My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 142: Eyes Over the Shoulder

Felix offered a final firm handshake to his client partner, a pleasant smile curving on his lips as they stood just outside the restaurant’s entrance.

"Thanks again for the lunch," the man said, straightening his tie with a contented sigh. "We’ll keep the numbers moving. Let’s catch up again next quarter."

"Looking forward to it," Felix replied smoothly.

They waved their goodbyes, and Felix watched as the man disappeared around the block before he turned toward the parking lot. As soon as his shoes hit the pavement, his professional mask began to soften, replaced by something far more human—a thoughtful sort of warmth that crept into his chest.

Katherine.

She was already back at work. That could only mean one thing: Maya was better.

The thought made him smile unconsciously. Felix tugged open his car door, settled into the driver’s seat, and rested his arm over the steering wheel for a brief moment, staring out the windshield as the street buzzed softly around him.

He hadn’t expected her return so soon. He figured Maya might take a few more days to recover. But knowing Katherine, if she was here, then Maya had probably been smiling and bouncing around by the morning.

Felix exhaled deeply, started the engine, and headed back toward the office tower with the windows down and his tie loosened slightly. A thin breeze slipped through the car, tousling a few strands of his hair. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Still... the peace in his chest wavered a little when his phone pinged with a text from his mother.

Hope your meeting went well. Lara had a great time yesterday. Such a sweet girl, don’t you think?

Felix rolled his eyes and didn’t respond. Instead, he drove faster.

By the time he stepped off the elevator and walked into the office floor, Felix looked like the perfect image of composure again. Jacket buttoned. Hair neat. Smile in place.

Katherine looked up from her desk as soon as he entered. "You’re back," she said, her tone light but familiar.

"Meeting went well?" she added, her hand still holding a pen above a file.

"Great, actually," Felix replied with a smile that tugged naturally at the corner of his mouth. "Surprisingly productive."

She nodded approvingly. "Good. By the way, while you were out... someone came looking for you."

Felix paused. He blinked once. "Someone?"

"Yeah. A woman," Katherine said casually, looking down at the monitor before back at him. "She didn’t give her name, and she didn’t leave a message either. She just said she’d come back another time."

Something cold unfurled in Felix’s stomach. His brows lifted slightly.

A woman?

He tried to play it off as a shrug, but his voice betrayed him. "Uh... what did she look like?"

Katherine leaned back slightly in her chair, thoughtful. "Tall. Long wavy brown hair. Red lips, glossy. Expensive-looking outfit. She didn’t seem like a client, if that helps."

Oh no.

Felix swallowed thickly.

Yep. That’s Lara.

He forced a weak chuckle. "Right. Huh. Weird. I’ll, uh, figure out who that was. Thanks for letting me know."

And with that, he quickly retreated to his office, his posture stiffer than usual, one hand brushing his hair back as he shut the door behind him.

Once inside, Felix sighed and dropped into his chair like the air had deflated out of him. He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, and raked both hands down his face.

Seriously, Lara?

How the hell did she even get up here? There’s a reception desk, a security checkpoint, and my floor isn’t even listed on the elevator panel. She must’ve sweet-talked someone—or bribed them.

He made a mental note to call security later. First thing tomorrow. She needed to be flagged. He had enough problems balancing work, Katherine, and his brain that seemed to spiral at the thought of either.

Now, with Lara just appearing in front of Katherine?

That was a new level of chaos.

**

The hours passed slower than usu and Felix was barely functioning. His eyes were on his screen, but his mind was stuck in a loop of mild panic and anxiety.

The moment office hours officially ended, Katherine gently knocked on his door and poked her head in.

"Are you heading home?"

Felix blinked as if waking from a trance. "Huh? Oh—uh, yeah."

"I was going to ask if you wanted to stop by tonight," she said, adjusting the strap of her bag.

Felix couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him. "Right. Got it."

"So?" she asked.

"I’d love to," Felix replied almost immediately... but then hesitated. His eyes darted toward the windows, then toward the hallway. "Actually—yeah. Let’s just... let’s just go quickly."

Katherine frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Me? Yeah. Fine," Felix said, too fast, rubbing the back of his neck and flashing a tight smile. "Just a little tired, that’s all. Long day."

Katherine looked at him carefully. She didn’t seem entirely convinced, but she nodded. "Okay. Just checking."

They walked together toward the parking lot, side by side. But Felix didn’t walk like he normally did.

Instead of his usual confident stride, he kept glancing left and right like someone trying to avoid a paparazzi ambush. At one point, he even peered around a column before moving forward.

Katherine looked at him from the side, eyebrows knitting in confusion. "Felix... what are you doing?"

"Nothing," he replied quickly, forcing a smile as he opened the door for her. "Let’s just... get to the car quickly, yeah?"

"Why?" Katherine asked, her tone laced with suspicion now. "You look like someone’s chasing you."

"Just being cautious," Felix said, practically nudging her forward.

He glanced over his shoulder one last time, just in case Lara had decided to take another "surprise" trip to his office.

But the lot was empty. Blessedly empty.

Still, he didn’t relax until they were both inside the car, doors locked, and the engine quietly humming beneath his hands.

As he pulled out of the parking space, Katherine finally turned to him, one brow raised.

"Seriously. What’s going on with you today?"

Felix exhaled through his nose and muttered just loud enough for her to hear.

"Let’s just say... I’m afraid a ghost might jump at me."