Betrayal Behind The Contract

d turned into something black and unidentifiable, I remained still, gazing at the contract in my hands. My finger

nxious to go out and repair things. However, I was now unabl

rn it, rip it, and crumple it. However, I was unable to. Because I ha

he office door creaked open and I glanced up. He remained silent for a while. Rather, his gaz

es on it. I

f something I couldn't identify: "Did

ok my head. "I had no idea what

tion, his presence overpo

ously and turned the contract toward him

at it, but he didn't reveal anything. "It means

thing," I said, sou

her than triumph. "Sophia, that's just the way thing

wounded, even if they hurt. No matter how co

Before I could stop myself, the

for me to take notice. "Vanessa'

more and more frustrated. "She is always p

b the contract out of my grasp and neatly fold it up. With contro

lp," but there was no mistaking the strength underneath th

was unable to ignore reality. He was correct. I'd stru

further. Lucas glanced at the message as his eyes flitted to the screen and then he snatched it.

" he remarked hastil

ing far greater than myself, I felt like an outsider in his universe. His voice was low and eager, and his portion of the talk was professiona

to face me. There was a hardness in hi

o go out for a whi

y in his voice. I nodded, but my thoughts continued to race as I

eviously overlooked but had been there the whole time. I sensed its importance, and it was out of place. I walked closer to it, my hand shaking as

vered a single piece of paper with a message wr

ppears to be. Pay cl

e of the cryptic letter was obvious. There was a

or. For a brief while, our gazes locked, and I could feel t

etter out to him and demande

for a time. Before he reached for the letter and grabbed it out of my hand,

in a quiet, steady voice. "

chest exploding with incre

espond. Without saying another word, Lucas turned to face

said, "I'll handle this." "Re

was being watched. That message was sent by someone, and it wasn't Vanessa alone. I h

the city below. Piece by piece, the life I had known, the life I had felt compelled to lead, was be

. Lucas had left the contract in the drawer, which was ajar a little

ke

s it for work? Or another thing? I curled my fi

et in the corridor before I

d, "Don't touch anything." "

g at the key in my palm and wondered what secr

f Cha