Assigned Bride [Unrequited Love]

7

Katherine was seated at her desk, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she tried to drown out the thoughts of Francesco's absence. Ever since he'd left for his business trip, the office had felt a little colder, a little quieter. She kept herself busy, filling the silence with work, but it only made her more aware of how much she had come to rely on his presence-not just as her boss, but as someone whose moods she'd learned to anticipate, whose demands she'd learned to meet.

Just as she was starting to get into the flow of her work, the office door creaked open. Katherine looked up to see Mason strolling in, all confidence and charm, a wide smile plastered across his face. He greeted her with a casual wave, as though nothing had happened between him, Francesco, and Emily. As though everything was fine.

"Hey, Katherine!" Mason said brightly, his tone overly cheerful. "Long time, no see. Is Francesco in?"

Katherine's eyes narrowed, barely hiding her distaste. She didn't know why Mason was here, Still, she forced a polite smile. "He's on a business trip, actually. Won't be back for a while."

Mason raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Really? Ah, too bad. I was hoping to catch up with him." He sighed dramatically and then, without missing a beat, leaned against the doorframe, flashing her one of those easygoing, charming smiles that she was sure had worked on plenty of people before. "Anyway, since he's not here... I was actually wondering if you'd like to come to my film premiere tonight?"

Katherine bristled at the invitation. His nonchalance about Francesco's absence made her stomach twist with anger. How could he stand there, acting so polite and charming, when he'd betrayed Francesco so deeply?

She smiled tightly. "Thank you, but I'll pass. I have a lot of work to catch up on."

Mason chuckled as if he didn't even notice her irritation. "Ah, come on, Katherine. You work too hard. I'm sure Francesco's not that demanding, right?" He leaned in slightly as if sharing a secret. "I've always wondered how you manage to work with him for so long. The guy can be... intense." He grinned, making light of it.

Katherine's irritation flared. She knew Francesco had a reputation for being ruthless, but he was more than just his business persona. He was fair, responsible, and loyal-qualities Mason seemed to overlook completely. The way Mason spoke about Francesco as if he were some cold, difficult man, grated on her nerves.

"Mason," she said, her voice tight, "My boss might come across as strict, but he's a good man. He takes his responsibilities seriously, and that's what makes him successful. He's not some heartless tyrant." She gave him a pointed look, her message clear: *You don't know him like I do.*

Mason raised his hands in surrender, still smiling, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "Whoa, easy there. I didn't mean anything by it. He is my friend, I just know how hard it can be to work under someone like Francesco. He's... intense, you know?" He shifted slightly, his voice softening as he tried to play the role of the concerned, good-natured friend. "But I get it. He's not a bad guy. I've known him for years, and I've seen the way he operates. He's just... driven. Can't fault the guy for that, right?"

Katherine bit back the sharp retort on her tongue. She couldn't stand the hypocrisy in his tone, the way he spoke about Francesco as though they were still the best of friends, as if he hadn't stabbed him in the back. Mason might have a charming exterior-polite, respectful, and every bit the "nice guy"-but she wasn't fooled.

"Francesco is more than just 'driven,'" Katherine said, her voice steady but firm. "He's loyal. He's someone who values honesty and trust. He doesn't play games with people's feelings." Her gaze lingered on Mason for a moment, her words heavy with meaning.