Livia's POV….:.
The moment the boardroom doors closed behind us, I finally allowed myself to breathe.
I didn't realize how tense my body had been until now.
Every muscle in my body felt tight snd my heart was still racing.
We moved toward the elevator without a word.
I pushed Lucian's wheelchair carefully, my hands steady even though my mind was anything but that.
The doors opened and we stepped in.
And just like that It was just the two of us again.
The elevator descended in silence, the soft hum filling the space between us.
I stared ahead, trying to process everything that had just happened.
I didn't even know where I got the confidence from but I got it and it helped a lot.
"…Did I mess anything up?" I asked quietly.
For a second, Lucian didn't respond.
"You did well." He said
I blinked and my head turned toward him.
"What?"
"You heard me."
His tone was calm in a Matter-of-fact way like it wasn't a big deal but it was.
A strange stupid warmth spread through my chest before I could stop it.
"…Thank you," I said softly.
Then the elevator doors opened and we stepped out.
And just like before, whispers trailed us as we moved.
again.
We walked outside where the car was already waiting.
The driver stepped out immediately, opening the door for us.
I helped Lucian in carefully and got in beside him
"Take us to an ice cream shop," Lucian said to the driver
I blinked and The driver hesitated slightly.
"…Sir?"
"Do you need me to repeat myself?"
"No, sir."
The car started moving.
I turned toward Lucian, confusion clear on my face.
"…Ice cream?"
He didn't look at me.
"Yes."
"That's… unexpected."
He went quite for a while then he asked
"Is there a problem?"
"No," I said quickly. "Just… surprising."
"I didn't know you were an ice cream guy" I told him
He sighed like he was so done with me
"It's for you Livia"
"You handled pressure well today," he said. "Better than most people in that room."
My heart skipped again.
"…I was scared," I admitted.
"I know."
That surprised me.
"You do?"
"I could hear it," he said simply.
I frowned slightly. "Hear it?"
"Your breathing," he replied. "The way you paused before answering."
I stared at him for a second.
"You noticed all that?"
"I notice everything."
Something about the way he said it sent a small shiver down my spine.
Not fear.
The car slowed down to a stop and I came down from the car and helped Lucian out.
We walked into the ice cream shop, it was small and simple
Inside, it was quiet.
A few people glanced up, curiosity flickering briefly before they returned to their conversations.
Here there were no whispers or tension, just everyone enjoying their ice cream.
I missed the days I would sneak out with Betty to get ice cream and spend more time with her.
I sighed
"What flavor?" I asked softly.
Lucian tilted his head slightly.
"You choose."
That caught me off guard.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
I hesitated for a moment before turning to the counter.
"…Two vanilla," I said finally.
The waitress handed it over to me and I elsked to where Lucian was seated by the window and joined him there.
I noticed him looking out the window and taking his ice cream
"You're different here," I said after a moment.
Lucian's hand paused slightly.
"How?"
"You're not as… tense."
A small pause.
Then—
"This place isn't part of the game."
I looked at him.
"That's why you came here?"
"Yes."
Something about that answer felt honest
"…What were you like before?" I asked softly.
The question slipped out before I could stop it.
Lucian didn't respond immediately.
For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer at all.
Then—
"Busy," was all he said.
"That's it?"
"That's enough."
I almost smiled.
"You're very difficult to talk to, you know that?"
"I'm aware."
Despite myself, I let out a small laugh and he looked at me again
"I like it when you laugh" he said suddenly
"Uhmm Okk" I sad awkwardly
"You laugh easily," he said again
"Not really," I replied. "Just… sometimes."
"You should do it more."
I smiled at that and looked down quickly, focusing on my ice cream.
"…Maybe," I mumured
We finished our ice cream in silence snd went back home
When we arrived, I helped him out again,
"Go rest," Lucian said wheeling himself away
I nodded.
"…You too and thank you for the ice cream ."
He didn't reply
Typical Lucian
By the time I reached my room, I was grinning like a school girl which was creepy.
I pushed myself off the door and walked toward the bed, ready to finally sit down, to rest and call Betty.
And then I saw it.
I froze.
An envelope lying at the center of the bed.
My brows furrowed slightly i was sure that hadn't been there before.
I cautiously stepped closer and my heart began to beat faster.
Each step felt heavier than the last.Until I was standing right in front of it.
Up close i saw it, it was a bloodied envelope, My breath caught sharply in my throat.
"No…"
My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for it, my instinct told me not to but I couldn't stop, I needed to know what was in it
I picked it up slowly and with shaking hands, I opened it and pulled out the note inside.
The words were written in the same blood My eyes scanned the message and my blood ran cold.
POKE YOUR NOSE IN WHAT ISN'T YOUR BUSINESS…
My breath stopped
AND GET KILLED.
The paper slipped slightly in my grip falling to the ground
My entire body went still with fear.
Someone had been in my room and dropped this threatning message , that means someone is stalking me and leaving me death threats.
Who could it be?
***