Chapter 5
346 Words
Chapter Five
Sophie followed Lucas through the maze of scaffolding and steel beams, her boots crunching against the gravel-covered ground. The scent of sawdust, sweat, and damp concrete filled the air as the low hum of machinery vibrated beneath her feet.
Workers moved around them with practiced efficiency, shouting gruff orders over the noise, their voices blending into a chorus of controlled chaos. Cranes swung overhead, their steel arms extending like giant limbs, while sparks flew from welding torches along the skeletal framework of the towering structure.
Lucas walked through it all like he owned every inch of it. Because he did.
But Sophie wasn’t here to admire his empire—she was here to uncover the truth.
Lucas was already engaged in conversation with a group of surveyors, his voice calm but authoritative as they huddled over blueprints. His confidence was unnerving. He didn’t just command respect—he expected it. And, from the looks of it, he got it.
Sophie took the opportunity to step aside, her reporter’s instincts kicking in. There was always more to a story than what was being presented.
She let her gaze drift across the site, watching the foremen, the engineers, the laborers. Most looked focused, too busy with their work to care about her presence. But then, her eyes landed on one man.
Mid-forties. Weathered face. Arms crossed over his chest.
Unlike the others, he wasn’t moving, wasn’t working. He was watching. And not at the construction site—at Lucas.
His expression was hard, his gaze sharp with something unspoken. Resentment? Distrust? Maybe even anger.
Sophie’s gut told her this was worth investigating.
She adjusted her blazer, tucking her notepad into her coat pocket, and approached him casually.
“Not a fan of the boss?” she asked, keeping her tone light.
The man let out a snort, his mouth twisting into something between a smirk and a sneer. “Depends which boss you mean.”
Sophie arched a brow. “Meaning?”
He eyed her warily, sizing her up. “You’re not one of them.”
- Writer
