'Cheater'

'Liar'

'Douchebag'

The words were written in red spray paint over and over on the steps and the front doors of Shola Enterprises. Luca's hands shook and his heart was pounding in his chest as the car slowly rolled passed the building. The cleaning crew were lifting a large black sheet over the front entrance while others were frantically cleaning the steps.

Cameras and multiple news crews were outside the building reporting the vandalism. Sweat beaded on Luca's forehead as he stared at the excited journalists reporting the embarrassing news.

"J-Jack, how did this happen?"

He sighed, shaking his head, "It must've happened early this morning during the security change over."

"Why am I just now hearing about this? Why is the press here before I am?" He growled, scrolling through his phone to find the news reports.

'Shola Enterprise Vandalized by a Scorned Lover' One headline reported in big bold letters. Before he could open up the article a message scrolled across his screen.

>> Oh no...who did you piss of now, Luki? 🤭<< Ciara's message read with a picture of the front of the building.

He grit his teeth, tapping his reply >>I know it was you.<<

>>Me? Now why would I do something silly like that? I could care less about you hanging out with the new girl, but it would be a shame if something happened to her.<< She replied with a picture of him and Nadia walking home from the club and another of them walking into the museum.

>>I certainly don't approve of these outings, Luki. Maybe I should tell her what you did to me?🤔<<

Luca's hands shook as he wiped the sweat of his brow, his breath was coming out short and labored. He knew something like this was going to happen. He never should've gone out with Cameron or let his guard down around Nadia. He got too comfortable.

"Luca? Luca are you alright?" Jack's muffled voice called to him. Luca dropped his phone, slid his hands to his ears and bent his head between his legs.

He took three deep breaths to calm his heart beat. He clenched his eyes shut and muttered the mantra his therapist taught him.

"I am the master of my life, no one has power over me, but me."

"Fuck this, I'm taking you home, sir." He barely heard Jack grumble as he turned the car around and drove him home away from the building commotion.

"It's been a long time since he's had a panic attack this bad." He heard his mother whisper and her gentle hands stroking his hair.

He frowned, slowly opening his eyes, "Mom?"

"I'm right here, dear," She said, quickly looking away from him, "Lacey, get him some water will you?"

He groaned, sitting up on the couch, "Lacey's here too? God, I can't remember how I got home."

"Yes, your sister and I were worried about you. Jack and Oscar brought you in. You had a panic attack, darling."

"Shit," he sighed, "I-I shouldn't have went out. This is all my fault. Dad is probably so pissed at me." He said, putting his head in his hands.

"Hey, none of that. It's not your fault." Lacey scoffed, handing him a glass of water, "You're not going to start blaming yourself for that bitch's crazy ass."

"Thanks, she said it wasn't her, but she had pictures of me and the woman I was with. I know she did it." His hand shook as he brought the glass of water to his mouth. He hates that she can get him so worked up like this.

"We all know who the culprit is and your father isn't mad at you. He's still at the office putting out the media fire. But I don't want you worrying about that," His mother smiled, patting his knee, "Why don't you tell us about this woman you met?"

"It doesn't matter who she is, I won't be seeing her outside of work ever again." He grumbled, "Where's my phone? I need to make sure Gordon got her home safely."

Lacey handed him his phone and raised her eyebrow, "So she works with you? You need to leave these office romances alone."

"It wasn't an office romance, but that's the end of that friendship for sure." He nodded, checking his messages, ignoring Ciara's texts and opening the message from Gordon confirming Nadia was safe in her apartment.

"Now, hold on a minute. Don't let this stop you from being friends with someone, Luca. I was so glad to know you finally got out of this damn penthouse."

"Mom," Luca scoffed, "I went out one time and look what happened? I'm not putting the company in jeopardy again. This just proves it."

Lacey sighed, shaking her head, "I'm with mom, you can't keep letting Ciara dictate your life. You've been done with her for three damn years and you're still acting like a prisoner to her. Why can't you just fire her or put her in jail? She's harassing you, Luca."

"I can't fire her. We've tried that, remember? She hasn't done enough to warrant an arrest either and what fucking good is a restraining order? She did this today without coming anywhere near me."

"Well can I at least know this woman's name and if you had a good time?"

He looked at his mother's pleading hazel eyes and sighed, "Her name is Nadia and, " a smile tugged at the corner of his lips, "I had a great time with her. I felt like myself again, but all that's over. Ciara will probably tell her, her version of the incident and she won't want to have anything to do with me anyway. It's...it's better this way. It's better that I stick to myself."

"That's just bullshit. Fuck that, I know I said cut it out with the office romance, but if she made you feel that way don't let Ciara ruin it. The fuck are you thinking?"

"Lacey! Honestly, your vocabulary is atrocious," His mother sighed, "But I have to agree with your sister. If Nadia made you feel like that I don't think you should let Ciara taint the way she sees you. You're a good man, Luca. You deserve to be free and happy."

He looked at his sister and his mother. He knows there's truth in their words. He deserves to be happy, but he's not risking Nadia's safety or the reputation of the company. Everything was fine before he decided to take Cameron and his father's advice to get out of the house. He just needs to go back to his solitary existence. "I've made my decision."

His mother slid her hand over his, squeezing it gently, "I understand, but I hope you change your mind."

"I hate seeing you like this, Luca, but it's your decision to keep doing this to yourself," Lacey sighed, checking her watch, "I've got to get back to my shop. You know you can always call me if you need to talk." She said, getting up from her chair.

"I know, thanks Lace."

"I love you, big bro." She said as she hugged him and kissed his cheek, "Mom are you staying?"

"Yes, honey, I'm going to wait for your father, he should be here soon."

"Alright, well I'll see you tomorrow for dinner." She said, crossing the room to the door just as it opened.

"Hey, little Lace are you leaving already?"

"Yeah, I've got some dresses I need to touch up at the shop, but maybe you can talk some sense into Luca about all this." She sighed, giving him a hug as she left.

"No one needs to talk any sense into me. I'm fine." Luca grumbled, taking anything sip of water.

"No, you're not. I want you to make an appointment with your therapist, Jack told me about your panic attack." Philip sighed, taking a seat in the chair across from him, "and I'm sorry for pushing you to go out. I didn't think anything like this would happen again."

"It's not your fault, Dad. I'm sorry for putting the company in the news again." He said, rubbing a hand over his face.

"No need to be sorry. I've cleared it up with the press as best I could. Your name wasn't on anything so I told them it had nothing to do with you or anything against the company. I'm more worried about you going back into your shell."

"That's exactly what I'm going to do. I don't need this, Dad. I was doing fine before."

"But you weren't living, son. This is no way to live your life. I can't stand to see you locked up in here or at the office. It just isn't right."

"Well, what am I supposed to do, Dad? We can't fire her, I can't press charges. We've tried that," He said, tears welling in his eyes, "I'm...I'm the idiot for getting involved with her in the first place." He sat his glass on the table before his shaking hands dropped it.

This is his fault. He's the one who decided to get into a relationship with an abuser. He didn't know what she was like all those years ago. He let her beat his pride and confidence out of him. That mantra he recites hasn't empowered him, it just made him keep his distance from everyone.

"This is my life now. It's just better this way."

"Luca...you can't keep hiding - "

"No. I'm done. I'm not putting the company's reputation in jeopardy and I'm not putting anyone in danger. I'll make a therapy appointment, but I'm going back to the way I was." He growled, getting up from the couch, "You both can leave. I'll see you tomorrow for dinner and you better not bring this up anymore."

"Luca!" They called after him. He ignored them and marched into his bathroom and slammed the door.

He turned the shower on and angrily pulled his shirt over his head. He's had enough of them telling him he needs to get out and move on. Well, he did that and the minute he was having a good time, Ciara decided to strike again to remind him that although they aren't together, she still has power over him.

He stepped in the shower, letting the water run over his back. He leaned against the tiles and finally let his tears fall. He hates feeling like this. He doesn't want to be a prisoner to Ciara anymore.

After she twisted the incident in her favor there was nothing he, his father or his lawyers could do or say to get the courts to change their minds. As far as they were concerned he was the abuser. He manipulated and beat her into isolation. It didn't matter how much they argued it didn't make sense that a victim would want to stay employed for her abuser. They told them they were victim blaming.

But he was the goddamn victim and no one believed him.