Collide

Chapter 11

The morning had barely begun when Vermont's phone vibrated on the table.

He glanced at the message.

A slow grin appeared across his face.

For several seconds, he simply stared at the screen before placing the phone beside his coffee.

He took a sip and unfolded the newspaper.

Whatever he had read in the message had clearly improved his mood.

The quiet of his condo suite was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

Vermont didn't bother getting up.

"Open the door."

The smart system recognized his voice.

A soft mechanical click followed, and the door unlocked.

Alex Forel stepped inside.

He looked around the spacious suite before calling out.

"Mr. Octavian?"

No answer.

Alex walked farther inside.

"Sir?"

From somewhere beyond the living room came Vermont's calm voice.

"I'm here."

Alex followed the sound and found him on the balcony, sitting comfortably with his coffee and newspaper.

The morning breeze moved through Vermont's long hair, which was tied neatly at the back of his head.

Alex approached him.

"The LED monitor has arrived."

Vermont lowered the newspaper slightly.

"Already?"

"Yes. The installers are with me. They're waiting downstairs."

Vermont folded the newspaper and stood.

"Good."

He walked inside.

Alex followed.

"They're ready to install the two-meter panel you requested."

Vermont nodded toward the far wall.

"Put it there."

Alex looked at the wall.

"The entire wall?"

"Center it."

Vermont pointed toward the electrical outlet.

"Run the wiring through that side. I don't want anything visible."

Alex nodded.

"Understood."

He immediately pulled out his phone and called the installation team.

"You can come up now. I'll show you where it goes."

Within minutes, several installers entered the suite carrying equipment.

Vermont stood aside while Alex gave them instructions.

The men carefully measured the wall before beginning the installation.

Vermont watched for a moment.

Then he turned toward Alex.

"Have food prepared for them."

Alex nodded.

"I'll arrange lunch."

"And their payment."

"I'll handle it."

Vermont returned to the balcony.

He picked up his newspaper and resumed reading as though the enormous screen being mounted inside his suite had nothing to do

with him.

The installers worked quietly.

Hours later, the final cables were secured.

One of the men approached Alex.

"Sir, we're finished."

Alex inspected the installation.

The massive LED panel was perfectly centered on the wall.

"Good work."

After the payment was settled and the workers had collected their tools, they left the suite.

The door closed behind them.

Alex turned toward Vermont.

He was still on the balcony.

Alex approached him.

"Is there anything else you need, sir?"

Vermont didn't look up from the newspaper.

He simply shook his head.

Alex waited.

"Then I'll head straight to the company."

Vermont finally looked at him.

"Go."

Alex nodded.

"Yes, sir. I'll see you later."

The door closed.

Silence returned to the suite.

Vermont remained still for a moment.

Then he slowly placed the newspaper on the table.

His expression changed.

The relaxed businessman disappeared.

He walked toward the newly installed monitor.

With a few commands on the control panel, the screen came alive.

One feed appeared.

Then another.

Then several more.

Vermont watched without blinking.

The first image showed the grounds of Safe Haven.

Another displayed Therese's office.

And another showed her room.

The images were remarkably clear.

Vermont leaned back slightly.

His eyes moved from one screen to another, studying every angle.

There was no longer any uncertainty.

He could see the facility.

He could see the places where Therese spent her time.

And, most importantly, he could see her.

A satisfied grin slowly returned to his face.

"Perfect."

He settled into the chair before the enormous screen.

For the first time, Vermont no longer had to wonder where Therese was.

He only had to watch.

And wait.

Vermont had been waiting for this.

The moment the feeds stabilized, his attention sharpened.

He could see the grounds of Safe Haven.

He could see the corridors.

He could even hear the muted sounds of the facility through the audio feed—the distant voices of the elderly residents, footsteps

passing through hallways, the occasional movement of doors.

It was almost as if he were there.

A satisfied smile touched his lips.

He had finally closed the distance between himself and Therese.

Vermont remained in front of the monitor for several minutes before standing.

He walked into the kitchen and opened the microwave.

The food he had heated earlier was ready.

He carried the plate to the counter and sat down.

The enormous screen remained directly in his line of sight.

He ate slowly while watching.

Several residents appeared on one of the feeds.

Some were talking.

Others were moving around the facility.

Vermont watched them with little interest.

Then something caught his attention.

His hand stopped.

His eyes narrowed.

The packages.

The same packages he had sent to Safe Haven.

They were stacked inside Therese's office.

Untouched.

Still sealed.

Vermont stared at them.

His brow slowly furrowed.

Is she not going to give them to the residents?

He continued watching.

Then movement appeared on another feed.

Therese entered the office.

Vermont's expression immediately changed.

A faint smirk appeared.

She was still wearing her habit.

For a moment, he simply watched her.

She walked toward the boxes and stopped.

Therese stared at them.

There was barely enough space left around them for her to move comfortably.

She looked irritated.

Vermont leaned slightly closer to the screen.

Therese picked up the phone.

A few moments later, the cleaner entered.

Vermont listened carefully.

Therese pointed toward the packages.

"Have these sent back to the sender."

The smirk disappeared from Vermont's face.

He went completely still.

The spoon in his hand tightened between his fingers.

His jaw clenched.

Send them back?

Therese continued giving instructions.

"All of them. I don't want them opened again."

Vermont's eyes hardened.

The facility suddenly felt very far away.

But for the first time since the monitor had been installed, he wasn't smiling.

He slowly lowered the spoon.

The metal pressed against his palm.

His gaze remained fixed on Therese.

She had rejected his gift.

She had rejected the gesture.

And, whether she realized it or not, she had rejected him.

Vermont leaned back in his chair.

His expression became unreadable.

But his eyes remained on the screen.

"You really intend to send them back?"

He spoke so quietly that even he could barely hear himself.

A cold smile slowly returned to his face.

This time, there was nothing warm about it.

"All right, Therese."

He picked up his spoon again.

"Let's see how long you can keep standing against me."

Vermont's irritation finally won.

He reached for the remote and switched off the monitor.

The enormous screen went black, taking Therese's image with it.

For a moment, he stood there in silence.

He didn't like being told no.

And he especially didn't like hearing it from Therese.

Vermont showered, picked up his suit jacket and prepared to leave.

He had a company to run.

He wouldn't allow one stubborn woman to ruin his entire morning.

By the time Vermont reached Octavian Engineering, his expression had returned to its usual cold composure.

Alex was already waiting near his office.

"Good morning, sir."

Vermont gave him a brief nod.

Alex immediately began going through the day's schedule.

"You have a meeting with the legal department at ten. The European clients are expecting your call at eleven-thirty. There's

also a contract waiting for your signature, and the board requested—"

Vermont simply nodded.

"Handle whatever doesn't require me personally."

"Yes, sir."

Alex continued listing the day's priorities.

Vermont listened without comment before finally entering his office.

For the next hour, he buried himself in work.

Documents.

Contracts.

Reports.

Numbers.

Anything that could keep his mind away from the image of Therese ordering his packages returned.

Then there was a knock.

Vermont looked up.

"Come in."

Alex stepped inside.

Vermont raised his eyes, immediately noticing the uncertainty on his secretary's face.

"What is it?"

Alex hesitated.

"Sir, Shannon is downstairs."

Vermont's expression changed instantly.

The irritation that had barely faded returned.

"Shannon?"

"Yes, sir."

Alex continued carefully.

"She's at the entrance and demanded that security let her in."

Vermont leaned back in his chair.

His patience was already wearing thin.

"Ask her what she wants from me this time."

Alex nodded.

"Yes, sir."

Vermont returned his attention to the document before him.

"Tell her I'm busy."

Alex left the office.

A few moments later, he contacted the security desk.

"This is Alex Forel. Put Miss Shannon on the line."

The call connected.

He barely had time to speak before Shannon's voice erupted through the receiver.

"I need to see Vermont!"

Alex pulled the phone slightly away from his ear.

"Miss Shannon, Mr. Octavian is currently—"

"I don't care if he's busy!"

Her voice echoed through the receiver.

"I came here because I need to talk to him personally."

Alex sighed quietly.

"If you tell me what this concerns, perhaps I can—"

"It's about the baby."

Alex went silent.

Shannon's voice became more insistent.

"I'm carrying the sonogram with me. He needs to see it."

Alex's expression tightened.

"The sonogram?"

"Yes."

"I'll inform Mr. Octavian."

"Tell him I'm not leaving until he talks to me."

The line went quiet.

Alex stared at the phone for a moment before returning to Vermont's office.

He knocked.

"Come in."

Alex entered.

Vermont looked up from his desk.

"Well?"

Alex took a breath.

"She insists on seeing you."

Vermont's jaw tightened.

"I already told you to tell her I'm busy."

"I did, sir."

Alex paused.

"She said she's brought something you need to see."

Vermont's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"A sonogram of the child."

Silence filled the office.

Vermont's expression became unreadable.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he slowly leaned back in his chair.

His displeasure was unmistakable.

"Let her in."

Alex nodded.

"Yes, sir."

Alex left.

Several minutes later, the office door suddenly opened without a knock.

Shannon walked inside.

Vermont lifted his eyes.

The first thing he noticed was the brown folder clutched tightly in her hand.

His gaze lingered on it for a moment before moving to her face.

Shannon looked furious.

"Do you know how humiliating it is to be stopped at the entrance of your own husband's company?"

Vermont's expression hardened.

"Ex-husband."

Shannon stopped.

The correction clearly irritated her.

"Whatever."

She walked farther into the office.

"Your security treated me like I was some stranger trying to get inside."

Vermont remained seated.

"You are no longer part of this company."

"That doesn't mean you can have me thrown out."

"Apparently, it does."

Shannon's eyes flashed.

She lifted the brown folder.

"I didn't come here to argue about your security."

Vermont's gaze dropped to the folder again.

Shannon noticed.

Her expression changed slightly.

"I came because you need to see this."

She placed the folder on his desk.

Vermont didn't touch it.

He simply stared at it.

Shannon took a breath.

"It's our child's sonogram."

The room fell silent.

Vermont finally looked up at her.

Whatever annoyance had been on his face was now replaced by something much harder to read.

His eyes returned to the folder.

For the first time since Shannon entered the room, he said nothing.

Vermont didn't even look at the brown folder.

His expression remained cold as he leaned back in his chair.

"What do you want, Shannon?"

Shannon stared at him for a moment before answering.

"I want you to acknowledge the child."

Vermont's eyes narrowed slightly.

She continued.

"And I want you to save our marriage."

A faint, humorless smile crossed Vermont's lips.

"Save our marriage?"

He finally looked directly at her.

"You mean get married to you again?"

Shannon nodded.

"Yes. For the child."

She stepped closer to his desk, her voice becoming more pleading.

"Let's try to work things out for us. We can make this work, Vermont. We have a reason now."

Vermont stared at her.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he gave a quiet, almost incredulous laugh.

"Do you forget how happy you were the day we got divorced?"

Shannon's face fell.

Vermont's gaze remained fixed on her.

"You couldn't stop smiling."

His voice was calm, but every word carried a sharp edge.

"You walked out of that marriage like someone had finally opened a prison door."

Shannon swallowed.

"That was different."

Vermont raised an eyebrow.

"Was it?"

"Yes."

She tightened her grip on the folder.

"We were angry. We were both hurt. But things can change."

Vermont shook his head.

Vermont leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

"Maybe I can support the child if it is really mine."

Shannon's eyes immediately brightened.

But Vermont continued before she could speak.

"I won't give him my name."

Her expression fell.

"That's the only thing I'm willing to do."

He paused, his gaze turning colder.

"And for the record, Shannon, we are over."

His voice was quiet but final.

"I don't go back to what I've already thrown away."

Shannon stared at him.

The insult was unmistakable.

Her face hardened.

"You don't want to come back to me because there's another woman, isn't there?"

Vermont's eyebrow lifted.

"What if there is?"

He leaned back.

"That's none of your business."

Shannon gave a bitter laugh.

"So there really is someone."

Vermont said nothing.

That silence was enough for Shannon.

Her eyes narrowed.

She slowly walked farther into the office, studying him as though she were trying to uncover a secret.

"I wonder who she is."

Vermont's expression remained cold.

"You should leave."

Shannon ignored him.

"I can already imagine what will happen to her."

She smiled bitterly.

"She'll think she's different. She'll believe you're going to give her everything you've never given anyone else."

Vermont's eyes sharpened.

Shannon continued.

"Then one day, when you f****d her almost everyday in three hundred sixty five days, you get tired of her, you'll walk away

just like you did with everyone else."

Vermont's jaw tightened.

"Enough."

Shannon laughed softly.

"I'm only telling you the truth. I can still remember what you have done to me. Clear as day Vermont, you like it wild. You

don't like women who do nothing over you. You want someone who perform well. And I believe that's the primary reason

why you asked me to marry you. You dumped your wives before because you said, they're lame in bed. Right?"

Vermont threw her a sharp look. Well, it's partly true. He admitted he said that.

She lifted the brown folder from his desk.

"Whatever woman you have now, Vermont, she should be careful."

She turned toward the door.

"Because eventually, she'll discover that being loved by you comes with a price."

Vermont watched her leave.

The door closed.

For several seconds, he remained completely still.

Then his gaze shifted toward the darkened LED monitor across the room.

A thought crossed his mind.

Therese.

His expression became unreadable.

Shannon's words suddenly seemed less like an insult and more like a challenge.

And Vermont had never been particularly good at ignoring challenges.