Ruby
The corridor to Liam’s private office was dimly lit, creating long shadows that danced along the walls.
I clutched the file close to my chest as I tried to control the pace of my racing heart. I could feel the weight of memories I would rather avoid surface, and each step I took echoed, filling my soul with a sense of dread.
Despite not wanting to, I found myself heading to my ex-mate’s office as instructed by Madam Nelly, and I moved with hesitation, not eager to face him or wanting to have any interaction with him.
As I approached the door, a mix of anxiety and reluctance gripped my heart. I felt really nervous as I stood outside his office door. My stomach was all twisted up with anticipation as the sound of my own footsteps made everything feel more emotional.
I hesitated before knocking, the sound resonating through the quiet hallway like an unwelcome intrusion. After I knocked and waited for a few seconds, there was no response, bringing a sense of relief. It seemed Liam wasn’t in; at least that’s what I hoped.
I gingerly pushed it open, and the creak of the hinges echoed in the empty office. The room, softly lit, showed an empty desk with files arranged neatly and a flower vase from his last birthday, a gift from me.
You see why I don’t like being anywhere around him? Because it creates memories-ones I’d rather forget. It was tough for me.
Confusion furrowed my brow as I stepped inside the once familiar room, and I observed that it had been transformed into something else that reeks of darkness, giving off the same vibe as his office back at the pack house.
Lilith had surely left her mark all over the place with her long, devilish claws, which were a bit scary. Just as I thought about leaving the door open while I moved further into the room, it unexpectedly closed behind me with a soft thud, enveloping me in a sudden hush that heightened the uneasy atmosphere.
Oh no. Who was behind me?
Panic seized my chest, and I spun around, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement, but I saw no one in sight. The office felt eerily quiet, with shadows on the walls like silent witnesses to an unfolding drama.
My heartbeat echoed in the stillness as I strained to hear any sound. The solitude of the office intensified, and a shiver ran down my spine. I stood there, tense, unsure if it was just my imagination playing tricks on me or if there was indeed an unseen presence in the room.
Feeling a rush of fear, I knew I had to leave quickly. I released a heavy sigh, letting my instincts guide me. They urged me to swiftly place the document on the desk and escape the tight space before I got consumed by an unknown monster, and trust me, I followed my instincts without hesitation.
Dropping the file on the desk with a thud, not minding not sparing a moment by minding if the document fell to the ground. Following my instincts, I hurried towards the door, my footsteps echoing in the silence. The urgency to escape the unsettling atmosphere pushed me forward.
I tried to turn the handle, but to my dismay, it wouldn’t budge. Dread settled in as the realisation sank in: I was trapped in a room filled with memories and unresolved emotions, and there was no easy way out.
“A surprising visit,” a voice behind me said, making me jump and breaking the silence. It was Liam, shirtless, with a towel loosely wrapped around his waist. A smirk played on his lips, sending a chill down my spine as I turned to face him.
“Liam,” I drawled, swallowing the lump in my throat. His eyes met mine, and I tried to concentrate on looking at his face, not his body.
It looked like he had just showered. Not that it was my concern, but when did his office get a shower? Things have definitely changed in the past seven years, or maybe I didn’t just notice it before.
He maintained the smirk, his gaze unwavering. I could feel the tension thickening in the air as unspoken words and unresolved emotions lingered between us. Despite my attempt to stay composed, his unexpected presence stirred up a mix of feelings, making it challenging to confront the past that haunted us.
“I knew you’d come back to me; it was just a matter of time. You missed me so much, just like I miss you.” His words hung in the air, laden with a mixture of sarcasm and something deeper. The trapped feeling intensified, and I struggled to speak amidst the flood of old emotions.
“Don’t be delusional, Liam. I’ll never miss you, not even when I’m six feet under,” I retorted, finally finding my voice. The room seemed to close in on me as he stepped closer, and I found myself holding my breath each passing second as the air was heavy with our unspoken history.
“Is that so?” He asked with a piercing gaze.
“You know it’s true. Enough of these childish games. I’m here to deliver some documents from Madame Nelly; otherwise, I wouldn’t be wasting my time,” I snapped, my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions within me.
His gaze held mine for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. The air crackled with tension as if waiting for the next move in a game neither of us wanted to play.
“Well, since you’re here, you might as well make yourself comfortable,” he said, a sly smile playing on his lips.
“I don’t want to be close to you, even for a minute.”
“Your eyes tell a different story, Ruby.” He said it with a knowing look, and I clenched my fists, fighting the vulnerability that threatened to surface.
“You read too much into things that are not real. You need to wake up to reality, Liam. I have told you this before.” I said it dryly, rolling my eyes while he chuckled, a sound that echoed with familiarity. I used to love the way he laughed and everything about him, but now I only feel hurt and disgust. They say time heals all wounds, but I have come to realise that it is just a fucking lie; time only makes you get used to the pain.
“You can’t hide it. The past has a way of lingering.” He muttered, stalking closer to me, and I involuntarily stepped backward until the edge of the table halted my retreat. The tension between us was palpable; memories danced on the edge of our conversation.
His proximity was suffocating, intensifying with each step, and I didn’t expect myself to react this way. His steel gaze bore into mine, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
“You can’t deny the connection, Ruby. The bond that lingers between us.” He drawled, and I swallowed hard, fearing the possibility of igniting our lost bond, and the thought of that made my throat suddenly feel dry.
“That was a lifetime ago, Liam. Things change. There’s no bond between us; it was destroyed by you, and we have nothing connecting us anymore.”
Except our son.
He leaned in, his breath grazing my ear. “Some things never change, like the way your heartbeat accelerates when I’m near.”
My pulse quickened at his words, and I hated the fact that he was getting to me, and I shot back defiantly, “It’s called fear, not affection.”