Luca’s POV
The house had stopped echoing.
That was the first thing I noticed after Ava left.
No heels clicking.
No soft voice trying to explain me to myself.
No perfume hanging in the air like a lie pretending to be comfort.
Just silence.
Silence is not peaceful in a place like mine.
I stood in the center of my office with both hands pressed against the edge of my desk, staring down at the dark wood as if it had personally betrayed me. My reflection stared back from the polished surface. My jaw was tight. My eyes looked brighter than usual.
Too bright.
I straightened slowly and reached for my phone.
One call.
Then another.
Then three more.
“Conference room. Now,” I said into each line without greeting, without softness, without room for confusion.
By the time I walked into t
