Lucas didn't move for a while.
He just sat there, staring at his phone like it had said something back to him.
Incoming call: Michael
Answered — 00:12 seconds
"…Answered?" he muttered again.
His brows pulled together.
Because he knew—
He hadn't picked that call.
And suddenly, everything from that conversation replayed in his head.
Michael's voice.
Calm… but not normal.
The question:
"Who answered your phone?"
Lucas exhaled sharply, pushing his chair back as he stood.
"…Lina."
The name settled with certainty.
He didn't waste time.
Stepping out of his office, he walked straight down the corridor, his pace quick but controlled.
"Lina."
She looked up from her desk immediately.
"Yes, Mr. Lucas?"
Lucas stopped in front of her, his expression serious.
"Did you answer my phone earlier?"
There was a brief pause.
Not long.
But enough to confirm it.
"…Yes," she said carefully.
Lucas closed his eyes for a second.
Just a second.
"I thought it was a work call," she added quickly. "You were busy and it kept ringing, so I assumed—"
"It wasn't a work call," Lucas said.
Not harsh.
But firm.
Lina straightened slightly.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to overstep."
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.
"It's fine," he said, though it clearly wasn't.
She hesitated.
Then added quietly—
"He didn't sound like just anyone."
Lucas looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
Lina held his gaze, calm but observant.
"He sounded… important."
That word landed differently.
Lucas didn't respond immediately.
Because she was right.
He was important.
More than that.
But that wasn't something Lina was supposed to see.
"…Just don't answer my phone again," Lucas said finally.
"Of course," she nodded.
Lucas turned and walked away.
But the damage?
Already done.
Back in his office, Lucas grabbed his phone immediately.
Dialed.
Michael.
It rang.
And rang.
And rang.
No answer.
Lucas frowned.
Called again.
Still nothing.
"…Come on," he muttered under his breath.
A third time.
Voicemail.
He exhaled sharply, pacing slightly.
Then typed quickly:
"Please pick up. It's not what you think."
Sent.
He stared at the screen.
Waiting.
Nothing.
Miles away, Michael sat on his bed.
His phone in his hand.
Screen lit.
Lucas called.
He watched it ring.
Didn't move.
Not because he wanted to ignore it.
But because he didn't know what version of himself would answer.
The one that missed him?
Or the one that felt replaced?
The call ended.
A message came in.
"Please pick up. It's not what you think."
Michael stared at it.
Longer than necessary.
Then slowly—
He pressed the call.
Lucas answered immediately.
"Michael—"
"I'm here," Michael said.
Lucas exhaled, relief obvious.
"Okay… okay. Listen to me—what happened earlier—"
"Your assistant answered your phone,"
Michael said calmly.
Lucas paused.
Then nodded, even though Michael couldn't see him.
"Yeah. I just found out. I didn't know she did that."
Michael didn't interrupt.
"I wasn't avoiding you," Lucas continued. "I wasn't in a meeting when you called—I was just… caught up with things. But I didn't give her my phone. She took it herself."
Silence.
Michael leaned back slightly.
Processing.
"…Okay," he said.
That word again.
Lucas frowned.
"No, not just 'okay,'" he said. "Talk to me."
Michael exhaled slowly.
Then finally—
"It's not just about that."
There it was.
Lucas stilled.
"What do you mean?"
Michael hesitated.
Then spoke anyway.
"You've been different," he said. "Even before today. Short replies. Missed calls.
You say you're busy, and I understand that, but…"
He paused.
"…It doesn't feel the same anymore."
Lucas opened his mouth—
But nothing came out immediately.
Because he didn't have a quick answer for that.
"I'm trying," he said finally.
"I know," Michael replied softly.
But something about the way he said it— didn't feel reassured.
It felt distant.
"I just don't know where I fit in all of this anymore," Michael added quietly.
That hit.
Harder than anything else.
"You're not going anywhere," Lucas said quickly. "Nothing has changed like that."
Michael didn't respond immediately
Because part of him wanted to believe that.
And part of him…
Wasn't sure anymore.
"…Okay," he said again.
And this time—
It felt even heavier.
They didn't argue.
Didn't shout.
But the silence that followed?
Said more than anything else could.
"…I'll call you later," Lucas said.
"…Alright," Michael replied.
The call ended.
And neither of them tried to fix it again.
Lucas sat still for a moment, staring at his phone.
His mind replayed everything.
Michael's tone.
His words.
That distance.
Something had shifted.
And he could feel it slipping.
"…Damn," he muttered under his breath.
"Mr. Lucas?"
He looked up.
Lina stood at the door.
"I just finalized the documents you asked for," she said, stepping in slightly.
Lucas nodded absentmindedly.
"Just leave it there."
She hesitated.
Not leaving immediately.
Lucas noticed.
"…What is it?"
Lina studied him for a brief second.
Then said—
Carefully.
"You should be careful."
Lucas frowned.
"With what?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"The way you were speaking earlier," she said. "On the phone."
Lucas' expression shifted.
"What about it?"
Lina didn't look away.
"You don't sound like that with anyone else."
Silence.
Lucas stared at her.
Because that wasn't something she was supposed to notice.
Not something anyone was supposed to notice.
And yet—
She had.
"…It was just a call," he said, his voice quieter now.
Lina nodded slowly.
But her expression said—
She didn't fully believe that.
"Of course," she replied.
Then she turned and walked out.
Leaving Lucas alone.
But not at ease.
Because for the first time—
Someone else had seen a piece of something that was supposed to remain hidden.
And that?
It was far more dangerous than distance.