Written In The Stars

Chapter 14: Shadows of the morning

The morning sun filtered through the slats of the blinds, casting golden stripes across Emma’s room. She lay in bed, blinking away the last remnants of sleep, and as her mind began to clear, the memories of last night returned in a rush. The warmth of Lucas’s touch, the whispered conversations that deepened into uncharted territory, and the shared laughter that felt more intimate than anything she had experienced before.

Emma turned her head, taking in the sight of Lucas beside her. His hair was an artful mess, tousled by their night together, and his face had a softness that she rarely saw. He looked at peace, the furrows that usually marked his brow smoothed out. Her heart swelled at the sight, but the bubble of warmth was punctured by a sharp jab of uncertainty. What did last night mean? Were they starting something real, or was it just a moment suspended outside the reality of their lives?

Before she could let doubt take root, Lucas stirred, his eyes fluttering open to meet hers. A slow, lazy smile spread across his face, and Emma couldn’t help but smile back, the tension in her chest loosening just a little.

“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice a mix of rough edges and lingering affection.

“Morning,” she whispered, the word filled with more emotions than she could express. They lay in silence for a moment, letting the stillness stretch between them. Lucas reached out, tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek. His touch was gentle, but it lit a spark under her skin.

“Last night,” he began, searching her eyes as if for confirmation, “it wasn’t just a moment for me, Emma.”

Her heart jumped, relief washing over her. “I know,” she said, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “It felt… right.”

Lucas exhaled, a grin breaking through the seriousness of his gaze. He leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, and for a brief second, they shared a breath, a heartbeat, a promise that neither spoke aloud. The world outside her room ceased to exist.

Then Emma’s phone buzzed, the sound shattering the peaceful cocoon around them. She flinched, glancing at the screen on her bedside table. The name of her best friend, Lila, glowed with urgency, and the preview message made her heart stutter: “You won’t believe what’s happening at the magazine today. Call me ASAP.”

Lucas’s brows knitted as he registered her shift in focus. Before Emma could explain, his own phone chimed from where it sat on the dresser, vibrating insistently. The crease between his eyebrows deepened as he crossed the room and checked the message. Emma watched as his relaxed expression hardened into a mask of tension, the room’s warmth cooling in an instant.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, sliding out of bed and grabbing her robe. The floor was cold beneath her feet, grounding her as worry gnawed at the edge of her thoughts.

“It’s Vivian,” Lucas said, setting his phone down with a thud. His shoulders tensed as he met her eyes. “She’s at the magazine, and from what I’m hearing, she’s planning to drop some kind of exposé. She’s claiming to have stories and photos, Emma.”

Emma’s breath hitched, and she felt the blood drain from her face. The name alone—Vivian—was enough to ignite a cocktail of anxiety and anger. The last time they’d crossed paths, Vivian had made it clear she wasn’t just Lucas’s ex; she was a force of chaos wrapped in ambition and perfectly painted nails.

Emma’s phone buzzed again, and this time, it was a voice message from Lila. She pressed play, holding the phone between them.

“Emma, things are getting wild here. Vivian’s talking to the editors, saying she’s got enough to shake up the entire magazine. People are whispering about Lucas, and it’s all anyone can focus on. Be careful, okay? I’m here if you need anything.”

Lucas’s jaw clenched, and a muscle in his neck tightened as he listened. “She’s leveraging whatever she has to hurt me, and she knows exactly where to hit,” he said, frustration dripping from every word. “But this isn’t just about me. If she’s involving the magazine, she’s coming for anyone associated with me—including you.”

Emma set her phone down and stepped closer to him. The calm morning was now a distant memory, replaced by the hum of an approaching storm. But fear gave way to determination as she locked eyes with Lucas. “Then we don’t let her win,” she said firmly. “We confront her. We get ahead of this before it spirals out of control.”

Lucas looked at her, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it melted into gratitude. He reached out, pulling her into an embrace that was both protective and reassuring. “Together?” he asked, his voice softening, the hardness in his eyes easing for a moment.

“Always,” she said, squeezing him back, feeling the weight of his tension, the silent promise that whatever came next, they would face it as one.

They dressed quickly, the air thick with anticipation and unspoken words. Emma pulled on her favorite fitted blazer, the one that always made her feel powerful, while Lucas slipped into a dark shirt that accentuated the determination in his eyes. The quiet intimacy of the morning faded, replaced by the pulse of adrenaline that came with knowing they were stepping into battle.

As they left her apartment, the city outside was already buzzing with life. The sky, once a serene blue, seemed to mirror their tension, clouds gathering in the distance as if preparing for a showdown. They hailed a cab, and as it sped toward the magazine’s headquarters, Emma’s thoughts raced.

She glanced at Lucas, who sat beside her, staring out the window with a look that was both focused and haunted. She reached over, lacing her fingers through his. He turned to her, squeezing her hand without a word, but the gesture spoke volumes.

They arrived at the building, its glass façade gleaming under the light that struggled to break through the thickening clouds. The lobby was buzzing with the usual morning rush, but there was an underlying tension, a hum of whispered conversations that cut through the noise. Eyes turned to them as they stepped inside, some with curiosity, others with barely concealed anticipation.

Lila spotted them first, weaving her way through the crowd with urgency. Her eyes were wide as she reached them. “Emma, Lucas—Vivian’s in the conference room with the senior editors. They’re going through whatever she brought, and it doesn’t look good.”

Lucas’s jaw set as he nodded. “We need to go in there.”

Emma’s pulse quickened. This was it—the moment that would define whatever came next. She glanced at Lucas, his eyes locked on the path ahead, and a sense of fierce determination filled her. They had entered this storm together, and they would come out the other side, no matter how hard it raged.

With a steadying breath, she pushed open the door to the conference room, ready for whatever awaited them.