The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and Caliste stepped out, her heels tapping lightly against the marble floor. Her pulse had finally begun to slow after the confrontation with Kyline, but her thoughts refused to settle.
The murmurs from earlier still lingered faintly in her mind. People had seen, they had whispered, and no matter how strong her composure appeared on the outside, she could feel the burn of embarrassment deep in her chest.
"Just focus," she murmured to herself. "You've been through worse."
She kept her eyes forward, clutching a few folders to her chest. The corridor leading back to her office was unusually quiet now, washed in the soft light of the afternoon sun that filtered through the glass walls.
Her thoughts drifted toward Lucian how he had appeared just when she needed him, how his voice still had that command that made people obey without question.
Why did he always have to step in?
Why couldn't she handle this without him?
Her emotions tangled between gratitude and frustration, and because her mind was elsewhere, she didn't notice someone turning the corner from the opposite direction.
They collided with enough force to send her papers scattering.
"Oh!" Caliste gasped, stepping back. "I..I'm so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going"
Her words trailed off when she looked up.
The man standing before her was tall, easily over six feet, with broad shoulders that filled his charcoal-gray suit perfectly. His hair was dark brown with hints of gold that caught the light, and his eyes striking silver-gray looked at her with a hint of warmth and amusement.
He bent down, gathering her fallen documents. "No harm done," he said with a smile, his voice deep and smooth. "Though I think these belong to you."
Caliste blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Thank you," she said quietly, taking the folders he handed back.
For a moment, they simply stood there two strangers caught in an awkward silence that wasn't entirely uncomfortable. Then something flickered across her expression, a faint spark of recognition.
"Wait," she said softly, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're… Caelum?"
The man's brows lifted in surprise. Then a slow grin curved his lips. "Well, I'll be damned. You remember me."
Her breath caught. Caelum Vellaria.
It had been years since she last saw him Lucian's first cousin on his mother's side, a name that used to echo during family gatherings she once attended as Lucian's wife. He'd been away abroad, managing the Vellaria family holdings across Europe, rarely ever returning to the city.
"I almost didn't recognize you," she admitted, blinking away the shock. "You've… changed."
"So have you," Caelum replied easily, his gaze lingering on her just long enough to make her slightly self-conscious. "Last time I saw you, you were helping my cousin choose designs for his company's first gala. Now you're running his creative department."
Caliste offered a polite, guarded smile. "A lot has changed since then."
He chuckled lightly. "That's putting it mildly."
There was something disarming about him his presence didn't carry the cold, distant aura Lucian had perfected. Caelum was approachable, charismatic, the kind of man whose confidence was quiet yet magnetic.
"What brings you here?" she asked, shifting the folders in her arms.
"Visiting my dear cousin," Caelum said, glancing down the hall toward Lucian's private office. "I just got back from London this morning. Thought I'd surprise him."
Caliste nodded, trying to ignore the faint unease curling in her stomach. The Vellaria family was powerful and sharp-eyed; they missed nothing. If Caelum was here, he'd notice everything especially her presence.
"Well," she said, forcing her tone back to professionalism, "I'm sure he'll be happy to see you. He's in his office right now."
Caelum tilted his head slightly, studying her. "You're not going to pretend we never knew each other?"
Her composure faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered. "We knew each other through Lucian. That was a long time ago."
His smile didn't waver. "True. But I remember enough. You always had that look in your eyes, Caliste like you were seeing a world no one else could."
Her throat tightened. She wasn't used to people looking at her like that anymore like she was someone worth remembering.
"I'm surprised you still remember me," she said softly.
Caelum leaned slightly closer, voice dropping low. "Some people are hard to forget."
The air between them shifted charged, subtle, but undeniable.
Caliste took a small step back, composing herself. "Well, I should get back to work. Lucian's waiting for his campaign updates."
He nodded, though his expression hinted amusement. "Still all business, I see."
As she began to walk away, his voice stopped her. "Caliste."
She turned.
"If you ever need a friend around here," he said, his tone warm but laced with meaning, "you know where to find me."
Her heart gave an involuntary flutter, but she managed a polite nod. "Thank you, Caelum. Welcome back."
He watched her leave, the echo of her footsteps fading down the corridor. There was something graceful about the way she carried herself strong yet fragile, detached yet full of quiet fire.
When she disappeared around the corner, Caelum's smile faded. His silver-gray eyes darkened slightly, thoughtful, almost calculating.
He slipped his hands into his pockets and murmured to himself, "So this is what Lucian's been hiding all these years."
Then he turned and continued toward Lucian's office.
---
Inside the office, Lucian was standing by the window again, hands clasped behind his back, lost in thought. The city stretched endlessly beneath him, its hum faint through the glass. He turned only when he heard the knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a familiar voice filled the space.
"Still brooding by the window, cousin?"
Lucian's head turned sharply. "Caelum?"
Caelum grinned, stepping forward. "Miss me?"
Lucian allowed a faint smile one of the few rare expressions he still gave freely. "You should've warned me you were coming."
"And miss the surprise? Not a chance." Caelum clasped his cousin's hand in greeting, their grip strong and brief. "You look well. Busy, as usual."
"Running an empire tends to do that," Lucian said dryly, motioning for him to sit.
Caelum dropped onto the sofa with casual ease, glancing around the sleek, modern office. "Still the same perfectionist. Not a paper out of place."
Lucian arched a brow. "You didn't fly halfway across the world to critique my office."
Caelum chuckled. "No. I came because the family's been asking questions. It's been years, Lucian. You barely attend gatherings, avoid the press, refuse to remarry…" He paused, watching Lucian's expression. "And now I find out your ex-wife works here?"
Lucian's features hardened slightly, but his tone remained calm. "Caliste is the Creative Director. She earned her position. That's all."
Caelum's smirk deepened. "That's all? Because from what I just saw in the hallway, she's far more than 'just another employee.'"
Lucian's gaze sharpened. "You saw her?"
"Accidentally. Or fatefully, depending on how you see it." Caelum leaned back. "She nearly ran into me. Still as graceful as ever. Though she looked… distant."
Lucian turned away, pretending to adjust his cufflinks. "She's focused on her work."
"Focused," Caelum repeated softly. "Or trying to keep her heart from showing."
Lucian shot him a look, but Caelum only raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, cousin. I'm not here to stir the past. But I'll admit I didn't expect to see her again, let alone in your company."
"She belongs here," Lucian said after a pause. "She's talented. The team respects her."
"And you?" Caelum asked quietly.
Lucian froze for a moment, then said, "That's none of your concern."
Caelum smiled knowingly. "Maybe not. But I'll say this you can try to bury the past all you want, but some things refuse to stay buried."
Lucian's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "Caelum.."
Before Lucian could finish, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it briefly, then turned toward the window again.
"Stay out of it," Lucian said quietly. "This is business. Nothing more."
Caelum stood, smoothing his jacket. "If you say so." He walked to the door, then paused. "By the way, cousin if you're not careful, you might lose her a second time. And next time, someone else might not let her go."
Lucian didn't respond, but his silence was telling.
When Caelum left, Lucian closed his eyes briefly. The faint scent of Caliste's perfume still lingered in the office from earlier, stirring memories he'd long tried to forget.
Meanwhile, in her own office down the hall, Caliste sat staring at the designs on her desk, unable to focus. The image of Caelum's smile kept resurfacing warm, familiar, but with an edge of mystery she couldn't quite place.
She exhaled, pushing the thought aside. "You're overthinking, Caliste," she muttered. "He's just Lucian's cousin. That's all."
But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that Caelum's return wasn't mere coincidence.