Chapter 2
785 Words
Brielle had barely taken a moment to breathe in the night air before the door behind her creaked open. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“I see you’re avoiding the crowd.” Owen’s voice was smooth, low, as he stepped beside her. The faint sound of the party still echoed from the ballroom, but out here, the world felt quieter. More intense.
Brielle stood straighter, keeping her gaze on the city lights below. “Just needed some air.”
Owen leaned against the railing next to her, his presence as commanding as ever. “These events can be exhausting. But they’re necessary. You handled yourself well tonight.”
His words were sharp and professional, but Brielle could sense an undercurrent of something else. It was the same every time they were alone—an unspoken tension neither of them dared to address.
“Thank you,” she murmured, unsure of what else to say. She hated how he made her feel—like she was constantly under scrutiny, like every word mattered.
Owen didn’t respond immediately, his eyes scanning the skyline. After a long pause, he said, “You’ve been with Walton Empire for three years now.”
“Yes,” Brielle replied. “Time flies.”
He turned to her then, his gaze piercing, as if he were trying to read her mind. “You’ve done good work. I’ve noticed.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Praise from Owen was rare, almost unheard of. She wasn’t sure how to respond. “Thank you, I... I appreciate that.”
Owen’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer before he looked away. “Don’t get used to it,” he added dryly, his tone returning to its usual sharpness. “I don’t hand out compliments often.”
Brielle chuckled softly, more out of nerves than amusement. “I’ve noticed.”
For a moment, silence fell between them. The hum of the city below filled the air, and Brielle stole a glance at Owen. His face was unreadable, as it always was, but there was something in his posture—something tense, like he was holding back.
“I never asked,” Owen said suddenly, breaking the silence. “Why Walton Empire?”
Brielle blinked, caught off guard by the question. “What do you mean?”
“You’re smart. You could’ve worked anywhere. But you chose here. Why?”
She hadn’t expected this. Owen never asked personal questions, never seemed to care about anything beyond the task at hand. But now, here he was, probing into a part of her life she didn’t often share.
“I wanted a challenge,” Brielle admitted after a pause. “And Walton Empire... well, it’s the best.”
Owen’s eyes flickered with something she couldn’t place. “And has it been worth it?”
Brielle hesitated. She had worked hard to get where she was. The late nights, the endless pressure—it had been grueling. And yet, standing here now, with Owen beside her, she wasn’t sure how to answer.
“I’m still here, aren’t I?” she said quietly.
Owen gave a slight nod, as if satisfied with her response. “Fair enough.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Brielle’s heart was pounding in her chest, and she had no idea why. There was nothing overtly wrong with the conversation, but the way Owen’s gaze lingered on her made her feel as if something was shifting between them. Something unspoken.
“I should get back inside,” she said, breaking the tension. “It’s getting late.”
Owen didn’t move. “You don’t have to stay longer than necessary. Your presence was noted.”
Brielle nodded, turning toward the door. But just as she reached for the handle, Owen spoke again.
“Brielle.”
She paused, glancing over her shoulder. His eyes were softer now, the usual coldness replaced by something else—something almost vulnerable.
“You’ve been doing a lot for the company,” Owen said, his voice low. “More than most would. I hope you know that doesn’t go unnoticed.”
It was the closest thing to an apology she’d ever get from him. Brielle’s chest tightened, unsure how to respond. “I... I appreciate that.”
For a moment, Owen held her gaze, and in that fleeting second, Brielle wondered if maybe—just maybe—there was more to him than the ruthless CEO everyone saw.
“Goodnight, Brielle,” he said finally, his tone firm once again.
“Goodnight, Owen.”
She stepped back inside the building, her heart racing, her mind swirling with questions she wasn’t ready to answer.
- Writer
