Beyond The Lie

Chapter 29: Proud Boyfriend

Eryx.

Adeline emerged with her phone, looking less than pleased. "You good?" I asked.

She approached me and showed me her phone. I read the news headline:

"ADELINE'S MELTDOWN: Eryx Valtor, Omnia's Top Investigator, Obsessive Ex Ethan and a Public Breakdown - Has Fashion's Golden Girl Lost Her Grip?"

My blood boiled at the sensationalized title. I knew how much it would affect her.

"Oh..." I trailed off, unsure of what to say next. I didn't want to make things worse.

"People are so nosy!" Adeline exclaimed.

"Yes, they are," I agreed.

"So, are you going to work?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation towards a more positive topic.

Adeline nodded. "Yes, of course. I don't want to stay here and give everyone the satisfaction of thinking I'm hiding. What did I do, anyway? It's my life, after all. Someone invaded my private space, and I reacted. Is that the big issue here?"

She smiled dryly, her voice laced with sarcasm. "And if I lose my career with Elena because of this, so be it. It's laughable how people conflate someone's personal life with their professional one. If Elena drops me from her project because I stood up for myself, then maybe it's just not meant to be."

The question had clearly affected her. Her frustration simmered just below the surface.

"Whatever, I'm going to work!" she declared, squaring her shoulders.

We had breakfast together before embarking on our journey to her office. The car came to a stop in front of her office building.

"Thanks for the ride!" she said, reaching for the door handle.

But before she could hop out, I started speaking, my voice a little rougher than I intended. "Hey, don't let this get to you," I said. "You're far better than some trashy headline.."

Adeline's expression softened, her eyes locking onto mine. The air between us thickened, heavy with unspoken emotions. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us crackling like electricity.

Then, she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you." The way she said my name sent a shiver down my spine. "That means a lot."

A pang of...something...hit me at her words. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it sparked a sudden urge to reach out and touch her, to reassure her that everything would be okay. But I restrained myself, nodding instead, my eyes locked on hers. "Anytime," I said, my voice low and even.

With that, she hopped out of the car and disappeared into her office building. I watched her go, feeling a sense of pride at the way she handled herself. But as I sat there, waiting for my mind to clear, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.

I drove to Omnia, my mind still lost in thoughts of her. Adeline's determination and strength had left me intrigued, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye.

As I stepped into the Omnia headquarters, I was greeted by the familiar hum of activity. My team was already gathered in the conference room, awaiting my arrival.

"Eryx, we've got something," Reno said, his eyes locked on mine. "We've been tracking a suspicious transaction between Grant's company and a shell company linked to Vector's operation."

I felt a spark of adrenaline ignite within me. This was the break we needed to take down Vector and bring Grant to justice.

"Let's dig deeper," I said, my voice firm. "I want to know everything about this transaction. Who's involved, what's the purpose, and how does it tie back to Vector?"

My team nodded, already on it. I knew I could count on them to uncover the truth.

***

I stepped out onto the rooftop lounge, the cool evening air a welcome respite from the tension that had been building inside me. The sound of clinking glasses and muted laughter filled the air as I made my way to the bar.

Asher, my younger brother, was already there, sipping on a drink. He caught my eye and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, bro. What's with the long face?"

I shrugged, taking a seat next to him. "Just work stuff."

Ryker, my friend and resident hacker, slid onto the stool beside me. "You liar!" Asher chimed in, his usual grin spreading across his face. "I know it's far from work. Media pressure, right?"

Ryker nodded in agreement. "I've got some info on that guy you asked me to look into. I've sent you the details."

I nodded, intrigued. "Okay, I didn't check my phone yesterday."

Asher's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh, yeah? Then what were you doing?" He smirked, clearly enjoying himself.

I rolled my eyes. "For God's sake, what's your issue, man?"

Asher smiled it off. "Siblings should share about their lives with each other!"

I shot back, "I've never considered you as one, then!"

Asher clutched his chest dramatically. "Oh, that hurt! But better luck next time. So, how's your girlfriend doing after all those... incidents?"

My heart skipped a beat as Asher mentioned Adeline as my girlfriend. For a moment, I felt a flutter in my chest, a spark of attraction that I couldn't ignore. But then reality kicked in, and I remembered the lie we'd constructed. I pushed the thoughts away, trying to maintain a neutral expression.

"She's fine. She went to work," I said simply, not wanting to reveal more.

But Asher's curiosity was piqued. "Oh, did she? Woahh! Eryx got a strong woman, ah ah!" He exclaimed, and a prideful smile started to creep onto my face.

Ryker chimed in from the other side, "You didn't introduce her to me."

Asher snickered, "He didn't plan to introduce her to us, period. It's just that we caught them red-handed at his cabin in the woods, at night, all alone."

I sighed, shaking my head. Asher would never grow up.

Ryker smiled teasingly, "Oh-oh."

I raised an eyebrow, a hint of defensiveness in my voice, "Seriously? You also?"

Ryker smiled knowingly. "I saw the headlines too. Media will eat this up until they get another juicy story. But that guy..."

I nodded in agreement.

"He's trouble!" Ryker emphasized.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards her. "She's too good for him, dude," Ryker continued. "I saw her pictures. Don't get me wrong, but she's stunning, and her career is on fire compared to that boy."

A surge of pride swelled within me, and I smiled. "True!" I agreed.

Asher chimed in, his voice laced with teasing. "Big bro is proud of his girlfriend!"

I shot Asher a glare, but he just winked. Sometimes, I hated how easily he saw through me.

"She's indeed stunning!" I agreed again, her picture popping into my mind.

Just then, my phone buzzed with an incoming message. It was from her.

I opened the message, and my expression froze.