Victoria remembered him now.
The cafe. The elevator. The coffee that ruined her mood completely. Her face went cold.
Oscar held out the gift bag, waiting. The silence stretched. Awkward. Unbearable.
Haily noticed the tension and leaned in. "Sister Victoria? If you don't want it, just refuse."
Victoria finally spoke. Her voice was ice.
"Mr Oscar. I don't understand why you're here for such a small matter." She glanced at her nails, then looked up with a cold glint in her eyes. A smirk curled her lips.
"More importantly, I'm curious how you found me. We didn't exchange names. I didn't even look at your face properly. My face is not revealed in the media. My personal information is private. You can't possibly claim you were searching for the lawyer Victoria, everyone knows I don't take cases for men."
Oscar's mouth opened. Closed. He'd planned exactly that excuse.
Victoria unfolded her legs gracefully and leaned forward, hands on her knees. Her smile faded. Her voice dropped to something dangerous.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
Oscar was trapped. Reveal his identity? It might ruin everything. Stay silent? That looked worse. Victoria clearly hated being chased. She was the type who would only accept pursuit from someone she already trusted, and she trusted no one.
He understood. A woman with morals like hers doesn't want temporary love. She wants forever. And the world had stolen her fantasies of ever finding that.
He'd messed up. Come too fast. Too eager.
Oscar stood slowly. Victoria watched, cold and unblinking.
He smiled helplessly and placed the gift on the table. Then he met her eyes directly.
"I couldn't expect any less from you, Victoria Helson. I know who you are because I tried to dig up your information. I won't lie about that." He paused. "But I didn't do it with any intention of harm. So don't worry, I won't bother you or chase you. I'll be there. From a distance, until the time is right."
Victoria stared at him, unreadable.
His smile turned gentle. "I know you don't trust men. I know you have your reasons. I'm not asking for anything. I just wanted to apologise properly and let you know that someone out there hopes you're okay. That's all."
He turned to leave, then paused at the door.
"I really am sorry about yesterday. That woman was after me, and you got caught in it." His expression softened. "But I'm glad it happened."
Victoria's eyes widened. Glad?
"Because I got to meet you."
He walked back and pressed something into her hand. Before she could react, he gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, quick, soft, gone before she could process it.
"Take care."
Then he was gone.
Victoria stood frozen. A man had touched her. A stranger. A man. And she hadn't moved. Hadn't reacted. She hated herself for that.
She looked down at her hand.
A black card. Golden lettering.
Lazslo Corporation - elegant script with the logo behind it. On the back, his name in gold.
Oscar Sebastian.