Catherine's POV,
The site was bigger than I expected. Dust, machines, scaffolding everywhere. Engineers in hard hats shouting over the noise. I hated it instantly.
"What am I even doing here?" I sighed, feeling frustrated.
"Pack your things," my father said casually over breakfast.
I almost choked on my coffee. "Excuse me?"
"You're flying to France next week. I need you to check the medical wing near the new site. You'll be our representative for LMH."
"No," I said immediately.
"Yes," he countered, not even looking at me.
"Dad—"
"Catherine," he cut me off, voice firm. "You're going."
I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to leave my hospital, my patients, my safe little world where I could pretend none of this existed.
But my father had that tone. That final tone. So here I was.
"This way, Doctor Lavander," the assistant said, guiding me through the maze of scaffolding. "The lead engineer will brief you shortly."
My chest tightened at those words. Lead engineer.
No. Not her. It couldn't be her.
We reached a temporary office made of glass panels and steel beams. The assistant pushed the door open for me.
But no Elai.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Engineer Andres was supposed to conduct the briefing," one of them explained, shuffling the papers nervously. "But she was called to inspect something on-site. She'll be back shortly."
Her name. Out loud.
It sliced right through me.
I sat down slowly, pretending to skim the documents while my pulse hammered in my ears, even though I could not sit properly.
"Where are you, Alorra?" I whispered, hoping the gods would hear me.
Alorra came with me, but went to the hotel to settle our bags before coming here. I had to come here first since my father wanted an immediate update on the site.
My hands gripped the folder too tightly, knuckles pale.
Focus, Catherine. These men are talking. Numbers, steel weight, deadlines—none of it reached me. All I could hear was the pounding in my chest.
She was here. On-site. Breathing the same air.
I shifted uncomfortably, crossing and uncrossing my legs. I hated how restless I looked, but I couldn't stop. I probably look stupid now.
"Doctor Lavander?" One of the engineers leaned forward. "Would you like us to start with the safety protocols?"
"Yes," I forced out, my voice clipped, cold.
He began pointing at the blueprints, explaining something about foundation checks and erosion prevention.
Erosion.
My stomach twisted.
The door creaked open.
I froze.
Every muscle in my body went insane, head snapping up before I could stop myself.
But it wasn't her. Just another assistant carrying coffee.
My chest dropped, my throat dry.
Where the hell are you, Elai?
Why am I even looking for her? I didn't want to see her in the first place.
Really? My mind said.
"We're done here, doctor. You can go back to your hotel first so that you can rest." The guy even winked at me. Is flirting?
"Where is engineer Andres?" I couldn't stop myself from asking. I expected to see her face the first thing I land here in France. But I did not. I thought I'd see her here on the site, but fate has other plans.
"Oh, the engineer currently has a dinner meeting to attend to. She asked us to escort you since she wouldn't be coming here today. Do you want me to call-"
"No, n,o n,o" I fake laugh, feeling embarrassed. The guy looked at me, all confused. "I'll be back tomorrow for the site inspection," I said before finally deciding to leave.
Well...
I didn't get to see her today, that's a relief.
Is it really? I mentally rolled my eyes. This stupid mind.
I threw myself onto the hotel bed, staring at the ceiling like it could answer all the questions in my head.
Minutes passed. Maybe hours. I don't know. My chest was still heavy from earlier. Her name. Her absence. Everything.
I grabbed my phone and dialed.
"Dinner," I said the moment Alorra picked up.
She groaned. "Cathy, I just unpacked. Can you—"
"Now."
Silence. Then a sigh. "Fine. Give me ten."
I stood, fixed my hair, changed into something decent, anything to distract myself from this tightness I couldn't explain.
By the time Alorra showed up at my door, I was already restless, pacing like a maniac.
"You look like you haven't slept in days," she said.
"Shut up. Let's go."
We headed out. Straight to dinner. I needed food, noise, anything but my thoughts.
"Where are we even going?" Alorra asked, sliding into the cab beside me.
"Italian," I muttered. My eyes stayed glued to the window, pretending the streetlights were suddenly the most interesting thing in the world.
She side-eyed me. "You hate Italian."
I forced a small laugh. "I don't hate it. I just… don't prefer it."
Her brow arched. She didn't buy it. "Right. And you just suddenly crave pasta in France?"
"Shut up, Alorra." I wanted to eat something from an Italian restaurant. I don't know. It's like I'm pregnant and I had to eat my cravings.
She smirked but didn't push. Thank god. I couldn't deal with her sharp tongue right now. I know she'd be asking me way more deeply. She'd immediately sense that I am lying.
The cab moved through the city streets. I kept checking my phone, scrolling nonsense, pretending I was busy. Pretending I wasn't waiting for something. For someone.
My reflection in the window looked pale. Tired. Nervous. Why the hell was I nervous? This wasn't even a date. This was dinner. Just dinner.
When the cab stopped, I was the first to step out, my chest tightening for no reason at all.
"Relax," I told myself. "It's just food."
We walked inside. The waiter escorted us to our seat, and I immediately ordered ravioli. No looking at the menu, no glancing.
"I see you've got something in mind already," Alorra chuckled, making me blush for a bit. Why the hell did I order ravioli? "This is a nice place," she added.
When I walked inside this restaurant, I didn't think I'd be seeing that one person I expected to see in the airport and at the site. I wasn't sure what to think. My heart started to beat fast. I don't know what to feel. My insides they're going insane. It's like someone threw a party inside my body.
I had this feeling that I'll just explode.
She's here.
Having dinner with a woman I couldn't recognize.
Fuck you, Elai Jonah Andres.
To Be Continued...