BILLIONAIRE’S HEART

Chapter 4

The following week, Tamara found herself settling into the rhythm of her new role. Despite the constant tension she felt whenever Lucas walked into the room, she was beginning to find her footing. The meetings, the memos, and the constant stream of demands it was a whirlwind, but she was learning. And for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was in control of something.

But nothing could have prepared her for what happened next.

It was a Thursday afternoon, and Tamara was in the office kitchen, refilling her coffee mug when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. His presence was unmistakable.

“You’re here often, huh?” came Lucas’s voice, his tone casual but sharp, as if he was trying to gauge her reaction.

Tamara turned to face him, giving him a tight-lipped smile. “Just needed a break. Work never stops around here.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into something that almost resembled a smirk. “You’ll get used to it. The grind never lets up in this place.”

Before Tamara could respond, the sound of heels clicking against the floor echoed through the kitchen. She turned, expecting to see one of the other employees, but what she saw took her by surprise.

A tall woman with sleek black hair and a perfectly tailored suit stepped into the room. She was striking, elegant in a way that made Tamara feel small in comparison. Her eyes locked on Tamara with a flicker of recognition, though her expression remained cool and aloof.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Lucas’s new little project,” the woman said, her voice dripping with condescension.

Tamara blinked, trying to process what was happening. The woman had clearly recognized her and not in a friendly way. She glanced at Lucas, who seemed completely unfazed, his expression unreadable.

“Emily, this is Tamara Williams. Tamara, this is Emily Torres,” Lucas said, his tone clipped. There was a coldness in his voice that Tamara didn’t miss.

Emily’s gaze swept over Tamara, her lips curling into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Tamara. I didn’t realize you were the type to meddle in things that are beyond your pay grade.”

Tamara’s stomach twisted. She could feel the weight of Emily’s words pressing down on her, but she refused to let them get to her. Stay calm. Don’t let her see you rattled.

“I’m just here to do my job,” Tamara said, her voice steady despite the unease swirling inside her.

Lucas’s eyes flickered between the two women, and for a moment, Tamara swore she saw a flicker of something was it discomfort? No, that couldn’t be right. Lucas didn’t get uncomfortable.

“Is there something you need, Emily?” Lucas asked, his voice losing its earlier warmth.

Emily’s smile widened, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I just thought I’d stop by to see how Tamara was settling in,” she said, her gaze fixed on Tamara with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. “It’s always nice to check in on the new hires. Especially ones who get so much attention from the boss.”

Tamara could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating. She wanted to say something-anything but she couldn’t find the right words. What is she playing at?

“Well, if you’ll excuse me,” Emily said, turning on her heel and making her way to the door, “I’m sure you two have plenty of important things to discuss.”

As the door swung shut behind her, Lucas sighed and ran a hand through his hair, the first sign of frustration Tamara had ever seen from him. She couldn’t help but notice the way his jaw clenched, as if the encounter had unsettled him more than he was willing to admit.

“Sorry about that,” he muttered, his voice low. “Emily has a way of making everything… difficult.”

Tamara raised an eyebrow. “She seems nice.”

Lucas chuckled dryly. “That’s one way to put it.”

She watched him for a moment, studying the way he stood there, his posture stiff and almost uncomfortable. She couldn’t deny it—there was something about Emily’s arrival that had shaken him, even if he was trying to hide it.

“Does she always act like that?” Tamara asked, trying to keep the tone of her voice neutral.

“Not always,” Lucas replied, his gaze shifting to the door Emily had just left through. “But she’s been around for a while. A little too long, if you ask me.”

There was a pause, and Tamara could tell he was holding something back. She wasn’t sure what had happened between them, but it was clear that the history between Lucas and Emily was far from simple. The way he spoke about her so detached, so cold, it was almost as if he was trying to distance himself from her, even though she had clearly made an impact on him.

“I’ll see you later,” Lucas said abruptly, before turning and walking out of the kitchen.

Tamara stood there, her thoughts swirling. There was something she didn’t understand about the dynamic between the three of them. The tension between her and Emily was undeniable, but there was something deeper going on with Lucas. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Emily’s presence was a test a reminder of a past Lucas hadn’t fully let go of.

As Tamara returned to her desk, her mind was a maze of questions. What was Emily’s deal? And why did Lucas seem so rattled by her? Tamara wasn’t the type to get involved in office drama, but she had a feeling she’d be caught in the middle whether she liked it or not.