The Hidden Camera Captured Everything

lia

face was a mask of forced composure, but her eyes, narrowed slits, promised war. Chandler, be

rising tension. "Aurelia? I'm so sorry,

the other men; he wore a crisp, dark polo shirt and slacks, the kind of smart casual that screamed "tech CEO who answers to no one." His dark hair was slightly tousled,

mile. Not the practiced, political smile I was

ifeline. I walked towards him, a sense o

ring. "Wouldn't miss it for the world," he murmur

wo were... involved." Her tone had shifted from speculative to genuinely impressed. Gene Mason was a rising star in the tech w

othly, letting my fingers intertwine wi

ite whispered, loud enough to be heard. "So much mor

vibrating with fury beside him. The public' s perception was already shifting. C

g the room, my voice clear and confident

ack. It was a physical weight, heavy and possessive. He couldn

arp and commanding, echo

ed slowly, meeting his furious gaze. My expre

etting something," he bit out, his eyes darting to Gene, then ba

lia, it's an important networking opportunity for us. You know how much Ch

of disgust in my heart. Us. That' s what he alwa

alse sincerity. "But as I said, Gene and I have prior engagements." I g

meeting Chandler's. A silent message pass

back. I didn't need to. I could feel Chandler's fury like a physi

ehicle. As I settled into the passenger seat, I felt the last lingering tendrils of Chandler's gaze. It was

ting out a long, slow breath I

city lights. "No thanks necessary, Aurelia. It

ffer any. We simply drove, the comfortable sile

asked, his ey

" I replied, givin

d went to his pocket. "Before I dr

im, surprised

cue' you again. Or, you know, for future early morning

what felt like years. "Okay, Gene," I said, pulling

d mine, and for a fleeting moment, I fel

This house, once a symbol of our shared future, now felt like a cage. He was rarely here, always at his campa

han outside. Just as I stepped in, my phone vibrated i