Chapter Fifteen- Ares
824 Words
The golden light streaming into the office painted everything in warm tones, but I barely noticed. My mind churned with unease, the night before sitting in my head like a corrupted file—there, but inaccessible. I remembered the club. The bar. Her eyes.
After that—nothing.
The sound of the doors slamming open shattered the quiet.
I turned sharply, irritation flaring—then froze.
Lyssa.
She strode in like a storm, black leather clinging to her like a second skin, dark eyes blazing. Chaos and beauty wrapped in sharp edges. For a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe.
Her presence filled the room, claimed it. Commanded it. There was fury in her posture, coiled tight beneath control.
She was pissed.
Fuck.
“What the f**k happened last night?” she demanded, voice sharp enough to draw blood.
The question landed wrong. Too heavy. Too specific.
I masked the hitch in my thoughts with a lazy smirk, leaning back against the desk. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
She crossed her arms, glare narrowing. “Don’t play games with me, Ares. You know exactly what I’m talking about. The stunt you pulled—”
“Stunt?” I pushed off the desk, slow, deliberate. “I’ve been very busy running a company. Enlighten me.”
Her jaw tightened as she stepped closer. “You don’t remember showing up, throwing your weight around, and making damn sure I didn’t forget who’s in charge?”
My mind stuttered. The night still ended at the club. Nothing after. No transition. No continuity.
I leaned back again, casual by force. “You sound angry. Did I upset you?”
Her laugh was bitter. Sharp. “Upset? That’s generous.”
Then she said it.
“Don’t stand there and pretend you don’t remember showing up, f*****g me, and leaving like it was nothing.”
The world tilted.
I f****d her?
My composure cracked for half a second—long enough for a cold spike of panic to register. I searched my memory. Blank. Then, unbidden, a detail surfaced: the note on my desk that morning.
Give Enzo a raise.
Ice slid down my spine.
It wasn’t me.
It was Beast.
I forced the smirk back into place, swallowed hard, straightened. “You’re mistaken,” I said evenly. “If something like that happened, I’d remember.”
Her disbelief was visceral. “You’re really going to sit there and pretend it wasn’t you?”
“I don’t pretend.” My smile thinned. “Whatever you think happened—it wasn’t me.”
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. She searched my face, looking for cracks. For truth.
“Fine,” she said at last. “If you won’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll find out myself. And when I do, you won’t be able to hide behind that desk or your excuses.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” I replied.
She held my gaze one final moment, then turned and stormed out. The doors slammed behind her.
The office felt hollow.
I sank into my chair, exhaling slowly.
Beast had been in control last night. There was no other explanation.
I grabbed my phone and called Leo. He answered on the second ring.
“What’s up?” he said lightly. “Did you finally learn how to enjoy yourself?”
“Leo.” My voice was tight.
The humor faded. “Okay. What happened?”
“It’s Beast,” I said, gripping the edge of the desk. “I met a woman last night. I remember the club. That’s it. She showed up here this morning furious—said I went to her place, f****d her, and left.”
A pause. Then a short breath of amusement. “You’re telling me Beast played Romeo?”
“This isn’t funny.”
Silence snapped into place.
“…Shit,” Leo said. “That’s not normal.”
“I’ve been off the medication for a week.”
The silence stretched longer this time.
“You’re out of your f*****g mind,” he said quietly. “That thing doesn’t stop at violence, Ares. If he’s crossing into intimacy—”
“I thought I could handle it.”
“You can’t.” His tone hardened. “And now there’s a woman involved. One you actually care about.”
I didn’t answer.
“I’m coming over,” he said.
“That’s unnecessary—”
“Don’t argue. I’m coming.”
The call ended.
I stared down at my phone. At Lyssa’s name.
Beast keeps me sane by taking the ugliness I can’t control. But this time, he crossed a line.
I typed. Deleted. Typed again.
Finally, I sent the only thing that felt true.
Lyssa, I don’t remember last night. Regardless of what you think, I need you to explain what happened. Name a time and place. This isn’t optional.
The message delivered.
Now all I could do was wait.
- Writer
