Building Love

Chapter 15

After that night, things between Vanessa and Alex didn’t dramatically change, but there was an unspoken shift. The tension that had once hung between them, so thick and charged, seemed to dissipate, replaced by a new understanding. They were no longer strangers—no longer just two people who had found themselves thrown together by circumstances. But neither had they crossed into the space of anything more.

They kept their distance in a way that felt natural, though now there was an underlying layer to their interactions. The professional barrier they had always maintained remained intact, though it was no longer the only boundary between them.

For Vanessa, it was a strange relief. She could feel herself starting to relax around him. It was as if the weight of the unspoken expectations had lifted, leaving room for her to just... exist. She wasn’t constantly wondering what he was thinking, or what he might want from her. He was there, yes, but it wasn’t the same. She had nothing to prove to him anymore.

Work is their primary focus, and that kept them busy. Meetings, design revisions, client presentations—there wasn’t much time to talk about anything beyond their project. Alex didn’t press her, never brought up anything personal. They spoke when they had to, exchanged quick pleasantries, and fell back into their respective roles.

She saw him often—at Lowe's Corp. meetings, on-site visits, during their late nights working on project details—but the moments they spent together felt like brief interludes in the middle of a very busy and professional world. They had established this unspoken rule of keeping things strictly about work. No personal exchanges, no blurring of lines.

Despite the quiet distance, Vanessa found herself growing more comfortable around him. She no longer felt the tightness in her chest when they shared a space, no longer worried about his every word or gesture. There was something calming about the routine of their professional interactions. She was learning to enjoy his presence in a way that wasn’t complicated by emotions or expectations.

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A few weeks had passed since the dramatic showdown with Ethan, and Vanessa had thrown herself into work to keep her mind occupied. The Lowe’s Corp. project was relentless, with tight deadlines and constant revisions, but she didn’t mind. It gave her a sense of control, something that had been sorely lacking that night.

But today, Vanessa found herself with a rare free afternoon. The pull to visit Bella’s café was irresistible. It had been too long since she’d sat in the cozy corner booth, sharing stories with her best friend over caramel lattes.

As Vanessa stepped inside, the familiar hum of conversation and the scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted her. Bella was behind the counter, expertly crafting drinks with her usual flair. She caught sight of Vanessa and immediately broke into a grin.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Vanessa Sinclair!” Bella called out, loud enough for a few heads to turn. “Decided to finally remember your roots, huh?”

Vanessa smirked, making her way to the counter. “I know, I know. I’ve been a terrible friend. Work’s been insane.”

“Work’s always insane with you,” Bella teased, handing off a latte to a customer before focusing on Vanessa. “So, caramel latte?”

“Always.”

Bella nodded, her grin widening. “Good. I’m making it extra large because you look like you’ve got something to spill.”

Vanessa laughed but didn’t deny it. A few minutes later, they were settled at a table by the window, each with a steaming cup of coffee. Bella leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.

“All right, out with it. What’s going on? And don’t even think about dodging—I can see it all over your face.”

Vanessa sighed, stirring her latte absentmindedly. “You remember Ethan?”

Bella’s eyes narrowed, and her tone turned sharp. “Ugh, please tell me this isn’t a ‘he’s back’ story.”

“Not anymore,” Vanessa said with a wry smile. “I finally got rid of him. For good.”

Bella sat up straighter, her expression shifting to shock. “Wait. Seriously? You actually did it? What happened?”

Vanessa hesitated, taking a sip of her latte before continuing. “He showed up at my apartment, unannounced, being his usual manipulative self. I... panicked. I didn’t know what to do, so I called Alex.”

Bella froze, her mouth falling open. “Alex? As in Alex Lowe? The famous CEO of Lowe’s Corp.? The mysterious, cold youngest heir to the Lowe family?”

Vanessa winced at Bella’s volume but nodded. “Yeah. Him.”

Bella leaned back, visibly stunned. “You’re telling me that Alex Lowe—the guy who probably intimidates half of corporate America—came to your rescue to get rid of your ex? Vanessa, what kind of soap opera is your life turning into?”

Vanessa groaned, covering her face with her hands. “It’s not like that! I called him because I didn’t know who else to call, and he actually showed up. It was awkward, okay? But he handled it.”

Bella shook her head in disbelief. “Handled it how? Did he throw Ethan out the window or just glare at him until he melted?”

Vanessa couldn’t help but laugh. “Neither. He played along with this story I made up about us being together. Ethan bought it, got mad, and left.”

Bella whistled low, shaking her head. “Wow. So, you went from dealing with a broke, manipulative loser to having a billionaire CEO pretend to be your boyfriend? That’s what I call an upgrade.”

“Don’t start,” Vanessa muttered, though a smile tugged at her lips despite herself.

“I’m just saying,” Bella said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “Ethan was the definition of a gold-digging, insecure jerk. Meanwhile, Alex Lowe shows up like some knight in shining armor. It’s an intriguing situation, Vanessa.”

Vanessa shook her head firmly. “It’s not like that. He was just helping me okay. That’s all. And anyway, I’m not looking for anything right now. I’ve had enough drama to last me a lifetime.”

Bella arched an eyebrow. “So, what are you saying? You’re just going to bury yourself in work and pretend nothing happened?”

“Pretty much,” Vanessa said with a shrug. “I’ve spent enough time putting other people first—Ethan especially. Right now, I just want to focus on me. My career, my life. No distractions.”

Bella studied her for a moment, then smiled. “Well, I can’t argue with that. And honestly, good for you. You deserve to put yourself first for a change.”

“Thanks,” Vanessa said, genuinely grateful.

Bella raised her cup in a toast. “To cutting out toxic exes and focusing on what matters.”

Vanessa clinked her cup against Bella’s, a small smile tugging at her lips. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she was on the right path. It wasn’t going to be easy, but she was ready to put herself first and take things one step at a time. And for now, that was enough.