TERESA'S P.O.V.
On the forth day, Juliette and I said our goodbyes to Luke, and then she drove us back to the estate. My heart thudded wildly, anticipation building with every mile. I was going to see Lucian again. Strangely, even though I'd only been gone for three days, it felt like a lifetime since I'd last glimpsed his intense gaze. I ached to hear his deep, almost mesmerizing voice call my name, to watch the way his eyes darkened when he looked at me. What was happening to me? It was like he had carved a space in my heart, one I couldn't seem to fill with anything or anyone else.
"In less than an hour, you'll get to see your brooding 'boss' again, Tess," Juliette teased, a knowing grin tugging at her lips. "You might want to get that heart under control before you give yourself a heart attack."
My cheeks flamed as I turned to stare out the window, hoping she wouldn't catch the flush creeping up my face. Her laughter filled the car, warm and teasing. Somehow, she always sensed whenever Lucian crossed my mind. She had this uncanny knack for reading me, and by now, I didn't even bother trying to deny it. It only gave her more ammunition for her teasing.
Forty minutes later, we pulled into the estate, and my pulse quickened at the sight of it. All I wanted was to rush straight to Lucian's office, to let him know I was back, to feel his presence near me. Just a moment with him, that familiar scent of his cologne drifting through the air—that was all I needed to calm my nerves.
I glanced at Juliette, and there it was—that smug, knowing smile as she caught my eye. She didn't need to say a word; she already knew exactly what I was thinking.
"Go on, don't let me hold you back." Juliette's voice was casual, but a flicker of nerves danced across her face. She shifted slightly, almost agitated, and added, "Besides, I have some... things of my own I need to handle."
I wanted to ask what she meant, but I already knew I'd get no answers. She had a way of dodging my questions, keeping parts of herself veiled, and it was becoming all too familiar. Lately, it felt as though everyone around me was keeping secrets. But I pushed the thought aside for now; my mind was already too consumed with the thought of seeing Lucian again.
With a quick nod, I stepped out of the car, and before I knew it, I was practically flying toward the house, my footsteps echoing down the path as I made my way to Lucian.
The moment we stepped inside, I made a direct beeline for Lucian's office, brushing past Alex, who shot me a raised eyebrow as I passed by the entrance. I gave him a quick wave, barely slowing down. There was no way I was about to admit to him—or anyone else—that I'd missed Lucian so much that simply being in the same room with him, breathing the same air, felt like it would steady every nerve in my body. Just admitting it to myself was embarrassing enough.
But just as I turned a corner, I skidded to a stop. Lucian stood there, casually leaning against the living room wall, looking almost as if he'd been waiting for me. Ridiculous, I knew, but that didn't stop my heart from skipping a beat. He was all sharp lines and quiet power, his gaze unreadable yet magnetic, like a storm you knew you shouldn't get close to but couldn't resist anyway.
"Lucian!" I called softly, taking a few hurried steps toward him.
He raised an eyebrow, his expression as calm and unimpressed as ever. "Missed me already, have you?" His voice was laced with that trademark sarcasm, though I swore I saw a flicker of something—maybe a hint of seriousness?—before it vanished.
Trying to keep my own expression neutral, I cleared my throat. "I came back, just like you wanted. I thought maybe… I don't know, you might be happy to see me?"
He let out a low chuckle that sent shivers down my spine. "Happy?" He cocked his head, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, Teresa. I only wanted you back here because it's safer. I have far more important things to worry about."
Ouch. It stung, but I forced a smile. I'd hoped for… something, at least a tiny hint that he might have missed me. Instead, he just looked bored. Classic Lucian.
"Right, well," I stammered, scrambling for anything to fill the silence, before blurting out the first thought that crossed my mind. "The contract... uhm... the one my father made with you—it's ending next week. I suppose I'll have to leave once it's up since I was only meant to stay here for five months." As soon as the words escaped, I wanted to slap my hand over my mouth. This had been weighing on me for a while, but this wasn't how I wanted to bring it up—especially since, deep down, I didn't want to leave. But, as always, my mouth got ahead of my mind. What was wrong with me?
Lucian's expression shifted, his gaze sharpening, eyes narrowing. "That contract lost its meaning the moment your father swapped Jennifer for you."
"What?" I blinked, trying to process what he'd just said.
"Let me be clear, Teresa." His voice was firm yet surprisingly gentle, his words leaving no room for argument. "You're not going anywhere. You'll stay here at the estate until I decide otherwise."
My heart practically stopped, a rush of emotions flooding through me—shock, joy, maybe even a bit of disbelief. Was this really happening? Did he actually just say that? Before I could think, I closed the space between us, throwing my arms around him in an impulsive, overwhelming hug.
Lucian froze for a moment, probably caught off guard, but then I felt his arms slide around me, holding me tightly. It was strange, how perfectly we seemed to fit, and I couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same thing. For once, he didn't seem like the sarcastic, unbothered Lucian I knew; he felt warm, steady. His cologne wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, grounding me.
In that moment, I could've sworn I felt his heart beat in sync with mine. I wanted to stay like that forever, cradled in his warmth, protected by his presence. Surely, he had to feel something too, right?
But just as I was starting to relax, he abruptly released me, stepping back like I'd somehow shocked him. The warmth between us disappeared, leaving a cold space that felt oddly hollow.
"I… have something to attend to," he said, his tone as sharp as his expression was unreadable. And before I could even say anything, he turned and strode away, leaving me standing there, my arms still half-raised in the remnants of a hug that felt like a dream.
I stood there, stunned, replaying every second of what had just happened. What had I done wrong? Why had he suddenly gone all cold on me? Frustration gnawed at me; all I wanted was to feel his arms around me again, but clearly, he'd put up his walls again—just when I thought I was finally starting to get through them.