Breaking Her Resolve

Chapter Forty Three

Seline was dumbfounded by Lucas's reaction. She had warned him earlier about the news but her warning seemingly fell into deaf ears.
The lingering crowd had turned to face them on his little outburst and she did not want to create a scene that would end up in the evening news for the second time that day. She was sure the journalists would have a field day with a recording of her arguing with Lucas.

"Come into my office and let's talk about it," she said to him, pleading with her eyes for him to comply.

He knew how to read her after all these years and he nodded to the suggestion and followed her to her office.

Seline shut the door behind them as Lucas turned to face her, Pain, anger and betrayal evident on his face.

"This is what you were warning me about? You in Reynold's arms last night?" He asked in a hurt disbelieving tone.

Seline had seen him get angry before, but it was nothing compared to how he was at that moment. He felt betrayed by her and she understood.

"I wasn't warning you, I was informing you not to buy into that crap," she retorted.

"This is not the time to act coy with me Seline," he scorned at her.

"I'm not playing! I swear Lucas, I think someone set me up to look like Rey and I were lovers at that gala!" She defended.

"Oh so now he is back to being "Rey" when you've never even called me Luke before!" he nearly screamed throwing his hands in the air exasperatedly.
"And how sure am I that you aren't? You dated him for years Seline and you kept it from me until recently! He even proposed to you and you said yes, something you've never done with me despite the numerous times I've asked!" he busted.

"Don't you dare use my past against me Lucas!"

"Why not? You would probably be married to him right now if it wasn't for the union set by his father to the journalist. Tell me, you don't think about it that way. Tell me that at the back of your mind you still don't think that you were meant for each other." he challenged her with squinted eyes.

"Enough!!" she eyes him levelly before walking away to her window and staring out, tears at the brink of her eyes.

She folded her hands to her chest, shuddering from the cold breeze of the afternoon despite windows being shut close.

"I have worked so hard for this position to be reduced to some mistress of a billionaire. I only owe you the truth Lucas and the truth is someone set me up to embarrass and defame me! I have looked at it from every angle possible. Frankly I have no feelings for Reynold." She confessed not sure if she believed it herself, only that she couldn't loose Lucas.
"Whether you choose to believe me or not is entirely up to you." she finished ,wiping away the tears from her cheeks.

She stared into the city, listening to the light traffic below, not wanting to turn around and face him. She was almost sure that he would understand her and not judge her like everyone else was but was afraid his rejection would break her in ways nobody else could.

He walked towards her and stood behind her, his hands dipped into his pockets. She inhaled his cologne mixed with masculinity and tight emotions. They were so close...yet so far.

The window reflected the beautiful painting of the broken mirror which hung at her office as a gift from Lucas all those years ago. It was just the two of them and a painting telling a different story this time, the happiness in the past and chaos at present just like the girl in the canvas.

"Seline, I have no doubt in my mind that you are innocent in all this. I am just worried that if HE keeps luring you back to him you might eventually give in." not even wanting to mention his name.

"Yes I am jealous and angry because I have been constantly fighting for you to have you all to myself, and I cannot continue to do so until you decide whom you want to fight for.
You know I would give you the world if you asked me to, but you'll never ask." He felt a knot on his throat. "Just so you know... it took him fourteen years to realize his love for you what took me five minutes from the very first time I laid my eyes on you." He continued with tears streaming down his face.
"He just begun to realise your stance on standing up for yourself and recognizing your worth. You see he didn't know how to handle your flame so he let you burn out." His voice was raw and raspy.

He removed one hand from his pocket and touched her arm.

"Fix this, I know you can. And after your done, let me know where we stand." He placed a kiss on her cheek and turned to quietly leave the room. He got to the door and looked at her form before closing it and disappearing.

Seline broke down in tears, she might as well have let the best thing that happened to her walk out through that door.

She sobbed hysterically.

She walked to her couch and pulled her feet to her chest, tears falling uncontrollably to her cheeks.

Alana walked in and saw her in that state and it broke her heart.

"Seline what's wrong?she asked sitting next to her.

"It's Lucas, he's gone." she said in between sobs.

"Oh honey, he'll come back, I'm sure he is just angry." she said to console her.

"I'm not so sure he is coming back,"

Alana pulled her in for a hug, fairly uncertain if the words are going to help her now. They stayed like that for a while before they heard a knock on the door.

"Should I chase them away?" asked Alana.

"No it might be important, let me go freshen up."

She walked into her en-suite bathroom and washed her tear strained face.

She removed her shirt which had been soaked by the flow of tears and reached out to her drawer for an extra shirt.

Her eyes looked puffy but she could always hide that with her reading glasses. Alana called out from behind the Door "Seline, it's Meghan, she's here to see you about damage control." she said referring to her publicist.

"I'll be right out." she answered her.

"I'll be okay, we'll be okay, I will fix this. I have to. You have never met a mountain that you can't move, and this is no different," she said to her reflection on the bathroom mirror.

Taking a deep breathe ready to slay her monsters, she opened the door and walked out. With her chin up and her head held high.