CHAPTER NINE

Olivia followed Lucas to his office, her mind racing. Once inside, Lucas closed the door and leaned against his desk, his arms crossed.

“Lucas was wrong?”, Olivia asked, she noticed the strange sadness in Lucas eyes.

Lucas shook his head, running a head through his hair, “It's nothing, I released Marco”.

Olivia stepped closer, her eyes filled with confusion, “Why did you release Marco? He is the traitor and you know it”.

Lucas's jaw clenched, “I had no choice, it was my father's dying wish”.

Olivia's eyes widened in shock, “So you just let him go?”

Lucas voice dropped, but it was firm and authoritative, “Family comes first, Always”

Olivia shook her head, disbelief and frustration evident on her face, “I can't believe this, I’ve done my job Lucas. I found the traitor and you let him walk away. Release me, I deserve to go”, Olivia said raising her voice.

Lucas's eyes narrowed , his tone icy, “You’re not going anywhere Olivia, not until I say so”.

“But why?” Olivia's voice cracked with desperation, “I’ve fulfilled my part of the bargain, you can't keep me here against my will”.

Lucas stepped closer , his towering presence intimidating, “I can and I will, Olivia. You have no idea how dangerous it is out there, if you leave now, Marco will find you ..and he won't be merciful as I am”.

Olivia glared at him, her frustration boiling over, “This isn't mercy, Lucas. This is imprisonment . You’re just as bad as he is”.

Lucas’s eyes flashed with anger, “Watch your mouth Olivia, I’m trying to protect you”.

Olivia felt tears welling up her eyes, but she didn't let them drop, “You’re putting my life in danger for your family's politics, I didn't sign up for this”.

Lucas stepped more closer to her, his eyes locking into hers, “You signed up, the moment you started investigating me, Now, you are part of this”.

Their proximity made Olivia's heart raced, but she refused to back down, “You’re impossible”, she muttered.

Lucas took a step back, his voice low but commading, “You’ll stay here until I decide otherwise, end of discussion. You can leave now”.

Olivia felt a mixture of anger , betrayal, helplessness , as she turned to leave his office, as she cracked the door handle open, and stepped out of the office, she met Mia standing at the entrance, she has been ease dropping on their conversation.

Olivia glared at Mia who watched her with her guarded expression.

“I don't need your pity”, Olivia snapped.

Mia raised an eyebrow, “Good, because you won't get any from me. Lucas made his choice and you have to live with it”.

Olivia clenched her fist , the frustration boiling over, “This isn't living, this is surviving”. She said as she brushed past Mia and headed to her room.

As Olivia left Lucas sat in his office, his mind a storm of emotions. The news of his father's death hit him hard, as a Mafia boss, he was use to facing death and danger , but the death of the man he looked up to brought a kind of pain he hadn't prepared for.

Minutes later Mia entered the office quietly, carrying a tray with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, “Lucas, you look like you need a drink to calm your nerves”, she said softly , dropping the tray on the desk.

Lucas glanced at her, his eyes cold and distant, “I'm not in the mood Mia”.

She sighed , pouring two glasses anyway, “You can't just bottle everything up, Lucas. You need to talk about it”.

He picked up the glass reluctantly taking a sip , “There’s nothing to talk about, my father is dead, end of discussion”.

Mia moved closer trying to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged her off, “Lucas, please, let me help you . You don't have to go through this alone”.

He set the glass down with a thud,his eyes flashing with anger. “I said I'm fine Mia, drop it!”.

Her eyes filled with frustration, “You always do this!,You push everyone away, even the people who care about you”.

Lucas stood up, towering over her, “I don't have time for this, Mia . There's too much at stake now”.

Mia's face hardened, “You mean Olivia?, do you? She's the one you’re worried about”.

Lucas's expression hardened, “this has nothing to do with Olivia”.

“Don't lie to me, Lucas” Mia snapped her voice rising. “I can see it in your eyes,you’ve been different ever since she showed up”.

Lucas rose from his seat,taking a step closer to Mia,his voice dropping in a dangerous whisper, “Careful, Mia. You don't want to start what you can't finish”.

Mia felt an emotion of sadness, “I just want you to let me in Lucas, I want to be there for you”.

He looked away his jaw clenched, “I don't need anyone Mia, not now”.

She took a deep breath, her anger giving way to sadness. “If you don't need me, then maybe I shouldn't be here”.

Lucas turned back to her, his eyes cold, “Maybe you shouldn't”.

Mia’s heart broke at his words, but she held her head high, “Fine, I’ll leave, but don't expect me to come back”.

She turned and walked out of the office, slamming the door behind her. Lucas stood there, his fists clenched,the sound of the door echoing in the silence.

Mia stormed down the hallway tears streaming down her face. She loved Lucas but his refusal to let her in was too much to bear.As she got to her room ,she grabbed her suitcase and began packing her things.

With a final , resolute nod, she picked her suitcase and headed for the door. As she stepped into the hallway, she nearly collided with Vincent.

“Mia” Vincent called, his voice gentle, “Where are you going”.

“Leaving”, she said curtly, “I can't stay here anymore”.

Vincent looked troubled, “Are you sure about this? Lucas is going through a lot right now”.

Mia’s eyes hardened, “And he dosent want my help, so I'm leaving”.

She brushed past him making her way to the front door, as she stepped outside, she took deep breath trying to steady her emotions.

…..🌵

Later that night , as the mansion settled into an uneasy quiet,Olivia laid on her bed, her mind racing, she had seen Mia angrily laeving the mansion earlier.

She decided to get some sleep, if it would take her mind off her worry and uneasiness , but it wasn't working. She decided to confront Lucas one more time, hoping he is in a better mode.

Taking a deep breath , she walked through the corridor of Lucas' office. She knocked firmly on the door, her heart pounding on her chest. There was a moment of silence before she had the deep authoritative voice. “Come in”.

Olivia pushed the door open and stepped inside, Lucas sat behind his mahogany desk,his eyes tired but still sharp. He looked up as she entered raising his eyebrow.

“Olivia”, he said, his voice a mix of curiosity and irritation, “what do you need”.

She squared her shoulders trying to project confidence, “I need to talk to you Lucas, about my phone”.