Chapter 2 Scars

Alex, now a young woman, watched her father's descent into obsession with a growing sense of unease. She was beautiful, with dark, flowing hair and eyes that held a quiet strength.

She had built a life for herself, a life of normalcy, a life far removed from the horrors of her childhood.

She was an accountant, skilled and ambitious, on the verge of a dream job at STARKDYNA, a global software giant.

She turned in her bed, seeking a comfortable position, when the soft chime of her phone's alarm broke the silence. Sunlight streamed through the window, a warm contrast to the chill of the night.

Rubbing her eyes, she silenced the alarm, her gaze falling on a notification from STARKDYNA.

"Dear Alexandra Vermont," it read, "thank you for your compliance and congratulations. You have been accepted for the position of Personal Assistant to the CEO of STARKDYNA. You are expected to report to the Human Resource Department for proper screening and debriefing by 8:00am tomorrow. Thank you."

Alex sat bolt upright, her heart pounding. Personal Assistant? That wasn't the position she had applied for. A flicker of unease, a sense of something...off, settled in her stomach.

Alex hesitated at the top of the stairs, gripping the polished wooden railing as she listened to the faint clatter of utensils from the kitchen below. Her father was up early, as usual, immersed in his routine like clockwork. She exhaled slowly and descended the steps, her footsteps careful but not hesitant.

Lucas sat at the small kitchen table, a newspaper folded beside his untouched coffee. His reading glasses perched low on his nose, and though his eyes flickered toward her, he didn't immediately speak. Instead, he set his pen down and waited.

Alex lingered near the counter, fingers grazing the smooth surface before she finally said, "I got the job."

Lucas nodded once, his gaze steady but unreadable. "Not the position you wanted." A statement, not a question.

"No." Alex shifted her weight. "But it's something."

Silence settled between them-not uncomfortable, but thick with words unspoken.

Lucas reached for his coffee, took a slow sip, then met her eyes. "Pays well?"

"Enough."

Another pause. A flicker of something-approval, maybe-crossed his face before it smoothed over. He nodded again. "Good."

Alex studied him, searching for more-some indication that he was proud, happy, anything. But she knew better. This was how he was. How they were. She folded her arms, forcing a small, wry smile. "I thought you'd at least pretend to be excited."

A ghost of a smirk tugged at the corner of Lucas's mouth, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You never liked pretense."

She let out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head. "No, I guess I didn't."

Lucas tapped his fingers against the table, then leaned back in his chair. "Big company. Lot of people."

"Yeah."

"Be careful."

It was the closest thing to concern he would voice, and Alex knew it. She nodded, her throat tightening just a little. "Always."

She turned to leave, but before she stepped out of the kitchen, his voice stopped her.

"Alex."

She glanced back.

His eyes lingered on her for a moment, something unreadable there. Then, with a slow exhale, he simply said, "Congratulations."

It wasn't much. It wasn't what she might have wanted. But it was enough.

For now.