THE UNEXPECTED PARTNER
1298 Words
CHAPTER 7
The Unexpected Partner
ALYA ZANE
Tuesday morning started with a headache.
Not because of work.
Not because of the campaign.
Because I couldn't stop thinking about Lucas.
After everything that happened yesterday, I had spent half the night wondering what he meant when he said:
People talk when they don't understand something.
What exactly didn't they understand?
Was he talking about the rumors?
Or was he talking about us?
I shook my head.
“There is no us.”
“Alya?”
I looked up.
Camille was standing beside my desk.
“You're talking to yourself again.”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
I sighed.
“Forget it.”
She smiled knowingly.
“Lucas?”
“Camille.”
“Okay, okay.”
Before she could continue, the elevator doors opened.
Lucas walked out.
This time, he wasn't alone.
A man around Lucas's age followed him, wearing a dark suit and carrying a tablet.
Lucas walked straight toward us.
“Everyone, this is Ethan Navarro.”
The man smiled politely.
“He'll be working with us for the next few weeks.”
I nodded.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
Lucas looked at me.
“Alya, Ethan will be assisting you with the campaign.”
I blinked.
“Assisting me?”
“Yes.”
I glanced at Ethan.
“Okay.”
Lucas nodded and walked away.
Camille leaned toward me.
“He's handsome.”
I gave her a look.
“Please don't.”
“What?”
“Don't start.”
She laughed.
---
By noon, Ethan and I were working on the campaign.
He was actually good.
He understood the project quickly and had several useful suggestions.
“So,” Ethan said, looking at the presentation, “what does Lucas think about this?”
“He'll probably ask for five revisions.”
Ethan laughed.
“You know him well.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Are you two close?”
I nearly dropped my pen.
“No.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You answered quickly.”
“Because it's an easy question.”
Before he could respond, a voice came from behind us.
“Is there a problem?”
I turned.
Lucas.
“No,” I said.
“We're just reviewing the campaign.”
Lucas looked at Ethan.
“How's it going?”
“Good.”
“Good.”
There was an awkward silence.
Lucas looked at me.
“Can I speak with you?”
“Sure.”
I followed him into his office.
He closed the door.
“What?”
“You seem comfortable with Ethan.”
I stared at him.
“I'm working with him.”
“I know.”
“Then what's the problem?”
“There isn't one.”
“Then why bring it up?”
He didn't answer.
I crossed my arms.
“Are you jealous?”
His expression changed.
“Of Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
He answered so quickly that I almost laughed.
“Okay.”
“I’m not.”
“Sure.”
He sighed.
“Alya.”
“What?”
“You're distracting yourself.”
“With what?”
“With people.”
I stared at him.
“Maybe because working with you is exhausting.”
His mouth twitched.
“You're impossible.”
“That's what you always say.”
“And you always prove me right.”
For a moment, we stared at each other.
Then I smiled.
“You're jealous.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
He shook his head.
“Go back to work.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I walked out smiling.
---
Later that afternoon, Ethan asked me to review a document with him in the conference room.
We were halfway through when the door opened.
Lucas.
Again.
“Ethan.”
“Yes?”
“I need you in my office.”
Ethan nodded.
“Sure.”
He left.
Lucas stayed behind.
I looked at him.
“Something wrong?”
“No.”
“You keep appearing whenever Ethan and I work together.”
“I have work to do.”
“Of course.”
He looked at me.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I smiled.
He narrowed his eyes.
“You're enjoying this.”
“Maybe.”
He sighed.
“You're enjoying annoying me.”
“Maybe.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“Then we're even.”
---
At around six, everyone was preparing to leave.
I packed my things when Ethan approached.
“Do you need a ride?”
I looked up.
“No, I'm okay.”
“I can drop you off.”
“Really, I'm fine.”
Before Ethan could respond, Lucas walked past us.
He stopped.
“Alya.”
“Yes?”
“Your ride is waiting.”
I frowned.
“My ride?”
“Driver.”
“Oh.”
I had forgotten that Lucas had arranged company transportation after the rumors started.
“I'll go.”
Ethan nodded.
“See you tomorrow.”
“See you.”
I followed Lucas toward the elevator.
As soon as the doors closed, I looked at him.
“Did you really need to interrupt?”
“I was helping.”
“I could have gone with Ethan.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
He looked straight ahead.
“I don't trust him.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“I just don't.”
“That isn't an answer.”
He finally looked at me.
“I've known him for years.”
“And?”
“And I know what he's like.”
I crossed my arms.
“What is he like?”
Lucas was silent.
Then he said,
“He doesn't always have good intentions.”
My expression changed.
“Are you warning me?”
“Yes.”
“About Ethan?”
“Yes.”
I sighed.
“You're my boss, not my bodyguard.”
“I know.”
“Then trust me to make my own decisions.”
He nodded.
“I do.”
The elevator doors opened.
I stepped out.
Then I turned back.
“Good night, Lucas.”
He looked surprised by the use of his first name.
“Good night, Alya.”
---
The next morning, I arrived at work early.
Ethan was already there.
He walked toward me with a serious expression.
“Alya, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
He handed me a folder.
“This.”
I opened it.
My eyes widened.
Inside was a confidential document from one of Lucas's competitors.
I looked at Ethan.
“Where did you get this?”
“I can't tell you.”
“This is confidential.”
“I know.”
I immediately closed the folder.
“You shouldn't have this.”
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Neither should you.”
I stared at him.
“What are you trying to say?”
He looked around.
“Someone inside the company is leaking information.”
My heart sank.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
He stepped closer.
“But I think Lucas is in danger of losing control of the company.”
Before I could respond, I heard footsteps.
Lucas.
He stopped when he saw the folder in my hands.
His expression changed completely.
“Alya.”
I froze.
“Where did you get that?”
I looked at Ethan.
Then at Lucas.
“I…”
Lucas walked toward us.
His voice was cold.
“Who gave you that document?”
I swallowed.
“Ethan.”
Lucas's eyes turned toward him.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
And I realized this wasn't just about office rumors anymore.
Something much bigger was happening inside Villano Holdings.
And somehow...
I was now right in the middle of it.
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