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Chapter 13 - chapter 13

The room was thick with silence after the slap.

Andrew froze, his cheek stinging, his jaw tightening, but his eyes , those sharp, cold eyes — didn't leave Selina for a second. Scarlett stood frozen near the door, utterly stunned.

Selina's hand trembled. The echo of the slap hung in the air like thunder that refused to fade.

"I–I'm sorry, sir…" she whispered, her voice breaking, eyes wide and full of fear. "I didn't mean—"

Andrew's tone was calm but terrifyingly low.

"Get out."

She swallowed hard, her breath shaky. "Sir, I—"

"I said, get out, Miss Whyte."

The way he said her surname cut deeper than any insult. It was as though all the warmth that had existed a moment ago had turned to ice.

Selina's heart raced, and she quickly grabbed her files, her hands fumbling, the papers almost falling from her grip. She didn't look back she couldn't.

Scarlett bit her lip, trying not to grin, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. She could already imagine telling her mother about this. Andrew Vele had finally found someone who could make him lose control and it wasn't her brother's usual story.

As the door slammed behind Selina, Andrew dropped into his chair, rubbing his face. His assistant, Aiden, entered quietly, clearly sensing the tension.

"Sir, is everything alright?"

Andrew's glare silenced him. "Do I look alright?"

Aiden blinked. "No, sir. You look… furious."

Andrew turned to the glass wall where Selina's desk used to be visible. It was empty now. His chest rose and fell rapidly anger, confusion, something else he couldn't name.

"Cancel all my appointments for the next hour," he said finally, his voice low but steady.

Aiden nodded and left. Scarlett, trying not to laugh, leaned on the doorframe. "Well, that was dramatic. I didn't know you had it in you, brother."

Andrew's eyes flicked toward her. "Scarlett, get out before I lose my temper with you too."

She only chuckled. "Fine. But I like her. She's not afraid of you , that's new."

He didn't respond. He only leaned back in his chair, his fingers brushing the spot on his cheek where she had slapped him. For the first time in a long while, Andrew Vele didn't know what to do with what he was feeling.

........

Selina didn't go home immediately.

She walked out of the building and kept walking until she reached the nearest bus stop. The afternoon sun felt heavy on her face. She found a seat at the edge of the bench, hands folded tight in her lap, waiting for the next bus.

Her mind refused to calm. The slap had been an act she couldn't explain to herself anger, yes; fear, absolutely. But beneath that, something else stirred, something that frightened her even more. She could still feel the warmth of Andrew's breath, the shock of his closeness, the electricity that had moved through her before she struck him.

She wanted to hate him. Instead, she felt exposed raw, like someone had peeled away the mask she wore to survive the world. When the bus finally came, she boarded silently, stared out the window, and told herself it was just a mistake. Nothing more.

But as the city passed in a blur outside, her heart whispered a truth she refused to hear.

........

Back at Vele Corporation, Andrew's mood was unreadable. For hours, he didn't speak to anyone. His staff avoided his floor entirely. Even Aiden walked on eggshells, pretending to make calls just to avoid being called inside.

When the office finally grew quiet, Andrew picked up his phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Gabrielle," he muttered, rubbing his temples.

A loud laugh came from the other side. "Finally! The ghost of Vele Corporation speaks! What happened, man? You sound like someone punched you in the gut."

Andrew exhaled. "Something like that."

Gabrielle chuckled again. "Don't tell me it's about a woman. You know, I've seen that look on men before. Don't you dare tell me Andrew Vele is finally acting human."

Andrew leaned back in his chair, staring at the city skyline through the glass. "It's complicated."

"Ah, complicated — the perfect word for love," Gabrielle teased. "You need a drink, my friend. Come to my office tomorrow. Let's talk business… and women."

Andrew smirked faintly despite himself. "You've not changed, have you?"

"Of course not. I'm still the charming, successful, dangerously handsome man who handles women better than you handle your morning coffee."

Andrew rolled his eyes. "Goodnight, Gabrielle."

But before he hung up, Gabrielle's voice softened. "Seriously though, Andrew… don't push away whatever this is. I haven't heard you this shaken in years. Maybe that's a good thing."

Andrew didn't respond. He ended the call and sat there, staring at the faint reflection of himself in the dark window — the man everyone feared, everyone respected… except her.

She had looked him in the eye, slapped him, and walked away.

And somehow, that single moment haunted him more than anything else ever had.

........

Across the city, Scarlett sat at her vanity, brushing her hair, grinning to herself. Her mother, Amelia, entered the room.

"What's making you smile like that?" Amelia asked curiously.

Scarlett looked up at her mother through the mirror. "Oh, nothing much. Just something… interesting I saw today."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Does it have to do with your brother?"

Scarlett turned, smirking. "Maybe. Let's just say… I think he's finally met someone who can handle him."

Her mother's expression shifted to delight. "Really?"

Scarlett nodded, still smiling. "And she's not like the others, Mother. She's different. I don't know her story yet, but… she got under his skin."

Amelia chuckled, touching her necklace. "Then perhaps it's time Andrew finally found someone who could tame him."

Scarlett's grin widened. "Oh, Mother, she already has , he just doesn't know it yet."

........

Back at her small apartment, Selina unlocked the door quietly. Her brother Sammy was asleep on the couch, and the flickering light from the television danced across his peaceful face. She stood there for a moment, watching him, then turned off the TV and covered him with a blanket.

Her phone buzzed. A text from her mother: Did you get home safe? Your father's out again.

Selina sighed, setting the phone down. She didn't reply. She walked to her bed, still in her work clothes, and sat down, staring at her hands ,the same hands that had struck her boss.

The same hands that had trembled when he touched her.

She leaned back against the wall, whispering to herself, "What am I doing…"

Outside, the night deepened and somewhere, in another part of the city, Andrew Vele sat awake in his dimly lit apartment, thinking the same thing.

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