005. Ride Home
1690 Words
It wasn’t until two in the morning that Caelan finally emerged from the building, his expression as impassive as ever. Beside him, his secretary, Liora, walked closely, her arm lightly resting on his. She was smiling, saying something in a low voice that only he could hear.
Liora was beautiful and sharp, the kind of woman who knew exactly what a man like Caelan needed in public. She wasn’t just a pretty face; she understood the role she played perfectly, never crossing the line between professional and personal in formal settings. And that was what made her indispensable.
To all of the employees, Liora was the picture of a capable and efficient secretary. She moved with purpose, always professional, always calm. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was a perfect fit for the role.
Aveline, who had been waiting for hours, looked up just in time to see Caelan and Liora stepping out of the office together. Her breath caught in her throat.
She finally saw him.
The moment Caelan noticed Aveline, his expression darkened, a deep frown etching across his face. What is she still doing here?
Aveline, feeling the weight of his gaze, hurriedly stood from the bench. Her legs were stiff and numb from sitting for so long, and she nearly stumbled as she took her first step. After regaining her balance, she quickly walked toward him, her heart racing.
When she reached him, Liora eyed her from head to toe, a slight sneer playing at the corners of her lips. She said nothing, but her expression spoke volumes.
Caelan’s eyes, cold and unwelcoming, focused on Aveline. He made no effort to hide his irritation. His displeasure was palpable. Aveline had braced herself for this reaction—she had learned to endure it over the years—but it still stung.
She forced herself to smile and greeted him quietly. “Caelan, you’re finally done with work.”
His response was a sharp, mocking laugh. “You certainly have patience, don’t you? Waiting at the office for hours.” He had already been told by the receptionist that someone was sitting in the lobby waiting for him, and he knew instantly who it was. At first, he had considered leaving her to grow tired and leave on her own. But, clearly, he had underestimated her persistence.
His words were cutting, but Aveline had long since learned to ignore the sting of his cruelty. “I need to talk to you. It won’t take long, and I’ll leave right after.”
“And what is so important?” Caelan’s voice was colder than ever.
Before Aveline could answer, Liora stepped in with a saccharine smile. “Mrs. Lysander, the CEO is extremely busy. Please try not to waste his time.”
Aveline glanced at Liora for a brief moment, then returned her focus to Caelan. She wasn’t here for Liora’s judgment. “Grandfather asked us to visit the family estate tomorrow. I wanted to check with you about your availability.”
Liora, ever eager to insert herself into the conversation, quickly added, “What a shame, Mrs. Lysander. The CEO has a very important meeting tomorrow, one he can’t possibly miss.”
“Shut up!” Caelan snapped, his tone sharp. Liora was momentarily stunned, falling silent and stepping aside. Caelan turned his icy gaze back to Aveline, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Did you go and say something to Grandfather?”
“No, I didn’t,” Aveline quickly defended herself. “I would never—”
“You’d better not have,” Caelan interrupted with a cold laugh. He thought for a moment, then relented. “Tomorrow at two. I’ll meet you at home.”
“But sir—” Liora began, her voice faltering slightly. “What about tomorrow’s meeting? It’s with an important client we’ve been trying to secure for months.”
Caelan considered this for a moment before nodding toward her. “Reschedule with Chairman Lee. Set the meeting for this afternoon instead.”
Liora, clearly displeased but unwilling to argue further, made a note of his instructions. The client was important, but she knew better than to question Caelan when his mind was made up.
With everything settled, Caelan didn’t spare another word for Liora. He turned and gestured for Aveline to follow him out of the office, leaving his secretary standing there in silence.
***
The night air was crisp as they stepped out into the busy street, the sounds of traffic and city life filling the space around them. Aveline shivered slightly as the cold wind hit her, and she couldn’t help but sneeze.
Caelan glanced at her briefly but said nothing. He merely opened the car door and commanded in his usual cold tone, “Get in.”
Aveline hesitated at the car door, uncertain. “If you’re busy, I can take a taxi home.”
“Get in the car,” Caelan repeated, his voice heavy with impatience. He was only doing this for his grandfather’s sake—why should he care about her safety? She was an obligation, nothing more.
Aveline didn’t push further. She obediently got into the car, closing the door behind her. Caelan started the engine without another word, and they drove in silence.
***
Half an hour later, the car came to a stop in front of the mansion. Caelan didn’t turn off the engine. Instead, he stared straight ahead, his voice distant and indifferent. “Get out.”
Aveline’s heart clenched at his tone, and before she could stop herself, she asked, “What about you?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She had almost forgotten that this place meant nothing to him. It was just an empty shell, not a home. His home was his office, or a hotel—anywhere but here.
“Get out,” Caelan repeated, his face devoid of any emotion. Driving her back was already more than he had intended to do. He didn’t care to indulge her any further.
Aveline swallowed hard, biting back the rest of her thoughts. She slowly unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car, closing the door quietly behind her. The moment the door clicked shut, Caelan sped off, the roar of the engine fading as he disappeared into the night.
For a long moment, Aveline stood there, staring after the car as it vanished from view. When it was finally gone, she sank to the ground, hugging her knees to her chest. She buried her face in her arms, her hands gripping her dress tightly.
How much longer would she have to wait? How much longer until he finally looked at her, really looked at her?
Her body trembled as the cold wind whipped around her, though the chill in her bones had little to do with the weather. She wasn’t sure if she was crying, but her body shook with silent sobs, her breath catching painfully in her chest.
***
After what felt like an eternity but was likely only a few minutes, Aveline heard the sound of a car approaching. Confused, she lifted her head, her vision blurry from the tears. To her surprise, Caelan’s car was parked in front of her once again.
Before she could process what was happening, Caelan stepped out of the car and walked toward her, his expression unreadable. Aveline hurriedly wiped her face with the back of her hand, trying to compose herself.
Caelan stood in front of her, looking down at her with an intensity that made her breath catch.
She had never seen him look at her like this before.
“Why are you crying?” he asked, his voice devoid of the coldness it usually held. For a moment, there was something different in his tone, something almost... curious.
Aveline didn’t know how to respond. She blinked up at him, unsure of what to say.
Without warning, Caelan reached out and pulled her into his arms, his movements abrupt and forceful. Before Aveline could react, his lips brushed against hers—a kiss that was cold, brief, and utterly emotionless.
Aveline’s eyes widened in shock, her mind racing. This wasn’t real. Caelan wasn’t kissing her. He couldn’t be.
But it was real. His lips were on hers, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t know why.
Why was he doing this?
The kiss ended as abruptly as it had started. Caelan stepped back, his expression unreadable once again. His voice was cold when he finally spoke. “Go inside.”
Aveline was still frozen in place, struggling to make sense of what had just happened.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Caelan didn’t respond. He simply grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the house, his grip firm and unyielding. “Don’t argue. Just go inside.”
Not knowing what else to do, Aveline followed him, her mind still reeling from the kiss.
As soon as they were inside the courtyard, Caelan let go of her abruptly, shoving her away. His face was twisted with frustration, though there was something else there too—something he was struggling to hide.
“What happened?” Aveline asked quietly, still trying to understand his sudden change in behavior.
Caelan let out a low, humorless laugh. “Apparently, Grandfather doesn’t trust me. He sent someone to keep tabs on me.”
Aveline stared at him, unsure of what to say. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or concerned. Had Winston really sent someone to spy on him? And if so, what did that have to do with her?
Caelan’s gaze shifted to her, his eyes narrowing slightly. There were still traces of tears on her face, and for a moment, she looked vulnerable in a way that stirred something deep within him. But he quickly buried the feeling. He wouldn’t allow himself to be fooled.
He said nothing, simply watching her with that same cold, detached stare.
The silence stretched on, the only sound the wind whistling through the trees.
- Writer
