Chapter 3 — Cracks in the Facade

Andrea

The sun dipped low over the city, its fiery hues streaking across the mirrored façade of Kelex Headquarters. I stopped on the sidewalk and stared as the glass panels reflected the sky’s brilliance, their polished surfaces betraying none of the turmoil hidden within. The building loomed behind me, imposing, unyielding—a monument to ambition. But tonight, its shadow felt heavier, like a weight pressing down on my chest.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and made my way toward the parking lot, my heels clicking rhythmically against the pavement. The soft buzz of foot traffic and distant car horns filled the air, but the city’s usual chaos only amplified the static in my head. My thoughts swirled in endless loops, replaying the day’s events.

Lex had brushed past me in the lobby earlier, his phone pressed to his ear, his gray eyes sharp but distant, like he was following some invisible thread only he could see. His tailored suit was immaculate, as always—he looked every inch the confident CEO. Yet there was something off. The way his shoulders tensed, the way his fingers pressed into the phone as if trying to anchor himself. Before the elevator doors slid shut, I noticed him glance at his Dual Watch, his expression taut, as if he were calculating something. He muttered, “No deviations,” before he vanished behind the mirrored doors. That was hours ago, and he hadn’t reached out since.

Sliding into the driver’s seat of my car, I exhaled sharply and gripped the steering wheel, the tension in my hands betraying my attempts at calm. For weeks now, I’d felt the growing distance between us, like a hairline crack in glass—too small to notice at first, but spreading with every passing day. I’d tried to ignore it, telling myself it was the stress of running Kelex. Lex always carried the weight of the company on his shoulders. But today, that excuse felt flimsy, like an overused line I no longer believed.

As I started the engine, my phone buzzed in my bag. I pulled it out and saw Claire’s name on the screen. A wave of hesitation washed over me. I already knew what she would say—Claire had a way of cutting through to the truth, even when it was the last thing I wanted to hear.

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound casual.

“Finally! I thought you were going to dodge my calls forever.” Her voice was light, but there was an edge of concern beneath the teasing.

I rubbed my temple. “It’s been a day.”

“Uh-huh,” she replied, skeptical. “So, what’s going on with Mr. Perfect? And don’t give me that ‘everything’s fine’ crap.”

“Claire—”

“No, seriously,” she interrupted, her tone softening. “You’ve been weird lately. Is he working late again? Or disappearing at odd hours? You know, the usual ‘mysterious boyfriend’ checklist?”

I stared out at the parking lot, watching headlights blur against the dusk. My thumb absently twisted the iron ring on my finger as I searched for the right words. “He’s stressed. Work’s been crazy.”

“Work’s always crazy for him,” she shot back. “But you don’t sound convinced. What’s really going on?”

I hesitated, gripping the phone tighter. “He’s… distant,” I admitted finally. “Distracted. Today he barely looked at me before ducking into his office. He’s been like this for weeks.”

“And you haven’t called him out on it?” she asked, incredulous. “Andrea, come on. You’re smarter than this.”

“It’s not that simple,” I said defensively. “Kelex doesn’t run itself, Claire. The pressure he’s under—it’s crushing sometimes. I don’t want to make it worse.”

Claire sighed, the exasperation in her voice palpable. “Pressure or not, he’s shutting you out. And you’re just… what? Waiting for him to magically open up?”

I didn’t answer. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was waiting for.

“Look,” she continued, her tone gentler now. “I’m not saying he’s cheating or running a secret drug cartel or whatever. But secrets? They rot everything they touch. If you don’t confront him now…”

“What do you expect me to do?” I snapped, my frustration spilling over. “He deflects every time I try to talk to him. Have you met Lex? He’s practically bulletproof.”

“That’s because you let him be,” she said sharply. “Why, Andrea? Are you scared of what he’ll say? Or are you scared of losing him?”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I clenched my jaw, staring at the faint reflections of streetlights on my windshield. “It’s not that simple,” I repeated, my voice quieter this time.

“It never is,” she said, softer now. “But you deserve honesty, Andrea. Don’t let him convince you that you’re asking for too much.”

A memory flickered in my mind: Lex at last year’s company gala, his arm draped over my shoulder as he whispered something that made me laugh. His eyes had been warm, his smile unguarded. For a moment, I’d believed that nothing could touch us. But now, those moments felt like they belonged to someone else—a version of Lex I wasn’t sure existed anymore.

“Come over tonight,” Claire said, breaking my thoughts. “I’ll open a bottle of wine, and we’ll talk this through.”

I hesitated, already feeling the exhaustion tugging at me. “I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t think too hard,” she said. “Just come.”

She hung up before I could respond, leaving me alone with the hum of the car engine and the din of the city outside. I sat there for a moment, staring at my phone. The faint buzz of anxiety hummed under my skin, impossible to ignore.

---

By the time I got home, the sky had darkened completely, and the familiar scent of jasmine from my potted plants greeted me as I stepped inside. My apartment was my sanctuary, a cozy reprieve from the chaos of the city and the glossy opulence of Lex’s world. But tonight, it felt smaller, like the walls were closing in.

I kicked off my shoes and sank onto the couch, staring at the laptop on the coffee table. A half-empty mug of tea from this morning sat beside it, long since gone cold. My gaze drifted to the bookshelf, where a framed photo of Lex and me caught my eye. It was from the gala—a night when everything felt simpler. Lex’s arm was draped over my shoulder, his smile easy, his gray eyes warm. I’d felt untouchable then, like nothing could shake us.

Now, that same smile felt like a mask. A carefully crafted façade that I couldn’t quite see through.

I reached for my grandmother’s iron ring again, turning it over in my fingers. The faint engraving on the inner band—“Resilient”—glinted in the dim light. It was a reminder of where I came from, of the strength I was supposed to have. But tonight, it felt like a hollow promise.

My phone buzzed again. A text from Lex.

Late night. Don’t wait up.

I stared at the screen, my chest tightening with frustration and something darker—fear. My thumb hovered over the reply button, but I couldn’t force myself to type anything. The distance between us wasn’t just emotional. It was something tangible, something real.

What are you hiding, Lex?

---

Later that night, as I lay in bed, sleep refused to come. My mind circled back to Lex, to every vague answer, every late-night disappearance, and the way he always seemed to check his watch, his fingers brushing the surface as if it held secrets I wasn’t meant to know.

The weight of it all became too much. I reached for my phone and dialed Claire.

“I’m coming over,” I said before she could even greet me.

“Good. The wine’s waiting,” she replied.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door, a current of determination coursing through me. I didn’t know what answers I was searching for, but I couldn’t keep ignoring the cracks in the façade. Sooner or later, the truth would come to light.

And I needed to be ready to face it.