Nine
983 Words
Chapter 9 — Too Close
Victoria’s POV
The boardroom had never felt this hostile.
Victoria stood at the head of the long glass table, staring at twelve of her most senior executives.
Usually, silence followed her into every meeting.
Today, it followed Lorenzo.
He sat beside her, calm and composed, his dark suit immaculate, his expression unreadable.
Victoria could feel every suspicious glance directed at him.
“Let's get something clear,” she said. “Hayes International is not being acquired.”
One of the board members, Richard Hale, leaned forward.
“Then why is your company entering a partnership with Valentieri Group?”
“Because it's profitable.”
“And convenient?”
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
“Are you questioning my judgment?”
Richard hesitated.
“No, Ms. Hayes. I'm questioning the timing.”
Lorenzo finally spoke.
“The timing was mine.”
Every eye turned toward him.
“I approached Victoria because I believe our companies complement each other. Nothing more.”
Richard gave a humorless smile.
“Nothing more?”
Lorenzo's gaze hardened.
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
Victoria almost smiled.
Almost.
She had never seen anyone silence Richard that quickly.
The meeting continued for another forty minutes.
When it finally ended, Victoria remained behind.
Lorenzo waited near the windows.
“You enjoyed that,” she said.
He turned.
“Watching your board try to intimidate me?”
“Yes.”
His lips curved.
“A little.”
She shook her head.
“You're impossible.”
“And yet you invited me into your company.”
“That may have been a mistake.”
He stepped closer.
“Do you regret it?”
Victoria opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Lorenzo noticed.
His expression softened.
“That's what I thought.”
She looked away.
“You're becoming too comfortable.”
“With you?”
“With everything.”
He moved closer.
“Perhaps I am.”
Victoria's heartbeat quickened.
There was barely a foot between them now.
“Lorenzo…”
“Yes?”
“You're standing too close.”
“I know.”
She should have moved.
She didn't.
His eyes traveled over her face, lingering for a moment before returning to hers.
“I've waited a long time to stand this close to you again.”
Victoria swallowed.
“You barely knew me.”
“I knew enough.”
“What could a nine-year-old boy possibly know about me?”
Lorenzo smiled.
“That you hated carrots.”
She laughed softly.
“That doesn't count.”
“You stole cookies.”
“Because you kept taking them.”
“You cried when I said I was leaving.”
Victoria's smile disappeared.
“I did?”
“Yes.”
She searched his face.
“I don't remember that.”
“I do.”
His voice became gentle.
“You held onto my shirt and told me not to go.”
Something inside her chest tightened.
“And I left anyway.”
Victoria looked down.
“I'm sorry.”
“You were a child.”
“So were you.”
“I promised myself I'd find you again.”
Her eyes lifted.
“You did.”
“Yes.”
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
The company.
The board.
Daniel.
The threats.
There was only the two of them.
Then Lorenzo reached up and gently touched her cheek.
Victoria's breath caught.
She didn't pull away.
His thumb brushed lightly across her skin.
“You're still the same girl,” he whispered.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I'm not.”
“Then let me get to know the woman you've become.”
Victoria's heart raced.
She whispered, “And if you don't like her?”
Lorenzo smiled.
“Impossible.”
She looked into his eyes.
There was no arrogance there.
No business strategy.
Only sincerity.
That frightened her more than anything else.
Her phone suddenly rang.
Victoria stepped back and answered.
“Hello?”
Her assistant's voice trembled.
“Ms. Hayes, security just found something in your office.”
“What?”
“A photograph.”
Victoria frowned.
“What photograph?”
“I think you should see it yourself.”
She ended the call.
Lorenzo was already watching her.
“What happened?”
“Something was found in my office.”
They walked quickly toward the executive floor.
Two security officers waited outside Victoria's office.
One held a clear evidence bag.
Inside was an old photograph.
Victoria's breath stopped.
It was a picture of two children beneath a large tree.
A little girl with cookie crumbs on her cheeks.
A little boy beside her.
Victoria slowly reached for the bag.
On the back of the photograph were five handwritten words.
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER.
Lorenzo's face went pale.
Victoria looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he took out his phone and called his security chief.
“Lock down the building.”
Victoria stared at him.
“Lorenzo?”
His eyes remained fixed on the photograph.
“Someone has been inside your office.”
The realization sent a chill through her.
“But the security system—”
“Can be bypassed.”
She looked around her office.
Everything suddenly felt unfamiliar.
Lorenzo stepped in front of her.
“Stay beside me.”
Victoria wanted to argue.
But then she noticed something else.
A tiny red light blinking beneath her desk.
Lorenzo saw it too.
His expression changed instantly.
“Victoria…”
“What?”
“Don't move.”
He pulled her behind him.
The red light blinked again.
Once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
Lorenzo stared at the device.
His voice was barely a whisper.
“Someone planted a camera in your office.”
And Victoria realized that whoever was watching her…
had been watching her for much longer than she ever knew.
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