch Julia had brought, his mind wandered to Aurora again. He hadn't heard from her in a few days, and the silence gnawed at him.
He had been trying to give her space, knowing she needed time to sort through everything, but the distance between them felt heavier with each passing day.
Shaking off the thought, Lucas returned to his work, the sound of papers shuffling filling the room.
But even as he tried to focus, the lingering tension from Julia's visit and the constant reminder of the mess in his personal life made it impossible to fully concentrate.
He sighed again, realizing that no matter how hard he worked, some problems couldn't be solved with paperwork.
---
The quiet hum of the city buzzed around them as Hades pulled up to the curb.
The headlights of his sleek car cut through the dim street, casting a soft glow on the pavement.
He watched as Sophia hurried toward the car, her silhouette faint under the streetlights.
The late hour and the weariness in her step made him feel justified in his actions.
He wasn't one to lose sleep easily, but ever since that day he met her mother—and learned about her illness—he couldn't rest knowing Sophia was struggling.
Sophia slid into the passenger seat with a sigh of relief.
"Thank you again," she said, her voice soft.
She buckled her seatbelt, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she looked at him. "I didn't expect to see you tonight, but... I'm glad you were nearby."
Hades offered a small smile, keeping his gaze on the road as he pulled away from the curb.
"Just coincidence," he said smoothly, though they both knew better.
He hadn't outright said it, but he had been making it a point to be "nearby" every night.