Love Her
1424 Words
Lucian’s car rolled back into the parking lot of his company. The sun was still up, casting soft light across the glass building. He cut the engine and sat there for a few seconds, resting both hands on the steering wheel.
His thoughts kept circling back to Georgia, her quiet voice, the look in her eyes when she finally believed him, the soft way she said “thank you.” For once, the weight in his chest felt lighter.
He exhaled, grabbed his phone and jacket, then stepped out of the car. The familiar sound of the city, cars honking, distant chatter, filled the air, grounding him back into reality.
Inside the building, everything was the same. The steady click of keyboards, the faint hum of the air conditioner, the smell of coffee and paperwork. Yet for Lucian, something felt different.
When he reached his office door, he paused, hearing voices inside.
He pushed the door open and found Damien lounging on the couch, legs stretched out, while Leah sat on the edge of his desk with a cup of juice in her hand. They both looked way too comfortable.
Lucian sighed quietly. “You two act like you own the place.”
Damien looked up with a grin. “We were starting to think you’d never come back.”
“I had something to take care of,” Lucian said as he set his jacket on the back of his chair and loosened his tie.
Leah tilted her head, smiling. “Something or someone?”
Lucian gave her a look, calm but sharp enough that she pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh.
Damien raised a brow. “So… judging by that expression, I’m guessing it went well?”
Lucian sat down in his chair, leaning back slightly. “It did.”
Leah smiled knowingly. “Your girlfriend, Georgia?”
He gave a small nod, not meeting her eyes.
“I knew it,” she said under her breath, sipping her juice. “You probably gave her that calm businessman look of yours, didn’t you?”
Damien chuckled. “Yeah, the one that says, ‘I’m not emotional, but I totally am.’”
Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Are you two always this talkative?”
Leah grinned. “Only when you give us something to talk about.”
He sighed, shaking his head but not really annoyed. “She misunderstood something,” he said quietly. “I cleared it up.”
Damien leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And she believed you?”
“Yes,” Lucian replied.
“Good,” Damien said. “Because the last time I saw you, you looked like a man who hadn’t slept in days.”
Lucian gave a short laugh, surprising even himself. “Maybe I didn’t.”
Leah smiled softly. “She must mean a lot to you.”
Lucian didn’t answer immediately. He looked toward the large window behind his desk, sunlight spilling across the floor. “She does,” he said finally, voice low.
The room went quiet for a moment. Leah traded a glance with Damien, who simply gave a faint nod like he already knew.
Then Damien leaned back with a teasing smile. “You know, Mom’s going to freak out when she hears Leah’s been here all day.”
Leah groaned. “Ugh, don’t start.”
Lucian looked up. “Yeah, she ran away again.”
“I didn’t run away,” Leah said quickly. “I just needed some space.”
“From Mom,” Damien added with a smirk.
Leah shot him a glare. “I told you to stop saying that.”
Lucian leaned back in his chair, watching them with mild amusement. “You know she’s going to come looking for you eventually.”
Leah huffed. “She worries too much. I’m fine.”
“She’s your mother,” Lucian said calmly. “Worrying is her job.”
Leah crossed her arms. “Then she should get a new job.”
Damien burst out laughing, earning another glare from her. “You’re going to regret saying that when she shows up here, you know?”
“She wouldn’t dare,” Leah muttered, though her voice lacked confidence.
Lucian’s lips twitched. “You’re forgetting this is Mom we’re talking about. She could walk through security without anyone stopping her.”
Leah frowned but didn’t argue. “Fine. I’ll go back later. Maybe.”
“Better be before dinner,” Damien said, leaning back again. “Otherwise, I’m not saving you when she calls me.”
Leah rolled her eyes. “You never save me anyway.”
“That’s because you always start the fire,” Damien said dryly.
Lucian rubbed his temples, half-smiling at their bickering. It was noise, but the kind that made his office feel less empty.
After a few moments, Damien’s tone turned casual again. “So, back to Georgia… you think she’ll take your advice?”
Lucian looked at him. “She will.”
Leah perked up. “Advice about what?”
“Business,” Lucian said simply, reaching for the files on his desk.
“Uh-huh,” Leah said, dragging out the sound. “That’s code for something, isn’t it?”
He gave her a look, which only made her grin wider.
Damien chuckled. “If you say so.”
Lucian shook his head. “It’s a stock tip. That’s all.”
“Ohhh,” Leah said, pretending to be serious. “So you’re giving her investment tips now? That’s… kind of romantic in your weird businessman way.”
Lucian didn’t reply, but his lips curved slightly. “If it helps her, that’s enough.”
Leah tilted her head. “You really like her, huh?”
Lucian didn’t deny it. He just focused on the file in his hand, pretending to read.
Damien grinned. “That’s a yes.”
Leah laughed quietly. “Wow. My brother in love. I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Be quiet,” Lucian said, but his tone was gentle.
Leah hopped off the desk and walked to the window, gazing down at the street below. “You know,” she said, “she must be special if she makes you act different. You look calmer. Not like you’re fighting everything inside your head.”
Lucian glanced at her reflection in the glass. “Maybe she is.”
Damien’s smile softened. “That’s good, man. You deserve that.”
Lucian said nothing, just nodded slowly.
A moment later, Leah turned around, brushing her hair back. “Alright, I’m heading out. Before Mom tracks me down.”
“Smart choice,” Damien said.
She grabbed her purse from the couch and looked at Lucian. “By the way, tell Georgia I said hi. I like her already.”
Lucian raised an eyebrow. “You’ve never officially met her.”
Leah grinned. “Doesn’t matter. I can tell she’s good for you.”
With that, she waved and walked out of the office, her soft laugh echoing in the hall.
Damien watched her go and shook his head. “That girl’s going to give Mom a heart attack one day.”
“She’s young,” Lucian said, looking back down at the file. “She’ll figure things out.”
“Hopefully before Mom grounds her forever,” Damien muttered.
Lucian gave a quiet chuckle. “You sound like a parent.”
“Somebody has to be,” Damien replied.
Silence settled for a few seconds. The light through the window warmed the room, catching on the edges of Lucian’s desk. He finally leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment.
Damien studied him. “You really think this thing with Georgia will work?”
Lucian’s voice was steady. “I want it to.”
“Then make it,” Damien said simply. “Don’t overthink it, man. You already lost sleep over her once. Don’t do it again.”
Lucian nodded slowly, a faint smile playing at his lips. “Yeah.”
Damien stood, stretching his arms. “Alright, I’m heading out too. Got a meeting in twenty minutes.”
Lucian nodded. “Don’t be late.”
“Since when am I ever...” Damien stopped when Lucian raised a brow. “Okay, fine. Sometimes.”
Lucian smirked. “Most times.”
Damien laughed, heading toward the door. “You should call her tonight,” he said before leaving. “Don’t wait too long.”
- Writer
