Do you need me to explain anything?
Luther POV
The numbers on the screen meant nothing to me. They moved, shifted, changed, just like everything else in my life lately. I sat there, staring, but all I could think about was her voice from the night before. The way she looked at me like I was a stranger.
"Sir?"
A hand brushed against my arm. I blinked, finally snapping out of my daze. Mateo’s face hovered close.
"Yes... Arnold," I said quickly, trying to gather myself. He raised an eyebrow. "Do you need me to explain anything?" He was already packing up his notes, looking puzzled.
"No. Everything’s fine. Well done," I said, my tone so flat I barely recognised it myself. I forced a smile and sat perfectly still, even though I was dying to leave. Mateo paused for a moment. Then, as if sensing my desperation, he stepped away.
"Luther," he called again, a little louder this time. I looked around. The chairs were empty. Everyone had left.
"You didn’t even notice the room clear out, did you?" he asked, sliding into the seat beside mine.
"I feel like I’ve already lived the whole day, and it’s not even ten yet," I muttered, checking the time on my watch.
"You’ve never zoned out like that in a meeting. Want to tell me what’s going on?" he pressed. I rubbed my face, the skin around my eyes aching. I had not slept. Not even for a second last night.
"I’m just tired, Mateo."
"Is this about Charlotte?"
My chest tightened instantly. I shut my eyes, like maybe that would stop the memory from hitting me again, her eyes full of hurt, her voice cold and distant.
"I said I want to be left alone," I replied, trying to make it clear. But Mateo wasn’t going anywhere. He got up instead and locked the boardroom doors.
"You know I’m not leaving until you talk. And if you refuse, I’ll call her myself."
I let out a breath, already knowing I had lost this fight.
"I told her about Brittany."
He froze for a moment. Then his eyes widened. "You what? Luther, you have not spoken about that night in years."
"I needed her to understand why I’ve acted the way I have," I said, my voice raw. "I wanted her to know that I’ve been afraid. That I’ve been carrying the fear of it all happening again."
"So you finally opened up. Then why do you look like she walked away?"
"Because she did," I said, barely getting the words out. "She left. She looked me in the eye and told me she did not believe a word I said."
Mateo stared at me, stunned. I kept going, needing to get it all out now that the door was already open.
"I shared something with her I never planned to share with anyone else. I told her how Brittany lied to me, used me, and nearly ruined everything I worked for. I wanted Charlotte to understand that I was not pushing her away out of pride, but out of fear. That her love was breaking down the walls I had kept up for years. And what did I get in return?" I looked away, jaw clenched.
"What did she say?"
"She thought I was lying," I said, standing so fast the chair scraped across the floor. I began pacing. "She said I was jealous. That I made it all up to keep her away from Mr. Hugh. I told her what I saw, and she still said I was being dramatic. That I imagined it."
I stopped and stared at the floor. "She did not believe me, Mateo. Not after everything I risked by opening up."
Mateo stood slowly, his face soft with concern I did not want.
"Why would she think that?" he said gently.
I gave a bitter laugh. "Maybe because I never let her in. Maybe because, all this time, I thought silence would protect me. And now the one time I speak, she thinks I am playing games."
“That is not even all,” I said, letting out a dry, bitter laugh. “Last night, I went over to stay with her. Her mother was not home, and I thought maybe... just maybe, we could talk. Clear the air. But she kicked me out.”
Mateo’s eyebrows lifted, but I held up a hand.
“She called me back a few hours later, paLuthered, screaming that two men had broken into the house… or at least, she thought they did.”
“What do you mean ‘thought’?” Mateo asked, leaning forward.
“I mean, she was actually in danger,” I said quietly. “Somehow, someone knew she was home alone. But luckily, I had my security team across the street. Daren got there before anything happened.”
Mateo ran a hand over his mouth. “So if you hadn’t assigned him to watch her, she could have been hurt… or worse.”
“Exactly,” I replied. “But I could not tell her the truth. She thought Daren was just a random police officer. Then when I tried to explain everything… about Gavin’s father, about my suspicions…”
“She turned it all around, didn’t she?” Mateo finished for me, his voice soft. “Said you sent those men to scare her into calling you back.”
I looked away, shame and frustration burning inside me. “Yes. That’s exactly what she said. Like I’m some manipulative lunatic playing mind games.”
Mateo’s voice was calm but firm. “Luther, I know this hurts, but you still need to make sure she is safe.”
I clenched my jaw. “I do not care anymore. Let her deal with it on her own. I am done.”
“You say that,” Mateo said, “but we both know it is not true. You still care. If you didn’t, you would have pulled Daren out last night.” I stayed quiet, letting the silence answer for me.
“I wish I did not feel this way,” I said eventually, rubbing my forehead. “I wish I could just shut it off.”
“That is love, Luther. Messy. Unfair and painful. But it’s real,” Mateo said with a shrug. “Now, what did Daren say about the man who showed up?”
“He didn’t say much. Just that the guy got away. I haven’t called him back since.”
“I will,” Mateo said, pulling out his phone. A few seconds later, Daren answered, and Mateo put him on speaker.
“Daren,” Mateo said. “Tell us everything you know about the man from last night.”
“He was trained,” Daren said at once, voice steady. “Fast, aggressive. He drove a black Escalade. No plates. But what caught my eye were the white tyres. That’s rare. Also, he didn’t break in. The door was already open.” Of course. She probably forgot to lock it after I left.
“Anything else?” I asked, tapping my foot.
“Yes, sir. He had been parked down the street when you left. Watching. Waiting. He knew what he was doing.”
I glanced at Mateo, who gave me a sharp nod. “So, he waited until I was gone. Then he struck.”
“And he will probably try again,” Daren added.
I closed my eyes for a moment. “She still thinks I am the villain. That I’m making all of this up.”
“That is why I want you to keep a close eye on her,” I said. “She won’t see the danger for what it is.”
“Yes, sir. I have eyes on her right now, actually.”
I stiffened. “What is she doing?”
I regretted asking the moment the words left my mouth, but I couldn't help it.
“She is in a boutique,” Daren replied. “With a man. They seem to be shopping.”
My breath caught in my throat. I already knew who it was, Gavin. It had to be Gavin. The pain came rushing back like a wave crashing down on my chest. She was out there smiling, shopping with him, while I was here breaking apart one piece at a time. I had put everything on the line for her. Told her things I had buried for years. Risked looking weak. Let my guard down. And now… She was with him. Laughing. Smiling. Like I never existed.
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