10:OneWaveringNight
962 Words
The night air was crisp, wrapping around Alessia as she stood at the edge of the sidewalk, the city humming in the background.
The lingering heat from the boutique, from Theo’s presence, still clung to her skin, but she refused to acknowledge it. Instead, she let out a sharp, humorless chuckle, running a hand through her dark brown hair, golden strands catching the streetlights.
“Miss you?” she repeated, voice dripping in disbelief. “In your dreams, Lennox.”
Theo’s expression didn’t shift, but there was something in the way he looked at her—like he knew something she didn’t.
“Hmm.” He exhaled a low, thoughtful sound, the kind that wasn’t quite a laugh but wasn’t far from one either. “That wasn’t a no.”
Her jaw clenched. “That was an absolutely, unequivocal, hell no—”
“That defensive, are we?”
Alessia wanted to shove him into traffic. She could still feel the weight of his hand around hers from earlier, the heat of his presence beside her. The fact that he had saved her from Veronica didn’t change anything. It didn’t.
She folded her arms. “If you’re done playing games, you can go ahead and answer the question now.”
Theo didn’t blink. “What question?”
She exhaled sharply. “Don’t be cute.”
“Too late.”
“Theo.”
His name left her lips before she could stop it, and damn it, the way his gaze flickered told her he noticed.
She steeled herself. “Where were you?”
The amusement in his eyes dimmed, just slightly. He didn’t move, didn’t falter, but there was a beat of hesitation.
Too brief. Too calculated.
“Busy.”
Alessia narrowed her eyes. “Doing what?”
His lips curved. “Things.”
Oh, she hated him.
She opened her mouth, but before she could demand an actual answer, a voice cut through the tension.
“Sir.”
A tall, broad-shouldered man in a tailored suit had stepped out from the mall entrance, his movements smooth, deliberate. He walked toward them, his presence both unassuming and intimidating at once.
Alessia stiffened.
Theo’s demeanor shifted, only slightly—just enough to remind her of something she had been trying to push aside.
That he wasn’t just her infuriating rival.
That he was powerful. Dangerous. The kind of man people reported to.
The man stopped just beside them, glancing once at Alessia before lowering his voice. “It’s been handled.”
Theo gave a slow nod. “Good.”
Something unspoken passed between them. A silent understanding.
Alessia didn’t know what it was, but she knew what it felt like.
Like something she wasn’t supposed to hear.
Like something she had no business being near.
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
Theo turned to her then, his gaze sharp, assessing.
“Well,” he said, as if they hadn’t just been interrupted by some cryptic message. “This has been fun.”
Before she could reply, he took a step back, slipping his hands into his pockets with that same effortless arrogance.
Then, just as he turned—
“See you in court.”
Alessia’s breath hitched.
Of course.
Of course he had to ruin the moment with that.
Her entire body tensed with renewed frustration as she watched him walk away, disappearing into the building like he had never been there at all.
And despite herself—despite everything—she couldn’t help but wonder.
What exactly had just been handled?
And why did it feel like Theo Lennox was always three steps ahead?
~~~
The scent of roasted garlic and herbs filled Alessia’s apartment, the warmth of home settling around her like a protective barrier against the chaos of the night.
Across the dinner table, Cameron Sinclair leaned back in his chair, lazily twirling a fork between his fingers.
“So.” He speared a piece of chicken. “What’s the verdict?”
Alessia blinked. “What?”
“The great war,” Cameron said dryly, chewing. “The battle between good and evil. You versus Theo Lennox. Who’s winning?”
She groaned, stabbing her food with more aggression than necessary.
Cameron smirked. “I’ll take that as a not you.”
“Shut up.”
“I would, but you’re radiating a very ‘I just had an infuriating encounter with a very rich bastard’ energy, and it’s entertaining.”
Alessia scowled. “I hate you.”
Cameron grinned. “No, you hate him.”
She exhaled through her nose. God, she did.
Before Cameron could press further, her phone buzzed against the table.
She glanced at the screen.
Edmund.
With a sigh, she swiped to answer. “Edmund?”
“Alessia.” His voice was calm, level—but there was something in it that made her pause. “I wanted to remind you we have to give in our best for the hearing.”
Alessia closed her eyes. “I know, I’m working on it.”
“Well, work faster.”
Her brows pulled together. “Why? What’s the rush?”
There was a brief hesitation on the other end.
Then—
“Our company’s attorney is suddenly resigning. And I have a feeling Lennox had something to do with it.”
Alessia’s grip tightened around the phone.
Of course he did.
Her lips parted, ready to respond, but before she could—
“You know,” Cameron mused, voice light, “for someone you claim to hate, you sure spend a lot of time thinking about him.”
Alessia froze.
She turned to glare at him, but the damage was done.
Because the second he said it—
She realized he was right.
***
- Writer
