Lucas didn't say much. One nod, a sharp step back, and I found myself standing outside my apartment building. The night air was cool against my flushed skin. My legs trembled, my lungs burned, and yet the world around me seemed impossibly normal — the hum of distant traffic, the faint smell of garbage mixed with the aroma of coffee drifting from a café across the street, the faint neon glow of the corner shop. Nothing had changed, yet everything had.
I fumbled with my keys, hands still shaky. As soon as I stepped inside, the apartment felt alive with worry.
"Emily! Where have you been? We were worried sick!" My sister's voice cracked, panic etched deep in her features. My niece peeked from behind her, clutching her stuffed rabbit, eyes wide and wary.
I forced a smile, careful to keep my voice even. "I… um, I had to finish some freelance work. For a client. It ran late — I didn't want to wake anyone."
Her brows furrowed. "Freelance work? All night? Emily…"
I nodded, trying to sound casual. "I know, I should've called, but… I didn't want to disturb you. I'm fine, really."
The lie felt heavy, sour in my mouth, but it was the only thing that kept my family from spiraling into worry. My niece slowly stepped closer, still clutching her rabbit. "Auntie… are you okay?"
I knelt to ruffle her hair gently. "I'm okay. Just tired. That's all."
It wasn't the truth. Not entirely. My body still throbbed from running, from panic, from the fear of what I'd just survived. My mind replayed fragments of the alley, the voices I wasn't supposed to hear, the chase, and him — Lucas Vale. The man who had changed everything in a single night.
Once I reassured them, I retreated to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. The quiet hit me like a wave. I sank onto the bed, still catching my breath. That's when my phone buzzed — a message from an unknown number.
"Emily Hartwell. I expect you at my office Monday morning, 9 a.m. sharp. — Lucas Vale"
My fingers froze mid-air. Lucas Vale. The name alone carried weight, authority, danger. I searched online, scrolling quickly: billionaire. CEO. One of the most influential men in the country. And now — the man whose night had dictated every move I'd made, whose presence loomed over me even in my own room.
I sank back against the pillows, staring at the message. He'd returned me home safely, ensured no one saw me leave, and now — Monday. Less than two days away. I swallowed hard, the knot in my stomach tightening.
When my sister peeked in again, concern radiating from her every movement, I forced another calm smile.
"So… you have a new job?" she asked.
I nodded, keeping my voice steady. "Yeah… a short-term project. They contacted me directly, right after the internship ended."
Her eyes narrowed. "Wait… when did you even apply?"
I shrugged lightly, masking the racing of my heart. "I didn't. Lucky timing, I guess."
Her expression softened, though the flicker of worry lingered. "Okay… just be careful, alright?"
"I will," I said. And I would — I had to. There was no telling what Lucas had planned, or why he had gone to such lengths to keep me close.
Alone in my room, phone still warm in my hand, I stared at his name again — Lucas Vale. The man whose world was now quietly seeping into mine. My life, once ordinary and precarious, had shifted irreversibly. Monday would bring answers. Or maybe more questions.
Either way, my world had already begun revolving around him.