Chapter 3

“Miss Cruz, your 10 a.m. is here.”

I looked up at my assistant.

“Alright… thanks, Lesly.”

I hadn’t even fully settled into my seat when a man walked in tall posture, sharp presence, cold aura.

Black suit. Neat haircut. Eyes that looked like they’d seen the world collapse and rebuild.

In short, the kind of guy who looked like the lead in a K-drama.

“Ms. Cruz, my name is Lucas Dela Vega,” he said as he offered his hand. “Pleasure to finally meet the woman behind Valere.”

He had a fresh, clean vibe. I had a feeling he smelled expensive.

“I wish I could say the same,” I replied, giving him a faint smile as I shook his hand.

He said he was an investor brought a proposal. Quiet but observant, he spoke with a calm intensity. His soft features and naturally red lips had a strange pull, like he was reading me between his words.

“…please, have a seat, Mr. Dela Vega,” I said, and we both sat across from each other.

“Thank you, Ms. Cruz,” he replied.

“Just call me Celine. ‘Ms. Cruz’ is way too formal.”

“Alright, if that’s what you prefer,” he said with a small smile.

“Anyway… Mr. Dela Vega...”

But before I could continue, the door suddenly opened.

And there he was a face I knew all too well.

“Celine!”

Eli Vergara.

What the hell was he doing here?

Lucas glanced at him, then at me.

“Eli?” I said coldly. “You’re interrupting a meeting.”

“Please. Just five minutes,” he pleaded.

“I already gave you years,” I answered. “You wasted all of them.”

Lucas stayed silent, but stood up, picked up the iPad from the table, and gave Eli a faint smile.

“You must be the man who left her at the altar,” he said quietly but clearly.

How did Lucas know what happened three years ago?

“What?” Eli’s eyes narrowed, confused by what Lucas said.

“You don’t need five minutes,” Lucas added. “You had your chance. Now it’s mine.”

Lucas stared him down. I let them have that moment.

“And who are you supposed to be?” Eli asked him.

Lucas smiled a calm, confident smirk.

“Me?…”

I jumped in before things escalated. The tension was starting to fill my office.

“Eli, please… just leave,” I said calmly. I didn’t want a scene, especially not in front of a potential investor.

“I just wanted to talk to you even for five minutes,” he insisted.

“You can see I’m busy, can’t you?” I said flatly.

He didn’t respond. Just stared at me.

“…You can go now.”

~ Unexpected~

“Miss Cruz, flowers for you.” Lesley said, handing me a bouquet.

I stopped walking towards my office. She gave me a bouquet of red tulips, the blooms large and, I think, expensive. There was no doubt who they were from.

There was a card. I read it:

“You deserve better. But I’m still hoping it could be me. Eli”

I immediately tossed it into the trash can beside the door. What was he trying to prove? After hurting me? Was that just it?

“I hate clichés,” I muttered to myself.

“Good,” a voice suddenly spoke from behind me. I turned.

“I was worried you’d fall for that again.” the voice said.

It was Lucas Dela Vega. He was standing silently to the side, hands in his coat pockets, a hint of a smile on his lips. I expected him to be here.

“I don’t fall easily,” I replied, my face formal, then opened the door to the boardroom.

“But you did, once,” he said as we both entered.

“Once was enough.”

He was quiet, but with every glance, I felt he wanted to ask me something.

“Do you want to grab lunch later?” he casually asked.