Page 26 of The Call She Made That He Never Answered
Ella?
"Sorry, meeting paused for five minutes. Take a break, everyone."
I stepped away from the computer, ready to check it out, but Vivian rushed over first, grabbing my arm.
"Lucas, please help me."
I stopped, looking down at her. That's when I saw the tears streaking her face, her clothes a mess. My mind blanked. Vivian was always cool and polished—I'd seen her shut down opponents with data in boardrooms, argue over a single word with legal for half an hour. Never this wrecked, barely holding it together.
The contrast made me steady her back without thinking.
"What's wrong?"
She buried her head in my chest, voice hoarse and broken. "Ella just accused me in the basement of having an affair with you, called me a homewrecker. I don't get why she'd think that! If this gets out, how can I keep working at Rockefeller? My career's done. Lucas, please explain it to her."
I froze.
What?
How could Ella say that?
Absurd frustration hit me. How could she misunderstand like Grandfather? I'd powered through three straight days, forced myself to work from home just to see her first thing after.
This meeting was tougher than expected. VitaGen's old board members were stubborn bastards. At the office, I'd have my full team. Here, I was flying solo. As my wife, she should've soothed me—maybe just a coffee. But in under half an hour, she picked a fight with my assistant and stormed the study.
I rubbed my temples, disappointed. Ella needed to grow up.
As my face hardened, she appeared in the doorway, gasping for breath, staring at me.
"Why'd you say that to Vivian?"
I kept my tone even, asking her. Was it just because I gave Vivian a ride? Nothing else. I'd never cheated on Ella. I wasn't afraid of questions, but not mid-meeting when I was fried. Over some imagined bullshit? Maybe because she saw me pick upVivian? That could be it. She was bored enough to walk a mile to the pharmacy at dawn.
"You know what Vivian said to me?" Ella panted hard, words broken. "She... she..."
No time or energy for her rambling. Probably just a spat with Vivian. We could talk tonight. Did she have to drag me in now to play judge?
I'd muted, but the shareholders' arguments buzzed in my wireless earbuds, throbbing my temples. Billions in resources on the line, and I was stuck mediating two women's bullshit. How the hell to explain this mess?
I pressed my brow hard and walked straight to Ella.
I'd given her my limited time and patience. That showed my favoritism.
"I don't care what happened between you two," I said, keeping it gentle, staring at her. "Just leave for now."
My words worked like magic.
Panic faded from her face under my gaze. She went utterly still, like a sea flattened after a storm, no ripples left.
But that emptiness unsettled me. Did I say something wrong?
Heels clicked behind me.
"I'll leave, too..." Vivian cut in, bad timing.
"Wait!" I blurted.
I needed Vivian for work to crush those assholes trying to carve up Rockefeller profits. She could pull data remotely, fast, and back me up in the meeting.
