Chapter 93 You’re Delusional
Caspian’s voice cracked behind her.
“Why are you forcing me like this?”
Veyra stopped walking. She did not turn around.
His words echoed off the crystal chandeliers, bounced off the marble floors, and faded into the soft piano music. A few diners glanced up from their plates. Then they looked away.
She stared at the back of her own gloved hand. The black leather reflected the low light.
She had not wanted their parting to end like this. Not in a restaurant. Not with shouting and stares. She had hoped for quiet. A clean break. Silence.
But Caspian had never given her anything clean.
She turned.
Caspian stood by the table, his hands shaking at his sides. His face was red. His collar was crooked where he had tugged at it.
Veyra took a breath. The air was cold in her lungs.
“You’re not at fault,” she said.
Caspian blinked.
“I am,” she continued. “I was the one who believed you. I was the one who stayed. I was the one who ignored every sign.”
She paused.
“But we’ve broken up. We’ve been broken up for weeks. I wish you and Xiomara a long and happy life together.” Her voice did not waver. “And success in your careers.”
She meant it but it was not the happy part. She did not wish them happiness. But she wished them gone. Out of her life. Out of her sight.
Caspian’s face shifted. The red faded. His skin went pale.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
“No.” He stepped toward her. “You’re angry. You’re hurt. But you don’t mean that.”
She did not step back.
“Veyra, listen to me.” His voice trembled. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. I can’t live without you.”
She said nothing.
“Please.” He reached for her hands. “Please don’t do this.”
He grabbed her arms. His fingers dug into the leather of her gloves. He pulled her toward him.
She hit his chest. Hard. The metal knuckles pressed into his ribs.
“Let go.”
He did not. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. Her ribs compressed. Her shoulder blades pressed together. She could not breathe.
“Caspian.”
“I won’t let you go,” he said into her hair. “I won’t.”
She pushed against his chest. He was too strong. Her arms were pinned.
“Let go of me.”
“No.”
“Caspian!”
Her voice was sharp. Loud. A few diners turned to stare again.
Leon Wei moved. His hand closed around Caspian’s shoulder. He pulled. Caspian did not budge.
Another voice cut through the noise.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
The voice was calm. Almost playful. A man in a gray suit stood a few feet away. He wore round glasses. His hair was dark and neatly parted. His smile was thin.
Caspian’s grip loosened. Veyra pushed free. She stepped back, breathing hard.
Leon Wei positioned himself between her and Caspian.
The man in the gray suit looked at Caspian. “This is a restaurant, not a boxing ring.”
Caspian’s face darkened. “Mind your own business.”
“I’m making it my business.” The man adjusted his glasses. “The lady asked you to let go. Several times. I counted.”
Leon Wei studied the newcomer. His hand hovered near his jacket.
Caspian turned to face the man. His lip curled.
“I don’t know who you are, but this doesn’t concern you.”
“It concerns anyone who has to watch a woman be manhandled.”
Caspian stepped forward. “Say that again.”
The man did not flinch. “I said. It concerns anyone who has to watch a woman be manhandled. You heard me the first time.”
Caspian’s fists clenched. His breathing was loud.
The man smiled. “I’m Xavier Lala. And you are?”
Caspian did not answer.
Veyra’s mind caught up with her ears.
President Lala.
She had heard that name before. Dr. Harrison had mentioned it. One of the two shortlisted candidates. Mr. Lala. The one who was not Caspian.
This was him.
She looked at his face. The round glasses. The calm expression. The easy posture.
He did not look like a pharmaceutical executive. He looked like a university professor.
But he had stepped in. He had called out Caspian. And he had not backed down when Caspian squared up.
Xavier Lala tilted his head. “Sexual harassment is illegal. Even in a restaurant on the 101st floor.”
Caspian’s face went red again. “Sexual harassment?”
“You grabbed her. She told you to stop. You didn’t.” Xavier shrugged. “That’s textbook.”
Caspian lunged. His hands closed around Xavier’s collar. The fabric bunched under his fingers.
“You don’t know anything about me.”
Xavier did not struggle. He did not push back. He just smiled.
“Embarrassment makes people violent,” he said. “I understand.”
Caspian’s knuckles were white. His breath came in short bursts.
Leon Wei stepped closer. Veyra touched his arm. Wait.
Caspian looked at Leon. Then at Xavier. Then at the other diners watching.
He released the collar. He stepped back.
“You’re lucky,” he said. “If we were anywhere else—”
“We’re not anywhere else.” Xavier smoothed his shirt. “We’re here. In a restaurant owned by Wesley Wynn. Do you know Wesley Wynn?”
Caspian’s jaw tightened.
“He doesn’t like scenes,” Xavier continued. “He especially doesn’t like scenes involving his guests.”
Caspian looked around. His eyes darted to the corners of the room. To the cameras mounted near the ceiling.
A waitress appeared. Young. Dark hair. Her name tag read Sophie.
“Is there a problem?” she asked.
Xavier looked at Veyra. “That’s not my question to answer.”
Sophie turned to Veyra. Her expression was friendly. Concerned.
“Madam? Do you need assistance?”
Veyra shook her head. “No. Thank you.”
She did not want Wesley Wynn involved. She did not want his attention. His help came with invisible strings.
Sophie nodded. She stepped back but did not leave.
Caspian’s posture relaxed. His shoulders dropped. He looked at Veyra. A small smile tugged at his lips.
“You’re protecting me,” he said. “You still care.”
Veyra stared at him. The smile. The soft eyes. He was rewriting what had just happened. Turning it into something else. Something he wanted to see.
“You’re delusional,” she said.
His smile did not fade.
Xavier adjusted his glasses. “It appears I’ve misread the situation.” He looked at Veyra. “My apologies.”
He turned to leave.
Caspian’s voice stopped him.
“I will get the SN1818 partnership.”
Xavier paused. He did not turn around.
“I have resources,” Caspian continued. “Connections. Manufacturing capacity. Dr. Harrison knows my company’s track record.”
Xavier turned. His eyes met Caspian’s.
“The partnership hasn’t been awarded to anyone yet.”
“It will be awarded to me.”
Xavier smiled. “Confidence is useful. Overconfidence is not.”
Caspian stepped closer. His voice was low.
“Dr. Harrison will put in a good word for me. He’s already promised.”
Xavier tilted his head. “Promised?”
“He respects my work. He’s known my family for years.”
Xavier said nothing.
“You can try,” Caspian said. “But we both know how this ends.”
The air between them was thick. Hostile. A few diners had stopped eating to watch.
Veyra stood still. Her gloved hands hung at her sides.
Xavier broke the silence.
“The final outcome remains anyone’s guess.”
Caspian scoffed and said again. “Dr. Harrison will put in a good word for me. He already said he would.”