Between Us Was a Lie

The Meeting That Shouldn’t Have Happened

[AURORA ENTERPRISES – 9:03 AM]

The glass doors of the top floor open with a soft electronic sound.

The atmosphere is calm… too calm.

Until she walks in.

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*walks in holding a tablet, composed posture, slight tension in her shoulders*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*Her eyes scan the office.*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*She pauses*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*Something about this place feels… familiar*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

softly, to herself

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

Why does it feel like I’ve been here before?

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*She adjusts her blazer and continues walking*

[MEETING ROOM – SAME TIME]

A long silence fills the room

Then—

The door opens

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*steps in confidently, one hand in pocket, the other holding a file*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t greet anyone. Just walks in like he owns the air in the room

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

His eyes shift across the table— And stop.

His gaze lands on her

Lyra looks up.

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*expression tightens slightly, jaw clenches almost invisibly*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*For a moment… he doesn’t move*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*Then he looks away like nothing happened*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*Cold tone*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

I’m late?

DORIAN HALE(ML’S BFF/COLLEAGUE)

*Quietly*

DORIAN HALE(ML’S BFF/COLLEAGUE)

No. Everyone just arrived early

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*forces herself to stay calm, fingers tighten slightly on her tablet*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*Low voice*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

…Kaelen.

He doesn’t respond.

Not even a glance

DORIAN HALE(ML’S BFF/COLLEAGUE)

*notices the tension immediately, eyes shifting between them*

DORIAN HALE(ML’S BFF/COLLEAGUE)

*He exhales quietly but says nothing*

SIENNA VALE(

*enters behind Kaelen, heels clicking, confident smile*

She notices Lyra instantly

A slow, sharp smile appears.

SIENNA VALE(

*Sweet tone*

SIENNA VALE(

Oh… I didn’t know you’d be here.

Her eyes linger on Lyra a little too long.

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*straightens slightly, expression neutral but guarded*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

I’m part of the project team.

SIENNA VALE(

Of course you are

small pause… slightly mocking

ETHAN ROWE(FL’S FRIEND/CRUSH)

*walks in with a folder, calm energy, notices Lyra’s tension*

ETHAN ROWE(FL’S FRIEND/CRUSH)

*Soft smile*

ETHAN ROWE(FL’S FRIEND/CRUSH)

Lyra, right? Nice to finally meet you in person

He extends his hand politely

Lyra hesitates for a second… then shakes it

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*Small smile*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

Yes… same here

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*still not looking at her, but his grip tightens on the file in his hand*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*A silent shift in his expression*

Unnoticed by most… but not by Dorian

(Dorian thinking)

He knows. This isn’t just awkward. This is history

The meeting begins.

But no one is listening properly.

Because something heavier sits in the room

Unspoken Unfinished Unhealed

Kaelen finally speaks again

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*cold, controlled voice*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

Let’s start

But for a split second—

His eyes flick toward Lyra again

And this time…

He doesn’t look away immediately.

Old Names, New Distance

[MEETING ROOM – CONTINUING]

The projector lights up. Files open. Papers shuffle

But the real focus in the room is not the project.

It’s the silence between Lyra Montclair and Kaelen Draven

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*calm, looking at the screen*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

We proceed with the restructuring proposal. Dorian, explain phase one

DORIAN HALE(ML’S BFF/COLLEAGUE)

Yes. Phase one focuses on brand repositioning and client trust recovery

Lyra writes down something down quietly

She doesn’t look at Kaelen

But she feels it.

ETHAN ROWE(FL’S FRIEND/CRUSH)

Lyra will be leading the communication strategy side, right?

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

Yes

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*Short. Clear*

A pause

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*Still looking forward*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

I didn’t approve changes in leadership structure

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

It was approved by the board last week

A quiet bit of

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

…I wasn’t informed

GRAYSON VALE (off-screen / via call speaker)

GRAYSON VALE(COMPANY’S CHAIRMAN)

Because it wasn’t necessary. The decision stands

Silence again.

Kaelen leans slightly back

His voice stays controlled.

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

Fine

But the tone isn’t agreement

It’s restraint

[AFTER THE MEETING – HALLWAY]

People begin to leave Lyra gathers her things.

She hears footsteps behind her. She doesn’t turn immediately.

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

Lyra

She stops

Finally turns

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

Yes?

A short silence

He steps closer—not too much, but enough.

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

You didn’t mention you were coming back to this company

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

I didn’t think I needed to.

A pause

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

You did

Lyra looks at him properly now

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

Why?

Kaelen doesn’t answer immediately.

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*His voice drops slightly*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

Because I would’ve stopped it.

Lyra goes quiet for a moment.

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

…Stopped what?

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

This

A simple word But heavy

[A FEW STEPS AWAY – ETHAN WATCHING]

Ethan notices the distance between them.

He doesn’t interrupt. But his expression changes slightly.

Back to Lyra & Kaelen

Lyra folds her arms.

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

You don’t get to control where I work, Kaelen

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

I’m not controlling you.

A pause

Then…

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

*Lower tone*

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

I’m avoiding problems

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

Or avoiding me?

That lands

Silence

Kaelen’s jaw tightens slightly

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

If I was avoiding you, you wouldn’t be standing here

Lyra looks away first

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

Then why does it feel like I shouldn’t be?

Kaelen doesn’t respond.

Instead— He steps past her

But his voice stops her again.

KAELEN DRAVEN(ML)

Stay out of my way in this project.

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*Turns back slightly*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

I was never in your way

A beat

He doesn’t reply

He walks off

[FROM ACROSS THE HALL – SIENNA WATCHING]

SIENNA VALE(

*A small smile forms*

SIENNA VALE(

*To herself*

SIENNA VALE(

…So it’s still there

End scene

Lyra stands alone for a moment. Then exhales quietly

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

*Softly*

LYRA MONTCLAIR (FL)

…What happened to us

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