𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲

connecting dots

I instantly notice something that resembles fear breaking into his tight features. I have never seen Lukas afraid before, and I never really thought fear was in him either. But after seeing the impact that my sentence had on him, I think this will be the closest I ever get to seeing him afraid.

"What exactly is that?" he asks. His tone comes off calculated, but I can tell he is still open to talking about the situation.

What I say in this moment will determine our future together. I'm not sure how to break the truth to him, but what I do know is that if we never talk about this, if I keep my own secrets too, nothing will ever work out for us.

I don't realize that I'm holding my breath, but when I release it, a short breathy sigh escapes. I turn towards Lukas to see his jaw clenched tight. There's something deep and chilling in his eyes, and I'm not sure what is causing it yet.

"When I started working at Ultimatum, my trainer Evan and I were discussing how the leadership was set up at Ultimatum," I take a deep breath, looking away from him for a while, "I thought it was a bit sketchy that only family members were in control of high up positions that handled large sums of money."

I proceed and explain further, more calculated, "Plus, Anthony and Micheal are in control of the highest seats that are below your chair." I look over at him, and his eyes are dead set on mine. He doesn't stop my focus, doesn't interrupt once.

My nervousness starts to strike up watching the intensity in his eyes, "A few months after that, I walked in on you scolding Anthony and Michael. It was the first time I ever met the two of them. The last bit that I heard was about them missing shipments of some sort, but I thought that was unusual too because CEO's don't control or keep track of shipments in hotel or travel inventory"

I continue connecting dots, remembering every detail and encounter, "After that I stopped asking why, and started wondering what type of shipments you were referring to in the first place."

As the pieces start to come together I can see the anxiety that starts to unravel under the stone cold expression that is set on Lukas' face, but still he lies across from me and faces my truth.

He continues to listen without speaking a word, "After that night at the pool, I noticed that transactions were missing and that money was sort of just getting lost, but I knew... something deep inside of me told me that you knew what was going on." I look up at him to confirm my suspicions, and Lukas nods his head in agreement, acknowledging that I am right.

A breath of relief -but also fear- cuts through my lips. I'm relieved to know that my thoughts were correct but fearful of what it might mean for me- for us."The last day that I was in the office, I got a little too curious." I gulp and look down at my empty hands recalling the view of a bloodied, tortured Micheal with soulless eyes. "I found a key in a plant pot, went downstairs, and saw some sort of dungeon-like place appearing to be built to hold prisoners of some sort."

I look at him then, "After thinking about what you said about you being dangerous to be around in the pool that night, I knew who you were." I clench my fists under the blanket, scared shitless of what I'm about to say.

Lukas and I are the most vulnerable we have ever been with each other. His secrets laid out before me, and my naked truth cutting through his walls. "I knew you had something to do with it. I knew you beat Micheal almost to death after I told you what happened between Michael and I."