Chapter 8 Drawn to You

THE MORNING came so fast even when Lena could barely sleep. The sun was rising when she got off the bed and opened the sliding door to the balcony. She hugged herself, watching the sunrise.

Her encounter last night with Lucian kept her awake and bothered. They both have unfinished business with each other, feelings, or maybe closure.

Well, does a one-night stand need closure?

When her daughter woke up, they bathed together before they went downstairs. The long mahogany table rested in the middle of the spacious dining hall. Maids are moving around, preparing the table.

Lena remembered the first time she tried to prepare breakfast, and she doesn't want another misunderstanding with the people in the house she doesn't own.

"Good morning." Viktor entered the dining hall after them. He immediately kissed Lena's cheeks and it was witnessed by the maids, Angel, and Lucian who just entered.

Magdalena looked away swallowed hard before she helped Angel sit on the dining chair. Everyone was silent. The only noise that overpowered the deafening silence was when Lucian dragged the chair recklessly and sat on it, dropping his body on the chair like he carries the world early in the morning.

Lena was stiff and Angel was so quiet. Viktor was at the head of the table, in front of him was a coffee and bread toast. While sitting with a darkened aura in front of Lena was Lucian. He was lazily munching the bread toast.

Lena sipped on her coffee before she looked at Viktor. "Viktor..."

He dropped his iPad and looked at her. "Hm?"

"I want to work."

"Work?"

A deafening silence once again. Lena fixed her eyes on Viktor, not wanting to see a bit of Lucian's expression.

She nodded. "Yes. I don't wanna sit around all day and do nothing. I want to work. For myself. For Angel's future."

Viktor took a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair. His eyes on Lena were serious and controlled. "You don't have to work, Lena. I will provide for you and Angel."

"But..."

"You're going to be my wife soon. You'll have everything you need, so working is not necessary."

Lucian's audible laugh seemed to have offended Viktor. He turned to his son. "Something funny, Lucian?"

The stubborn man just grinned.

Lena swallowed hard and looked at Viktor again. "That's the problem, Viktor. I don't want to hand down my responsibilities to you. Angel is my daughter, and even if we get married next year, I still want to provide for my daughter."

"Lena.."

"I want to be a deserving wife." Lena chewed her bottom lip. "Not just a decoration."

"How noble," Lucian's audible remark was sarcastic and like a poison to Lena. She felt the pain in her heart, searing and uncontrollable.

Lena shifted her gaze to Lucian and shot him glares, but the stubborn college man just smirked at her while his eyes were blazing with both rage and desire.

Lena's courage was tested once again because of the way he looks at her. She looked away, keeping her gaze from Lucian.

"Alright..."

Lena's attention was stolen by Viktor. "Really?"

She was relieved.

Viktor slowly nodded. "I understand what you want, Lena. Dignity. I won't take it from you. Work for me. Be my secretary, then."

Lena's lips parted. "H-Huh?"

That was unexpected.

Viktor sipped on his coffee, staring into her eyes. "Work for me, Lena. You're smart, organized, and trustworthy. You could be my secretary."

"In your...law firm?"

"Yes."

"But..." Lena sucked her breath. "I don't know anything about being a secretary."

"Let's put it this way..." Viktor held her hand. "You need a job, I need an employee. This will benefit us both, Lena. You don't have to work for someone else. You'd be close by. And your working hours can be flexible."

Lucian chuckled again, slow and humorless. Like it was meant to offend someone, and Lena was indeed offended. "What a convenient setup. Secretary by day, wife by night."

"Shut your mouth, Lucian!" Viktor's voice was deep and dangerous.

"Why don't you just put a tag on your forehead? Magdalena Mendoza: Professional Wife. That would surely make a great impression."

"I said keep your opinion to yourself, Lucian!" Viktor's voice raised.

Magdalena inhaled sharply. The pain of Lucian's words lingered like a double edge knife. It cut through Lena's throat and heart.

Lucian dropped his utensils in a rude manner as he pulled himself up. The impact of the fallen chair echoed in the whole dining hall, startling not only Lena but also the maids.

Lucian's eyes were bloodshot as his jaws constantly clenched.

"Where are you going?"

Lucian smirked. "Out. This stage play is suffocating, and I hate bad theater."

The trail of tension Lucian left as he walked out of the dining room lingered, haunting Lena like a horror movie.

Viktor sighed. "I'm sorry about him. He's always like that. Rude, arrogant, and self-centered."

Lena just swallowed hard and nodded. She glanced at Angel. The little girl was watching, and there was confusion in her eyes.

"Eat some more..." Lena coaxed her daughter, forcing a smile.

"Lena..." Viktor stole her attention. His eyes were now softer. "I'm not against you working. But you have to consider my favors too. I want to make our relationship work, and this might be the starting point."

"I understand." Lena nodded. "But can I at least try in some companies? If I fail, I promise I'll accept your offer."

Viktor stared at her for a series of seconds before he finally nodded, agreeing. "Okay, fine. Let's do that. But if it gets hard, you can always come to my office."

"Yes, I understand."

"Eat some more." Viktor put a bread toast on her plate.

"Thanks." She nodded and forced a smile, but her appetite was long gone. Her eyes drifted to the dining entrance where Lucian disappeared to.

This feels like a battle of heart and mind. Lena was torn. She doesn't know where to turn. Does she have to continue to the path where her mind was leading her to, or she should take a turn to where her heart was screaming to be?