C8 Behind Locked Doors

Sophia's mind was a raging storm as she paced outside Lucas's office. She had not thought twice when she stormed out of the main room only a few minutes earlier to confront him, but now that she was about to face him, she wondered if it was her business at all.

But she needed to know regardless. She thought about the news report again, each accusation piercing her more deeply.

She had begun to trust Lucas despite her self-admonition to exercise caution. Despite Shirley and the other man's warnings —strange people.

Her emotional attachment had made it impossible to resist trusting him. She was now unable to ignore the fissures in the foundation of their brittle relationship.

She plucked up the bravery to open the door without knocking.

With a composed yet cautious expression, Lucas raised his head from his desk. He said, placing a document down, "Sophia, this is unexpected."

Her heart thumping, she shut the door behind her. "I just saw the news."

His expression clouded. "I take it you're talking about the alleged scandal."

She crossed her arms and said, "Yes, is it accurate? Are you complicit in corruption?”

Lucas leaned back in his chair and moaned. “The media loves a good story, especially when it involves someone in my position. The majority of their statements are wildly inflated or completely untrue.”

"Most," she said, squinting. “Not all?”

He stood, stepping around the desk to stand in front of her. “Sophia, you have to understand that in my world, enemies are everywhere. People will say anything and do anything to undermine me.”

“That’s not an answer,” she continued, her voice rising. “I need the truth, Lucas. I deserve it.”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might relent. Instead, he touched her shoulder in a way that was both comforting and annoying. "I'll take care of it," he declared. "Believe me."

She became enraged. "You won't tell me anything, so how can I believe you?"

Lucas didn't respond, but his face softened. His silence was more damning than any denial could have been, and he turned away instead.

************************************************

Shirley’s voice crackled across the phone later that evening, her tone as harsh as ever. She said, "Sofia, I warned you. "Lucas Hawke is not the person he poses as."

Sophia pulled her knees to her chest as she sat on her couch, in her living room.

“I already asked him, Shirley. He didn't acknowledge anything, but he also didn't deny it.”

He didn't, of course. He and his likes are deflection experts. They’ll offer you just enough to keep you captivated but never the complete story.”

Sophia frowned, gripping the phone tighter. “Why do you care so much about this Shirley? Why alert me?”

After a brief pause on the other end of the line, Shirley spoke again, her voice lower, "Because I have been in your shoes. It cost me more than I can express because I trusted the wrong people. I don’t want to see you make the same mistakes.” Sophia felt a pang of guilt. Despite their complicated history, Shirley’s concern seemed genuine.

“You still think he’s using me?” Sophia asked.

“I don’t just think it,” Shirley replied. “I know it. Lucas doesn’t care about your art, Sophia. He cares about what you can do for him, about the doors you can open.”

Sophia’s stomach churned. “What can a broke girl like me do for a billionaire? What can I open with my empty account? You don't know what you're talking about, Shirley.”

“Don’t I?” Shirley challenged. “Just... be careful, Sophia. And don’t let your feelings blind you to the truth.”

But even without seeing the future, Sophia knew her feelings would probably blind her to the truth. She was far too gone, too lost in him to care.

***********************************************

She had intended to work in her studio the following day, but Lucas invited her to the mansion top floor, it was like a separate entity from the rest of the huge property. Except for periodic cleaning, no one ventured there as far as Sophia knew. She had often wondered why that floor was deserted.

She hesitated but ultimately consented, hoping to find some clarity—or at least answers.

The floor was as huge and imposing as she’d imagined, with its towering columns and brightly illuminated hallways.

Lucas was already there and he met her in front of the elevator, his smile beguiling as ever. “I thought you could use a change of scenery,” he stated, leading her in.

The interior was as sumptuous, with marble flooring, crystal chandeliers, and an art collection that matched the finest galleries.

However, Sophia felt uneasy because of the place's coldness, which contrasts with the warmth of the rest of the mansion, despite its grandeur.

Lucas showed her around the corridors with closed doors, but a particular door piqued her interest, with its surface darker than the others, almost menacing.

She nodded toward it and asked, "What's in there?" Lucas's face was unreadable as he looked toward the door. "Just storage. Nothing noteworthy.”

But as they continued the tour, Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t telling the truth.

Later, Sophia found herself back in the hallway as Lucas moved aside to answer a call.

The brass handle of the dark door shone in the low light as it loomed before her.

Her heart thumping, she reached for it. It was secured. It was, of course, locked. A low, rhythmic hum reached her ears as she pressed her ear against the wood. It sent a shiver down her spine.

What was behind the door? And why would Lucas lie about it? Before she could consider too much, Lucas’s words echoed down the hall. "Sophia? "Where are you?"

Her pulse pounding, she turned to him and hurried away from the door. She forced a smile and said, "Just exploring."

Lucas’s gaze moved to the door before returning to her. "I should have anticipated your curiosity. There is more to see, so let's go.”

Sophia followed him, glancing back as she couldn't take her eyes off the locked door and the weird hum coming from inside.