Chapter 3 3

Lena's POV

The weight of Xavier's words still clung to my skin like an invisible touch, refusing to fade no matter how much I tried to push them away. Every syllable, every flicker of emotion in his eyes replayed in my mind, unraveling the careful distance I had tried to maintain.

Work provided no distraction. The documents on my desk blurred together, and the emails I attempted to respond to made no sense. Frustration coiled inside me, sharp and relentless.

Slamming my laptop shut, I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. I hated this feeling-this loss of control over my own emotions. Xavier had always done that to me. One look, one guarded expression, and I was left wondering what went on behind those stormy-blue eyes.

A soft knock at my office door made me straighten. Emily peeked inside, her eyes filled with concern.

"Are you okay?" she asked, stepping inside. "You've been staring at your screen for the past ten minutes."

"I'm fine." The lie felt heavy on my tongue.

She gave me a look that said she didn't believe a word of it but didn't press. Instead, she placed a folder on my desk. "This is for the board meeting later. Thought you might want to go over it beforehand."

I nodded, grateful for the distraction.

"Oh, and Mr. Sinclair is in his office," she added carefully. "He's canceled the rest of his meetings for the day."

Something in my chest tightened. "Okay."

She hesitated, as if debating whether to say more, then shook her head. "Let me know if you need anything."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone once again.

The urge to storm into Xavier's office and demand answers burned inside me, but I forced myself to stay put. He had made his choice-to push me away, to drown in whatever haunted him.

But I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep waiting for him to pull himself out of it.

Xavier's POV

Whiskey burned down my throat, but it did nothing to dull the ache sitting heavy in my chest.

Lena's voice still echoed in my head, sharp and unyielding. "You don't get to make that choice for me, Xavier."

She didn't understand. I wasn't trying to hurt her. I was trying to protect her-from the wreckage I had become.

The past refused to stay buried. It clawed its way to the surface every time I got too close to something real, something that made me feel.

Lena made me feel too much.

The office door creaked open. Heavy footsteps approached, and I didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"You look like hell," Ethan muttered, dropping into the chair across from me. "Been drinking this early, huh?"

I ignored him, swirling the amber liquid in my glass.

He sighed, leaning forward. "Are you gonna tell me what happened, or should I just assume you did your usual 'push and destroy' routine?"

The whiskey glass hit the desk with a dull thud. "It's not that simple."

"Bullshit."

A muscle ticked in my jaw, but I didn't argue.

Ethan exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "Xavier, listen. I know you think keeping Lena at arm's length is protecting her, but all you're doing is hurting both of you."

"It's better this way."

"For who?" His voice hardened. "Because from where I'm sitting, you look fucking miserable."

Silence stretched between us.

Ethan shook his head. "You're going to lose her if you keep this up."

The words settled deep, twisting into something painful.

Maybe that was for the best.

Lena's POV

By the time evening rolled around, my patience had worn thin... Enough was enough.

My feet carried me through the office hallways with determined strides, past curious glances and whispered murmurs. Xavier's office door loomed ahead, closed but not locked.

I didn't knock.

The door swung open, and there he was-leaning against his desk, tie loosened, whiskey glass in hand. His eyes met mine, surprise flickering before his usual guarded mask slipped back into place.

"You shouldn't be here," he said, voice low.

My fingers curled into fists at my sides. "Too bad."

A slow, measured sip of whiskey was his only response.

Frustration simmered beneath my skin. "You don't get to do this, Xavier. You don't get to pull me in, only to push me away the second it gets too real for you."

His jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

"I deserve better than this," I continued, stepping closer. "Better than half-truths and avoidance."

Something flickered in his gaze-pain, regret, something raw and unguarded.

"You do," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Shock hit me like a punch to the gut. I had expected another wall, another excuse.

"Then why?" My voice cracked. "Why won't you let me in?"

Xavier exhaled slowly, setting his glass down.

Dark eyes held mine, and for the first time, I saw it all-the torment, the fear, the weight he carried like a chain around his neck.

"I don't know how." His voice was almost broken.

The air between us thickened, heavy with unsaid words.

I reached out, fingers barely grazing his. "Then let me show you."

For a second, I thought he might let me. That he might finally let his walls crack just enough to let me through... But then he pulled away.

The loss of contact was like a slap.

Xavier ran a hand through his hair, stepping back as if physical distance could erase what had just passed between us. "Go home, Lena."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "You're a coward."

Something dark flashed in his eyes. "Maybe."

My heart twisted. "If you walk away from this-walk away from *us*-you'll regret it."

He didn't respond.

Silence stretched, thick and suffocating.

Finally, I turned on my heel and walked out, slamming the door behind me.

Xavier's POV

The sound of the door slamming shut echoed long after Lena was gone.

Every part of me wanted to chase after her, to tell her she was right. That I was a coward.

But instead, I stayed where I was, gripping the edge of my desk like it was the only thing holding me upright.

Lena deserved better than a man haunted by ghosts... Better than me.

And yet, even as I told myself I was doing the right thing, a small voice whispered the truth. I had just made the worst mistake of my life.