Lisa, Jenny, and Simon had gone to the fabric room to check on the materials. After noting down everything they needed, they moved out and walked along the corridor.
Just then, they saw Canary.
He was only arriving now, much later than usual.
The three of them stopped immediately and greeted him.
The tension between Canary and Lisa was impossible to miss the moment their eyes met.
Canary's face remained cold and unreadable.
"Good morning, Mr. Canary," Simon greeted respectfully.
Canary simply gave a slight nod.
Lisa had almost forgotten to greet him. For a moment, she just stood there staring at him.
"Good morning," she finally said quietly.
Canary did not answer.
He simply walked past them without a word.
Lisa's chest tightened as she watched him leave.
Jenny's eyes narrowed.
She slowly turned to look at Lisa, then glanced in the direction Canary had gone.
"Hmm."
Lisa knew that sound.
Jenny had noticed something.
Jenny folded her arms.
"Today you two are really acting professional."
Lisa remained silent.
Jenny continued.
"Like we don't know you're dating."
Still, Lisa said nothing.
The words only made her feel worse.
She forced a small smile before turning to Simon.
"Let's go to the office. The others must be waiting for us."
Simon nodded.
The two of them started walking away.
Jenny stood there for a few seconds, still looking suspicious.
Something was definitely wrong.
The usual secret smiles, the stolen glances, the warmth between Canary and Lisa—none of it was there today.
Instead, there had only been silence.
Cold silence.
With no choice, Jenny hurried after them.
Meanwhile, Canary returned to his office.
He closed the door behind him and walked toward his desk.
The moment he sat down, Lisa's face flashed through his mind.
The hurt in her eyes.
The confusion.
The disappointment.
His grip tightened around the file on his desk.
Inside, he was still breaking apart.
Every instinct was telling him to go after her.
To explain.
To tell her everything.
But he couldn't.
Not now.
Not until he found the truth.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed those thoughts away and opened a file, forcing himself to focus on work.
A few moments later, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
Michael entered.
"Good morning, Mr. Canary."
"Good morning."
Michael sat down across from him.
For a moment, he simply observed Canary.
Then he said,
"I've been wondering what happened to you yesterday. You don't normally drink like that."
Canary looked down at the file.
"Oh, that."
He shrugged.
"I just wanted to drink. It's been a while."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"Drinking on a Monday? Really?"
Canary remained silent.
"It's so unusual," Michael added.
Canary finally looked up.
"How did you even know I was there?"
Michael stared at him in disbelief.
"Don't tell me you don't remember."
"Remember what?"
"I'm the one who dropped you home."
Canary frowned.
"Really?"
Michael nodded.
"Your mother was worried about you. She called me and asked me to pick you up from the bar."
For a moment, Canary was speechless.
He remembered bits and pieces of the night but not everything.
"I see."
He stood up abruptly.
"Anyway, we should be discussing work instead of talking about that."
Michael chuckled.
"All right. It's okay."
Canary walked away from his desk and sat in the sitting area of the office where Michael was already waiting.
Michael opened the project file.
Canary leaned forward.
The two of them began reviewing the documents together, discussing reports, production schedules, and upcoming company projects.
Outwardly, Canary looked completely focused.
Professional.
Calm.
Unbothered.
But every now and then, despite all his efforts, his mind drifted back to Lisa.
And each time it did, a sharp pain settled in his chest before he forced himself to focus on work once again.
Michael and Canary were still talking when a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," Canary said.
The door opened, and Regina walked in.
The moment Michael saw her, he knew their discussion was over. They had already finished going through the business reports.
"Then I'll excuse myself," Michael said as he stood up.
Canary gave a slight nod.
Michael greeted Regina politely before leaving the office and closing the door behind him. Silence settled between them.
Canary remained seated in the sitting area of his office, one arm resting casually on the armrest.
Regina walked toward him and sat down opposite him.
"Good morning," she said with a smile.
"Good morning," he replied flatly.
His eyes settled on her.
"What brings you here?"
The usual coldness in his voice made Regina force a smile.
"I came earlier, but you weren't around. I was actually surprised."
Canary raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"It's just unusual for you to arrive at this time. You're always one of the first people in the office."
Canary's expression remained unchanged.
"There is no time limit for me to come early."
The words came out bluntly. Regina chuckled awkwardly.
"Of course. I didn't mean it that way."
Canary simply looked at her.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Everything is fine."
His answer was immediate. Then he repeated,
"What brings you here?"
Regina hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Actually… I was thinking that maybe today we could have lunch together."
A small chuckle escaped Canary's lips. It wasn't a pleasant one.
"Why all of a sudden?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Are you tired of having lunch with Joel?"
Regina frowned.
"Canary, don't say that."
"Why not?"
"You make it sound like Joel and I are that close."
Canary leaned back.
"Aren't you?"
His voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Isn't he your ally? The one you work with whenever you want to put me down?"
Regina's face stiffened.
"Canary, I don't know why you always misunderstand me."
A trace of frustration entered her voice.
"I've never done anything to hurt you."
She looked at him sincerely.
"You know I always wish the best for you."
Canary chuckled again. This time the mockery was even more obvious.
"Oh, I can see."
Before Regina could say anything else, Canary stood up. He walked across the office toward his desk.
The expensive leather chair rolled slightly as he sat down behind it.
He switched on his computer and stared at the screen, already acting as though their conversation was over.
Regina slowly rose from her seat.
She hated the way he treated her. No matter how hard she tried, he always kept her at arm's length.
Still, she refused to give up. A smile returned to her face.
"I'm going to call you at lunchtime."
Canary looked up briefly.
"Let's meet and have lunch together, please."
For a moment, he simply stared at her.
Then he shrugged.
"Alright."
Regina's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
"See you then."
Canary had already turned his attention back to the computer.
Regina didn't mind.
At least he had agreed.
She walked out of the office feeling victorious.
As soon as the door closed behind her, a smug smile appeared on her face.
Since Lucy is already on my side, this time I'm sure I'll have you, Canary.
Her eyes gleamed with determination.
And when I do, I'll never let you go again.
You'll be mine.
The thought filled her with confidence as she continued down the corridor.
Meanwhile, Lisa was trying her best to focus on work.
She sat quietly at her desk, sorting through documents and updating reports, but her concentration kept slipping away.
No matter how much she tried to occupy herself, her mind refused to cooperate.
Again and again, she remembered what had happened earlier that morning.
The way Canary had looked at her.
The way he had walked past her.
The way he had spoken as though she meant absolutely nothing to him.
Her chest tightened.
Just a few days ago, she had been the person closest to him. The woman who could make him smile without trying The woman he couldn't stay away from. Yet now, every time she looked at him, she felt as though there was an invisible wall standing between them.
A wall she couldn't break.
Lisa lowered her eyes to the papers before her. She forced herself to continue working. But deep inside, the pain remained.
Every cold glance from Canary felt like another reminder that the man who once looked at her with warmth now acted as though she were nothing more than an ordinary employee. And that realization hurt far more than she wanted to admit.