Devious Her

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The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I stirred slightly, still half asleep, and instinctively reached out, only to find the other side of the bed empty. The sheets were cool to the touch, a sign that Lucius had been gone for some time. Propping myself up on my elbows, I glanced around the room, my eyes searching for any sign of him.

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and Lucius stepped inside, his face contorted with anger. He was on the phone, his voice low but intense.

"I don't care about your excuses," Lucius snapped, his tone sharp enough to cut through the early morning quiet. "This is unacceptable, and I expect it to be fixed immediately. Do you understand?"

There was a brief pause as the person on the other end of the line stammered out a response, but Lucius wasn't having it.

"I don't want to hear any more excuses. Just get it done. Now." With that, he hung up, his hand gripping the phone so tightly that his knuckles were white.

I sat up fully, my concern evident as I watched him. "Is everything alright?" I asked, my voice soft, hoping to diffuse some of the tension in the room.

Lucius rubbed his forehead and sighed, the anger slowly melting away. "Yeah, it's all good," he said, though his tone was less convincing. "Just a little issue at the company, but it'll be sorted out in no time. Nothing for you to worry about."

I nodded, still feeling a bit uneasy but trusting that he had it under control. Lucius was always so composed, so in charge, but seeing him like this reminded me that even he wasn't immune to stress.

"Why don't you go freshen up?" he suggested, his voice gentler now. "What would you like for breakfast?"

The thought of food instantly brightened my mood, and I couldn't help but smile. "Pancakes with chocolate sauce and strawberries," I replied without hesitation.

Lucius nodded, his lips twitching into a small smile. "Delivered to the room, or should we head down to the food court?"

"Let's go to the food court," I decided, eager to see more of the hotel.

"Alright, sounds good. Wear something comfortable," he called after me as I headed to the bathroom.

"Okay!" I called back, my voice echoing slightly in the bathroom as I shut the door behind me.

I reluctantly finished up and stepped out, wrapping myself in a soft, fluffy towel.

I rummaged through my suitcase, pulling out a simple yet beautiful summer dress. It was a pale yellow, the kind of colour that complemented the warmth of the season. The dress was light and airy, with thin straps and a skirt that flowed just above my knees. It was perfect for a day like today—comfortable yet pretty, casual yet effortlessly elegant.

As I was about to step out of the bathroom, I heard Lucius's voice again. Curiosity got the better of me, and I paused, staying hidden just out of sight.

"Yes, it's all good. She's fine too," I heard him say, his voice softer now, almost reassuring. There was a pause, and I peeked around the corner just in time to see him turn slightly, as if he sensed my presence. I quickly ducked back behind the wall, my heart racing.

"Yes, don't worry," Lucius continued, his tone shifting to something more confident. "I know what I'm doing."

What does he mean by that? I wondered, feeling a strange mix of emotions. A part of me wanted to confront him, to ask what he was talking about, but another part of me was hesitant. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I was overthinking things.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to let it go, at least for now. I stepped out from behind the wall and walked over to Lucius, forcing a smile. "Ready to go?"

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Lucius turned to me, his eyes scanning my outfit before he nodded approvingly. "You look beautiful," he said, his voice warm. He opened the door for me, his brow raising slightly as if he sensed something was off. But he didn't press the issue, and for that, I was grateful.

As we made our way to the food court, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his earlier conversation than he was letting on. But I pushed those thoughts aside as we entered the food court, my eyes widening in amazement.

The food court was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was grand, almost palatial, with high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers. The walls were lined with marble, and the floors were polished to a mirror-like finish. There were rows upon rows of food stations, each one offering a different cuisine. It was like a food lover's paradise.

I couldn't help myself—I practically ran towards the food, my excitement bubbling over. There were stacks of pancakes, waffles, and crepes drizzled with every topping imaginable. Fresh fruits were arranged in colourful displays, and there were stations serving eggs, bacon, sausages.. Pastries of all kinds—croissants, muffins, Danishes—were piled high, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.

Lucius laughed as he followed me, clearly amused by my enthusiasm. A hotel staff member approached us and escorted us to a table, and I thanked him with a smile as I sat down.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I asked between bites of my pancakes, which were even better than I had imagined.

Lucius smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Something you've been looking forward to."

I paused, a forkful of pancake halfway to my mouth. "The aquarium!" I blurted out, a little too loudly.

Heads turned, and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I quickly ducked my head, murmuring apologies as I focused intently on my plate. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lucius chuckling, clearly enjoying my mortification.

"Stop laughing," I muttered, kicking him lightly under the table.

He just grinned, taking a sip of his coffee. "You're adorable when you're flustered."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. Despite the awkward moment, I was genuinely excited. I had always loved aquariums, and the thought of spending the day surrounded by marine life was enough to make me forget about everything else.

After breakfast, we headed down to the lobby where Lucius's car was waiting. The valet handed Lucius his car keys with a respectful nod, and we climbed into the sleek, black sedan.

The drive to the aquarium was pleasant, the city slowly waking up around us. I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building inside me, my earlier concerns about Lucius's phone call fading into the background.

When we finally arrived at the aquarium, I was practically bouncing with excitement. The building itself was impressive, with large, glass walls that allowed glimpses of the aquatic wonders inside.

Lucius parked the car, and we made our way inside, the cool air of the aquarium a welcome relief from the summer heat. The entrance led us into a massive atrium, with a giant tank that stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with colourful fish and coral.

"Oh wow," I breathed, my eyes wide as I took it all in. I felt like a kid again, completely mesmerized by the vibrant underwater world in front of me.

We started our journey through the aquarium, moving from one exhibit to the next. There were tanks filled with jellyfish that glowed with an otherworldly light, seahorses that bobbed gently in the water, and schools of fish that moved in perfect harmony. Each display was more captivating than the last, and I found myself completely absorbed in the experience.

At one point, we passed a group of school kids on a field trip. They were chattering excitedly, pointing at the fish and asking their teacher a million questions. One of the kids, a little girl with pigtails, suddenly turned to us and asked, "Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?"

I felt my face flush, completely caught off guard. "Oh, um, no—" I began, but at the same time, Lucius said, "Yes."

We both looked at each other, surprised by our conflicting answers. The kids giggled at our reaction, and before I could say anything more, their teacher called them away.

I turned to Lucius, still a bit flustered. "Why did you say that?"

He shrugged, a teasing smile playing at his lips. "Why not? It's not like it's that far-fetched."

I opened my mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped me. There was something there, something that made my heart skip a beat. I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded and continued walking, hoping he didn't notice how fast my heart was beating.

As we continued through the aquarium, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. The playful banter, the lingering touches—it all felt different now, charged with an undercurrent of something more.

Lucius held my hand as we walked, and I couldn't help but notice how natural it felt. We wandered through the exhibits, stopping to admire the different sea creatures, from the majestic sea turtles to the playful otters.

At one point, we found ourselves in front of a large tank filled with sharks. Lucius was completely engrossed, his eyes fixed on the sleek predators as they glided through the water.

I smiled, amused by his fascination, but when I turned to say something, I realized he wasn't beside me anymore. Panic surged through me as I looked around, my heart pounding in my chest. Where did he go?

I finally spotted him a few feet away, admiring the relationship between a small girl who was standing with her mother, counting the fish in a nearby tank. The little girl's hand was wrapped tightly around her mother's, and the sight made something twist painfully in my chest.

For a moment, I just stood there, watching them. The little girl's voice was soft as she counted, and her mother smiled down at her, encouraging her to keep going. It was such a simple, tender moment, but it made me ache with longing. I blinked back the sudden tears that threatened to spill over, my emotions catching me off guard.

I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to find Lucius standing there, his expression soft and understanding.

"Hey," he said quietly, his voice full of concern. "Are you okay?"

I gave him a sad smile, nodding slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...brings back a lot of memories."

He didn't say anything for a moment, just looked at me with those piercing emerald green eyes of his, as if he could see right through me.

"I know it's hard," he said softly, his hand gently squeezing my shoulder. "But remember, just because she's not here physically doesn't mean she's not with you. Her soul is still with you, in everything you do."

His words hit me right in the heart, and before I knew it, I was hugging him, my arms wrapped tightly around his waist. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice muffled against his chest. "For everything."

Lucius stroked my hair gently, his touch soothing. "You don't have to thank me, Camilla. I'm here for you, always."

We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other. It felt safe, comforting, like I wasn't alone in this. When we finally pulled away, Lucius gave me a small smile and took my hand again.

"Come on," he said, his voice lightening. "Let's go see what else this place has to offer."

We spent the rest of the day exploring the aquarium, and by the time we left, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the city. It had been a day full of emotions, but as I climbed into the car with Lucius, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace.

He had a way of making everything seem okay, even when it wasn't, and I was grateful for that. As we drove back to the hotel, the city lights twinkling around us, I felt a warmth spread through me, and I realized that maybe, just maybe, things were going to be okay after all.

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