My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 86: Invitation She Can’t Refuse

Katherine sat at her desk outside Felix’s office, her fingers moving quickly across the keyboard, inputting figures from a morning meeting summary. Her routine felt familiar again—comfortable even—as though the whirlwind of emotions from the past few days had settled into the background.

It felt good to work again. Her mind welcomed the distraction, welcomed the predictability of schedules, emails, and endless to-do lists.

But just as she leaned forward to adjust a paperclip on the thick report stack, she heard it.

Ding.

The chime of the elevator echoed faintly from the end of the hallway, its doors sliding open with a smooth mechanical hiss.

She glanced up automatically, expecting perhaps a delivery person or one of the finance heads. Instead, her posture stiffened the moment her eyes caught a familiar silhouette stepping elegantly into the hall.

Victoria Crawford.

Even from a distance, Felix’s mother was a force of nature. She wore a perfectly tailored navy blue coat, her heels clicking in rhythmic confidence across the tile. Her silver-blonde hair was swept up in a neat twist, not a single strand out of place. Her makeup was subtle yet sophisticated—sharp eyeliner, mauve lips, and an expression that didn’t ask permission to be taken seriously.

Katherine instinctively sat a little straighter.

Victoria stopped directly in front of her desk, her pale blue eyes sweeping briefly over Katherine before settling in polite coolness.

"Hello, Katherine. Is my son in his office?" she asked, her voice smooth and firm, lacking even a hint of unnecessary warmth.

Katherine nodded quickly, her voice automatically dipping into polite professionalism. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Crawford. Yes, Mr. Crawford is inside."

Victoria gave a single nod. "Good."

With that, she moved toward Felix’s door and, without waiting for further announcement, let herself in. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The door closed behind her with a quiet click, and Katherine released a long breath, slumping an inch in her chair as though a weight had just pressed down on her shoulders. Her hands fumbled for a moment with the papers on her desk.

It wasn’t her first time meeting Victoria Crawford. Not by a long shot. But each encounter somehow left her feeling like a schoolgirl being graded by the strictest teacher in the building. There was just something about the way Victoria looked at her—assessing, measuring. Like Katherine was always just one misstep away from proving she didn’t belong.

She shouldn’t care. She was just a secretary. A good one. She wasn’t trying to impress Victoria, right?

But still...

She tried not to eavesdrop. She really did. But the office was silent, and the muted hum of voices behind Felix’s closed door made her nerves twitch.

They were in there for maybe ten minutes—ten very long, very tense minutes.

Then the door opened.

Victoria stepped out first, her expression calm as ever. Felix followed behind, buttoning his navy blazer, his eyes catching Katherine’s almost immediately.

He smiled, that easy grin that somehow cut through the air like sunlight. He crossed toward her desk.

"Katherine," he said, his tone soft. "I’m heading out for lunch—with my mother."

Katherine nodded, trying to keep her tone level, professional. "Of course. I understand, Mr. Crawford."

Felix’s eyebrows lifted slightly. His steps slowed. "Mr. Crawford?"

Katherine blinked, realizing her formality had caught him off guard. She mentally kicked herself. "I mean—I just meant—I hope you enjoy your lunch."

He studied her face for a beat too long, as if trying to read her thoughts. Then, with a small tilt of his head, he asked, "Would you like to join us?"

The question hit her like a wave.

"What?" she asked, her voice just a hair too high.

Felix chuckled lightly. "Come with us. For lunch."

She was already shaking her head. "Oh, no. No, that’s really kind of you but—I wouldn’t want to intrude. It’s your time with your mother."

Victoria, who had stopped just a few feet away to fix a clasp on her purse, turned back toward them with a faint smile.

"How considerate you are, Katherine," she said smoothly. Her eyes sparkled with something Katherine couldn’t quite read. "But really, by any means, you’re welcome to join. Especially since my son looks like he’s reluctant to leave his secretary all alone here."

Katherine froze. Her heart thumped loud in her ears. Had Victoria just... teased?

The implication made her palms sweat. And the fact that Victoria had noticed Felix’s reluctance—and said it aloud—only made her feel more on the spot.

Katherine glanced at Felix, whose grin had only grown wider, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.

"I..." she began, voice almost a squeak. She cleared her throat, forcing a calmer tone. "I would be honored. Thank you."

Felix clapped his hands together once, a delighted sound of victory. "Fantastic!"

Victoria merely gave a small nod and turned toward the elevator. "Let’s go then. I have a reservation."

Katherine stood up, smoothing her skirt nervously, gathering her phone and badge like armor. Her nerves buzzed under her skin, a bundle of excitement and unease twisting in her stomach. She wasn’t sure which made her more jittery—Victoria’s quiet approval or Felix’s too-happy reaction.

They walked to the elevator together, Felix falling into step between the two women.

Inside the elevator, the atmosphere shifted again.

Felix stood in the center, positively glowing with satisfaction, hands casually in his pockets, gaze occasionally flicking between the two women beside him.

Victoria stood tall and composed, her back straight, her expression unreadable as she checked her reflection briefly in the mirrored wall of the elevator.

And Katherine?

Katherine was doing her best not to fidget. Her hands clutched her phone, her lips pressed into a faint, nervous smile. She could feel the warmth of Felix’s presence beside her and the sharp presence of Victoria on the other.

The three of them, together in the narrow space, made a strange picture—like a scene out of a drama she didn’t remember auditioning for.

And yet, somehow, she was here.

The elevator descended with a quiet hum, floor by floor.

Ding.

God, help her.