MAEVE
For the rest of the week and the following week, Lucien put a distance between us that only grew. A part of me grew to be grateful for it. Lines didn't blur. Our relationship was strictly professional, and at home, it was nonexistent. It was almost like those times between us never happened.
On the other hand, my friendship with Theo grew. We commute to and from work together, eat lunch together, and through him, I got to meet other workers in the company. My office life really just stopped revolving around Lucien Thorne and what he might do to them.
I was on a cold coffee break with Theo one afternoon in the lounge that wasn't all that crowded when Lucien walked past us. Even before I knew it was him, his intimidating aura already alerted us to his presence, and the few staff around cowered and bowed to him as he walked out of the building with his head held up like he owned the place.
Well, he owned the place.
"I wonder what it feels like to be the Lucien Thorne," Theo murmured wistfully and I turned to him to see that he was gazing at Lucien as one of his men opened the car door for him with an expression I couldn't decipher. Since befriending Theo, I've noticed he always manages to bring Lucien into our conversations. I initially thought it was because of the god status Lucien Thorne has, as the wealthiest and most powerful wolf in the country, one that makes every single person look up to him. But with the expression on Theo's face right now, even though Lucien's car has sped away, I was starting to think this might be more. I was beginning to think this might be an infatuation.
"I'm sure it's not as amazing as the rest of the world thinks it is," that drew his attention back to me, and there was now an interested look in his eyes, "haven't you heard of the saying 'uneasy lies the head that wears the crown?"
He scoffed dismissively, "I'm sure there is nothing uneasy about Lucien's life. Nothing but perks of being a young alpha, running one of the biggest conglomerations in the country, having access to so much money and girls, and having a beautiful lady like you as his stepsister."
I couldn't stop the instant smile that tugged at the corners of my lips when he said the last part. It was only seconds later that I realized that the last part seemed a bit patronizing.
"You can never tell," I replied, thinking of his vampire side and how that was a secret nobody must know. "You only know the public life; you don't know if there are cracks within."
"Same Lucien Thorne?" He insisted, "I'm sure there can't be cracks behind his… wait," he suddenly sat upright and leaned forward on the high table separating us, "Why do I keep arguing with you? You live with him, so you know better. If you say there are cracks within, then there must be cracks."
I forced a smile, suddenly uncomfortable, "Well, not exactly."
"So tell me, what's the imperfect thing in the almighty Lucien Thorne's life?"
"Nothing," I lied, "thinking about it now, you're right. His life is perfect."
"Really?" he sounded and looked disappointed, "or are you skeptical of telling me a family secret? I promise I'd keep it a secret too."
"That's only if there's a secret to share. Lucien's life is perfect."
He nodded, and we trailed off into a sudden, loud silence that threatened me a little. This was my new friend, the only genuine friend that I have had since I started working here. I didn't want to lose him, especially not because of Lucien Thorne. I opened my mouth to talk, but he beat me to it.
"So what's the ring on Lucien's finger for?"
Lucien again? I mentally rolled my eyes.
"A ring? What ring?" I asked, genuinely confused because I haven't seen any ring on his finger.
"The ring that is always on Lucien's finger," he explained, then looked shocked when he realized I had no idea what he was talking about, "don't tell me you really haven't noticed."
"No, I haven't."
I've been in close contact with Lucien for weeks now, and I never even noticed that he wears a ring. For Theo to know about it, I wondered just how deep his infatuation with Lucien ran.
"That's weird. He has never been seen in public without the ring. Look here," he turned his phone to him, and on it was a zoomed-in picture of Lucien's hand. There was a very tiny and barely noticeable ring on his finger.
But it was so tiny nobody should notice it, except they were studying Lucien. I looked up at Theo, and there was a wild, almost frantic look in his eyes. It scared me. This wasn't just a deep infatuation; it was a sinister one. It made my stomach turn. It made me stand to my feet without even noticing.
"Lucien wears it every time," Theo continued as we walked to the elevators, unaware of the changes in my mood, "I mean, he's so attached to it even though it's feminine and so unlike him to wear a ring like that. Do you think it's a family heirloom? Probably something from his late mom that keeps him closer to her?"
I sighed. I was suddenly too tired, and I wanted to get away from him, "I don't know. I really don't know anything about his late mom, so I can't say."
"That's too bad." I've hardly even finished speaking when he butted in. We were standing in front of the elevators, and I desperately hoped that one would arrive soon.
"So if the ring isn't his Mom's, then do you think it's one of those rings that keeps one of the cracks in his life at bay?"
"What?" I turned to look at him at the minute the doors opened.
"I mean, think about it," he replied, a somewhat calculative look in his eyes, "if he's always seen in public with this ring, then it must be doing something very important for him, something like keeping a secret hidden."