TIMELESS LONGING

his sister. The conference room was quiet as he prepared for an important meeting, but inside, he was a whirlwind of emotions. Images of his sister'

stood at the doorway, clipboard in hand, her expres

re like a grimace. "Yeah, I'm fine," he lied, runni

on in the air. "You don't have to pret

nce, the air thick with unspoken words. Lila's compassion felt like a balm to

d without thinking, Lucas stepped closer his heart racing. "It's just... sometim

her gaze unwavering. "Loss is ha

her, pulling her into a gentle embrace. To his surprise, Lila melted against him, and their lips met in a

rashed back in. Lucas stepped away, his expre

her eyes wide with disbelief. The warmth of the moment evaporated, replace

orm cloud overhead. "It was... nothing," Lucas replied quickly, distancing himself fro

shing in her eyes. "It sure didn't look like nothing to

heir moment now a painful memory. "I should... I need

ed as if the intimacy they had just shared was a figmen

Nadia's gaze bore into her back. The feeli

ake off the lingering embarrassment from the kiss. The offic

tered on her face. "Hey, Lila. I wanted t

her voice shaky. "What

ed with condescension. "You know, given how distracted you

ty. "I'm not distracted," she asserted. "I'm

you're dealing with here. I won't let you ruin my rep

t just jealous; she was determined to make her

rything. Lucas had returned to his usual brusque self, leaving her to wrestle with the confusion

ts of the kiss haunted her-how could one moment of weakness create such a complex web of emotions? She could still feel the warmth of Lucas's lips against hers, t

zzed. It was a message fro

dge what had happened? Was he as confused as she was? But before she could respond

he asked, peerin

g to appear nonchalant. "Just a work

ay," Nadia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I wouldn't want you to

back, frustration bubbling to the su

ake what you want? That's cute, Lila. But you have no idea how things work

across the office. Lucas's voice rang out, authoritative and sharp,

ed at the sound of Lucas's voice. "Looks like your boyfrien

onference room, the tension thick between them. Inside, the atmosphere was elect

tion. "I know we've been facing some challenges lately, but I believe we can tu

ring into her, and the air felt suffocating. She glanced at Lucas, hoping for a sign of their

racted, she glanced down to see another message from Lucas: Meet

her throat. Did he wa

Nadia leaned over and whispered, "Loo

a mixture of embarrassment a

oice stopped her in her tracks. "You're going to want to be careful, Lila," she said sweetly, yet the underl

?" Lila asked, na

ed glint in her eyes. "Yo

lked away, leaving Lila feel

he couldn't shake the feeling that Nadia was up to something, and the dread that followed her made

at at his desk, looking up from his papers with an expr

reverberated through the hall, and Lila turned instinctively to see Nadia, red-

s she watched Nadia glower at her,

ice dripping with mock sweetness. "Looks like s

fusion and anger evident in

back, her gaze sharp and accusatory. "Some people think the

erately trying to undermine her. The tension in t

ing off the walls. "This is unprofes

shot one last glance at Nadia, who stood there with a smu

face a mask of frustration and concern. "Lila, I

g. "Are you going to pretend it didn't hap

as said, running a hand t

ud crash from the hallway, followed by raise

t a chill of foreboding wash over her. Something was off, and sh