Mine ( Vox X Reader )

Chapter 9

''ah, yeah, Valentino, I'm coming—just a few more minutes,'' he muttered, hanging up and sighing as he stared at his computer screens. It had been days since the last time he had seen Y/n. He had been searching for any clue about who might have destroyed her collection, but there was nothing. He reached for another cup of coffee—probably his tenth or eleventh of the day.

He pulled a cigar from his drawer and lit it, staring up at the ceiling. "Shit... who could it be? We had cameras everywhere!" He tapped his claws against the desk in frustration.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen and smiled brightly when he saw the caller ID: ''Darling.''

''Hiii, Vox!!'' Her voice was full of bright, infectious joy.

''Hi, Darling. Why are you calling?'' he asked, taking a puff of his cigar.

''I can't call you for no reason?'' she teased.

He rolled his eyes and let out a small groan. She chuckled warmly.

''Of course you can,'' he admitted with a soft smile.

''I know, I'm messing with you. I called because I wanted to tell you that in three days, we're going out,'' she said.

His eyebrows shot up, and he almost choked on his cigar in surprise.

''You... are taking me on a date?'' he asked, unsure.

''Yeah, I'm taking you on a date! Be ready Friday at 5 p.m.!'' she said, hanging up before he could even answer.

Vox stared at the phone for a moment, then slowly got up and started pacing and dancing around the room. ''I'm going on a date with Y/n! I'm going on a date with...''

The door opened, and Valentino stood there, stunned by the scene in front of him. Their eyes met before Vox cleared his throat a few times and straightened his suit.

''I'm ready to go to the meeting,'' he said, walking past Valentino as if nothing had happened.

'He's going on a date with Y/n...? Interesting,' Valentino thought, a smirk playing on his lips.

He followed behind Vox, cigar in hand, red smoke curling from his lips. ''So... you're going on a date with Y/n? I guess that doesn't surprise me after the kiss you had with her,'' he said, trying to hide how mad he really was.

Vox shot him a death glare. ''Why does that concern you?'' he asked, one hand resting casually in his pocket.

Since you told me there was nothing between you and her..." Vox clicked his tongue.

''There's nothing... it was just a strategy for business. And it still is,'' he exhaled, trying to convince himself. It was only business. He wasn't attracted to her. Yet, his chest ached slightly as he said it. Why? He wasn't the type to feel like this... it was just business, a pure strategy. He couldn't let himself fall into these kinds of feelings.

He walked faster, deliberately cutting the conversation short. Each step echoed his impatience, the weight of his thoughts pressing heavier with every pace. As he reached the table, he settled into his chair with a controlled sigh, straightening his posture but unable to hide the tightness in his shoulders.

His eyes scanned the room, taking in the faces around the table. Employees discussing matters he barely cared to follow, their voices blending into a dull hum in his ears. The clock on the wall seemed to mock him, its hands crawling at a maddening pace. He already felt the meeting stretching endlessly before him, hours of forced attention and meaningless chatter.

Every subtle movement, every polite nod and fabricated smile from those around him grated against his nerves. He knew he should focus, that this was important business, but his mind kept wandering to other things—far more pressing in his heart than the trivialities being discussed here. A sense of restlessness grew inside him, coiling like electricity in his chest, making him wish he could simply disappear.