Chapter 11
1066 Words
Sienna steps into the office, her heels clicking against the polished floors as she makes her way to her desk. The usual morning routine is in full swing—phones ringing, employees murmuring over their coffee—but something unexpected catches her attention.
A bouquet of fresh roses sits on her desk, vibrant against the neutral tones of the office. Her breath hitches slightly as she picks up the small card tucked between the petals.
Love, Theo.
A small smile tugs at her lips. Trust Theo to send flowers just to brighten her day.
“Who’s the admirer?” Olivia, one of the junior assistants, teases as she walks by.
Sienna chuckles. “My best friend.”
As Olivia grins and walks away, Sienna pulls out her phone and sends Theo a quick message.
Sienna: You’re ridiculous. But thank you. The flowers are beautiful.
Theo: I know. You deserve to be spoiled. Enjoy, babe.
She shakes her head, smiling to herself, before putting her phone away and settling into work. The morning passes in a blur of emails, reports, and back-to-back tasks.
A few hours later, she stretches and leans back in her chair. Her phone buzzes again. This time, it’s Sophie.
Sophie: Saw your flowers. Theo’s setting the bar high, huh? Maybe Lucian should take notes.
Sienna rolls her eyes, even though a small part of her wonders what it would be like if Lucian ever sent her flowers. Would he pick them himself? Would he even think to do it? No, she shakes off the thought. He barely even notices her outside of work.
She checks the time and realizes Lucian’s business trip is in a few hours. Straightening, she grabs her tablet and strides toward his office, knocking lightly before stepping inside.
Lucian sits behind his desk, focused on his laptop, but something about his posture seems unusually tense.
“I wanted to check in about your business trip,” she says, keeping her voice professional.
Lucian doesn’t look up right away. Instead, he taps his pen against his desk, his movements controlled but stiff. “Are you enjoying your flowers?”
She blinks. “What?”
“The flowers,” he repeats, finally meeting her gaze. “From Theo.”
Sienna’s brow furrows. “Yes. Why?”
Lucian exhales through his nose, shaking his head slightly. “No reason.”
Liar. He’s practically radiating irritation, and she has no idea why.
“About the trip,” she presses, choosing to ignore his odd behavior. “Are you still going?”
Lucian leans back in his chair, rolling his pen between his fingers. “Damon bailed.”
Her stomach dips. “So, are you canceling?”
“No,” he says, his gaze sharpening. “You’re coming with me.”
Sienna stiffens. “Me?”
“Yes.” He doesn’t leave room for argument. “Since my brother seems to have better things to do, you’ll be accompanying me instead.”
She searches his face, looking for any sign of hesitation, but finds none. If anything, there’s a challenge in his gaze, as if daring her to say no.
Sienna exhales, nodding. “Fine. When do we leave?”
Lucian checks his watch. “In two hours.”
She swallows, forcing herself to remain poised. “Understood. I’ll pack what I need.”
As she turns to leave, his voice stops her. “Make sure to bring formal attire. We have a gala tomorrow night.”
Her heart skips a beat. A gala. With Lucian.
She nods, keeping her voice steady. “I’ll be ready.”
---
The flight is smooth, though tense. Lucian remains unreadable, his focus on his laptop while Sienna busies herself reviewing the client’s file. She barely speaks to him, trying not to let his earlier behavior linger in her mind. But she can't shake the feeling that something is off.
When they land, their driver is already waiting, and within minutes, they arrive at the luxurious hotel Lucian booked. The city skyline stretches before them, golden under the setting sun. Sienna barely has time to check in before Lucian receives a call.
His expression darkens. “The client canceled our meeting.”
Sienna’s brows lift. “So, what now?”
Lucian sighs, slipping his phone into his pocket. Then, to her surprise, his gaze softens. “We make the most of the day.”
Her lips part slightly. “Meaning?”
“Meaning,” he says, already leading her toward the car waiting outside, “I’m taking you shopping.”
Sienna blinks. “What?”
Lucian slides his sunglasses on and smirks. “You need a dress for the gala, don’t you?”
She hesitates. “I brought something.”
“Not good enough,” he says simply. “You’re representing Sterling Enterprises. You should have something new. Something elegant.”
She swallows, knowing there’s no point in arguing.
The next few hours are a whirlwind. Lucian takes her to the most exclusive boutiques in the city, where she’s pampered by stylists who bring out dress after dress. He watches, offering clipped but surprisingly thoughtful opinions.
When she finally steps out in a sleek, midnight-blue gown, his gaze lingers longer than usual.
“That one,” he says, voice slightly rougher than before.
Sienna looks at herself in the mirror, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spread through her chest. “Okay.”
After shopping, Lucian surprises her again by suggesting a small tour around the city. They stroll through hidden alleyways, visiting a famous café he claims has the best espresso. He points out buildings he admires, his passion for architecture seeping into the conversation.
For the first time in a long time, they’re just two people—not boss and secretary, not someone harboring unrequited love, not someone who barely acknowledges it. Just Sienna and Lucian, sharing a moment.
As the sun sets, she finds herself smiling more than she expected.
Lucian catches the look and smirks. “Enjoying yourself?”
She exhales, nodding. “Yeah. I am.”
He studies her for a moment, something unreadable in his expression. Then, almost reluctantly, he says, “Good.”
But as they return to the hotel, reality settles back in. This is temporary. A stolen day in a city far from home.
Tomorrow, they go back to being who they always were.
At least, that’s what she tells herself.
- Writer
