Lucy stood at the door for a long time.
Her hand rested on the handle, but she didn't push it.
Inside, she could hear them.
Men talking. Laughing lightly. Voices filled with authority.
People who didn't need to raise their voices to be heard.
Her heart was beating faster than usual.
"I'll just go in… listen… and leave," she whispered to herself.
She took a small breath.
Then slowly pushed the door open.
The room fell silent.
Every head turned.
Lucy froze for a second under their gaze.
So many eyes.
Sharp. Judging. Unwelcoming.
Still, she stepped in.
Carefully.
"Good morning," she said softly.
No one answered.
A man sitting at the far end leaned back in his chair, looking at her like she didn't belong there.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
Lucy swallowed slightly.
"My name is Lucy."
Another man chuckled.
"That's not what he asked you."
A few low laughs followed.
Lucy felt it immediately.
That pressure.
That heat rising in her chest.
"I came on Adrian's behalf," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
That made it worse.
"On his behalf?" one of them repeated with amusement.
More laughter.
"Adrian sends a girl now?" another added.
Lucy's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
"He's not well," she said.
"So I came to—"
"To do what?" someone cut in.
The laughter grew louder.
"Negotiate?"
"Speak for him?"
"Or just stand there and look pretty?"
Lucy's chest tightened.
She tried to stay calm.
Tried to ignore it.
"I didn't come to replace him," she said quietly.
"I just came to help."
"Help?" one man repeated, almost mocking the word.
"You?" another added.
"Help in a room like this?"
Lucy's jaw tightened.
"You don't belong here," the older man said flatly.
That one hit deeper than the others.
For a second—
She looked down.
Then back up.
Her eyes had changed.
"I didn't say I belong here," she said.
The room went slightly quieter.
"But none of you said I wasn't allowed to be here either."
A few men exchanged looks.
"Oh, she talks now," one of them said with a smirk.
Lucy took a step forward.
"At least I'm talking with sense," she replied.
That shifted things.
The smiles faded.
"You should be careful how you speak," one man warned.
Lucy let out a small breath.
"I've been careful," she said.
"And all I've heard since I walked in is disrespect."
Silence.
"So yes," she added, her voice firmer now,
"I'll speak how I want."
That did it.
"You're rude," one man said sharply.
Lucy laughed lightly.
Not out of humor.
Out of frustration.
"And you're not?" she shot back.
The room grew tense.
"Watch your tone," another warned.
"Then watch yours first," Lucy replied immediately.
Now it wasn't mockery anymore.
It was confrontation.
Before anything else could happen—
The door opened.
Silence dropped instantly.
Adrian walked in.
Slow.
Controlled.
Even with the hidden injury—
Nothing about him looked weak.
Everything in the room shifted.
Respect replaced tension.
Lucy turned immediately.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked softly.
Adrian didn't answer her.
His gaze moved across the room.
Cold.
Sharp.
One of the men spoke quickly.
"Good, you're here."
Another added,
"You should hear how rude she's been."
"She came in here and started talking like she owns the place."
"You need to punish her."
The words hung in the air.
Lucy stood there.
Her eyes filled slowly with tears.
But she didn't look down.
Adrian finally looked at her.
For a second—
He said nothing.
When will she learn how to defend herself in public… he thought.
She only fights me… she only has words when it's me.
His gaze stayed on her for a moment longer.
Then he turned back to the men.
"She won't be punished," he said calmly.
Silence.
"What?" one of them asked.
"You heard me," Adrian replied.
The older man leaned forward.
"If you don't handle this properly, we end this contract."
A pause.
Heavy.
Adrian didn't react immediately.
Then—
He spoke.
"Then end it."
That shocked them.
"And before you do," he continued,
"you should be the ones getting punished."
The room froze.
"For disrespecting my wife."
Silence.
Real silence this time.
Even Lucy was shocked.
Her eyes moved to him slowly.
"Your… wife?" one man repeated.
Another frowned.
"When did that happen?"
"Where?"
"Why didn't we know?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Instead, he turned slightly.
"Take her home," he said to one of his men.
Lucy immediately shook her head.
"No."
Adrian looked at her.
"You're injured," she said quickly.
"The doctor said you shouldn't be doing anything."
A small pause.
Adrian's eyes stayed on hers.
"You only have enough power to talk when it comes to me," he said quietly.
Lucy froze.
Then he looked away.
"Take her home," he repeated.
The guard stepped forward.
Lucy stood there for a second.
Looking at Adrian.
Then slowly—
She turned.
And walked away.