Page 89 of A Win-Win Situation

And then, yesterday, I tried to get her to go for lunch with me, but she dismissed me with the excuse that she was swamped with work.

As I sit down at my desk, trying to focus on work, my mind keeps wandering back to Leora. I can't stop thinking about her and what I can do to make things right between us. I know that I need to apologize, but I also know that it may not be enough.

To make matters worse, Louis Grimaldi has been out of the country, so I haven’t been able to have a meeting with him yet. I won't get that chance either, as he returns just two days before the opening. According to Estelle, Marc Duval is leaning towardsvoting for me, which means I might have enough people for a majority vote in my favor. It’s keeping me up at night. I can’t afford to fail.

After a few hours of work, I decide to take a break and head to the cafeteria in the building to grab a sandwich, hoping to clear my mind. Just as I’m about to sit down at a table, I see Leora walking in.

Her eyes land on me, hesitating for a moment before walking over, probably to keep up the charade of our happy marriage.

"Hey," I say, probably a bit too excitedly.

"Hey." Her voice is low and guarded.

"Please, have a seat." I gesture to the chair in front of me.

"Oh, I have to get back to Camille and Simon."

Of course she does.

I try to mask my disappointment, but she must see right through me. "Maybe another time?"

She nods before looking around, catching a few of our colleagues watching us. I think that’s the only reason she leans down to give me a peck on my cheek before walking away.

I watch her go, wishing I could just talk to her and clear the air between us.

"Trouble in paradise?" Liam’s voice interrupts my thoughts and I jump a little in my seat. I look up to see him standing over me, a teasing smirk on his face. He’s wearing his usual office-wear: jeans, a t-shirt, and a leather jacket instead of a blazer. He’s never been one to follow the rules of proper office attire.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Don't play dumb," he says, sitting down across from me. "It's obvious that something's up between you and Leora. You two have been avoiding each other like the plague."

Is it that obvious?

"You don’t know what you’re talking about."

He sizes me up with a dumbfounded look, his eyes searching for the truth in my words, but I can see the doubt lingering there.

"Lucas, I’m your brother. I know when something is up."

I let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the situation. I don’t want to involve him, but it might be the desperation that makes me speak up. "Things have been a bit tense since Paris," I admit.

"And what happened exactly?" Liam’s eyebrow shoots up his forehead as he leans in, clearly curious.

I hesitate for a moment before speaking. "We had a little argument." Not exactly the truth, but it’s as much as I’m willing to give. His eyebrows furrow as if he doesn’t quite understand.

"I didn’t handle it the best, and I don't know how to fix things."

Not the whole truth, but close enough.

Liam nods thoughtfully. "Well, maybe you should try talking to her about it. Tell her how you feel and try to work things out."

I nod. "I know, but every time I try, she finds ways to distance herself and avoid me—even at home."

"Why do you give her the opportunity to avoid you? Don’ttryto talk to her.If you’re the reason why she’s hurt, then you better be the reason why she’s happy again. You have to be more assertive.Talkto her, Lucas."

"What if she doesn’t want me to?"

He smiles at me and shakes his head. "Man, I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Believe me, she wants you to."

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