Sharp-eyed Lucas aimed at Vlora. The secretary seemed slightly intimidated but held her ground when faced with the same question again.
“Are you serious about what you said?”
“I am serious, sir,” Vlora confidently replied. “I’m sure I didn’t mishear.”
Lucas did not say anything further. At least for the past two years, Vlora had proven that her words were never wrong.
“Okay.”
Vlora gave a brief nod before leaving Lucas’ room. Silence quickly enveloped the room, albeit not for long.
Lucas picked up his phone and dialed a number. Without much waiting, the call was answered.
“Saturday?”
It seemed that Lucas had a busy schedule for the coming Saturday. From accompanying Velia for shopping, having dinner with family, and meeting with colleagues.
“Alright.”
The call ended at the right time. The door opened again, but it was not Vlora who entered. Instead, it was Andreas who came in and immediately took a comfortable position on the sofa.
“Good afternoon, Luc.”
Lucas placed his phone on the table. “You’re here again.”
“Of course. You know? Not many people are fortunate enough to have a caring friend like me,” Andreas said with a smirk. “Ah, I hope you don’t mind. I asked your beautiful secretary to make us tea.”
Andreas and drinks. Regardless of the type of beverage, it always signaled one thing for sure. He was ready to spend time with Lucas engaging in various conversations and banter.
Despite that, something caught Lucas’ attention. He stood up with an accusing gaze.
“Do you really come to visit me as a caring friend…”
Andreas burst into laughter. Lucas’ emphasis on his words amused him.
“… or is it just an excuse to meet Vlora?”
“What’s wrong with that?” Andreas asked between laughter. “Didn’t you say that you have no relationship with her? So even if I get close to her, it has nothing to do with you.”
At first glance, it may seem that way. However, Lucas knew something important.
“Don’t you think I’m blind?”
Andreas frowned. “Blind?”
“It’s obvious that you came back to Ashford City to cancel your engagement,” Lucas said, sitting in front of Andreas. “Why? Weren’t you in a relationship with Nadine all this time?”
Andreas gasped. “O-oh.”
At the same time, there was a knock on the door. Vlora entered and served the tea while Andreas let out a relieved sigh. At least the woman’s arrival did not coincide with Lucas’s statement.
The tea was placed on the table. Afterward, Vlora calmly excused herself. She acted as if she did not notice Andreas staring at her without blinking.
“Nadine and I have no relationship at all,” Andreas retorted, reaching for his tea cup. “We’re just young people enjoying each other’s company.”
Lucas choked. He hurriedly placed the tea cup back.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Correct, but Vlora is different from Nadine. Don’t disturb her. And don’t act like you want her, but actually behave the opposite.”
“Sorry? Are you talking about yourself?”
The sarcastic response made Lucas’s face stiffen. As for Andreas? He just grinned mischievously.
“Let’s see. You’ve already found Velia, right? So what? Don’t you want to do something that proves you want her? In my observation, imprisoning a woman is not the kind of evidence you should present.”
Lucas sighed. Playing with words was indeed Andreas’s expertise, but he would not misinterpret them even slightly.
“Oh.”
Andreas gaped at the meaningless response Lucas gave. It was just an “oh,” and although his expression was momentarily affected by Andreas’s statement, he quickly regained composure.
“Oh?” Andreas scoffed in disbelief. “Just ‘oh’? Listen, Luc. All this time, you’ve been avoiding your family under the pretext of not finding Velia. Now that you’ve found her, what else are you waiting for? Take her to your family, and everything will be resolved.”
Lucas refused the idea. “Now is not the right time. I have to make sure of something first.”
“Are you doubting Velia?”
Nodding, Andreas smirked to confirm his own question. He clapped his hands briefly, looking understanding.
“Of course. She suddenly comes back after leaving you for so long. It’s natural for you to have doubts. But how about taking a shortcut?”
“A shortcut?”
“You can directly ask Velia about the reason she left you before. Done. You don’t have to waste time guessing.”
It was not just about that matter; there was something else occupying Lucas’s mind. Andreas’ idea was not the way out.
“I don’t want to repeat my mistake from seven years ago. I’m no longer a hotheaded kid,” Lucas said, furrowing his brow subtly. “I don’t want to rush into introducing Velia to my family like before.”
Memories of the past played in Lucas’s mind. Shortly after their family gathering, Velia disappeared.
“I don’t want to be impulsive.”
When it came to rationality and acting cautiously, Andreas would never doubt Lucas. Thus, he did not argue with Lucas’ decision.
“Maybe it’s better if you act a bit passively to ensure your safety.”
This time, Lucas agreed. “If I were to follow my emotions, of course, I would want to marry Velia right away. Unfortunately, there’s something more important than that. I don’t want to fall into the same trap for the second time. I need to know the reason why Velia left me.”
To ensure that the same thing would not happen again. For that, Lucas had no problem being patient. Especially if his patience would result in being together with Velia.
Now, it’s better for me to slowly win Velia’s heart back. Make her stay with me.
Lucas reached for his tea cup. He savored a sip, insignificant as it was.
She has to stay by my side.
*
Lucas lay back on the bed, his gaze still dazed and unfocused. He needed a moment to calm himself.
It was truly overwhelming. Lucas felt like he had been completely shattered in the explosion of pleasure. And Velia seemed to have felt the same way.
Lucas turned to the side, finding Velia lying next to him with her eyes closed and her chest heaving. They had both experienced a similar impact.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Slowly, Velia opened her eyes and turned to look at Lucas, looking uncertain. Her response brought a smile to Lucas’ face.
“Yes.”
Lucas pulled Velia into his embrace, his hands caressing her back. He could feel the dampness there, the remnants of their passionate lovemaking drying as time passed.
Velia shivered as the sweat began to dry, leaving a cool sensation on her skin.
Lucas had the urge to reach for the blanket, but he did not want to lose the intimate sight before him. Instead, he reached out to grab the remote and raised the temperature.
“Is it better now?” he asked.
Velia lifted her face, meeting Lucas’s gaze and realizing something.
“Yes,” Velia nodded. “Thank you.”
Lucas continued to stroke Velia’s back, his touch following the curve of her spine. He thought it was the most pleasant way to laze around.
Lucas did not mind letting time pass without doing anything significant. When it came to their newfound innocence, everything was worth considering.
“I think…”
Lucas broke the silence. Velia, who was almost falling asleep, opened her eyes when she heard Lucas speak.
“… we won’t be able to be like this once you start working.”
Lucas lowered his head, and Velia’s face and hands landed on his chest. The sight was intimate yet comforting.
“You will definitely be busy again.”
Velia blinked. “Honestly, I’m a bit hesitant about whether I will really go back to work or not.”
“Hesitant?”
“Yes,” Velia answered, sitting up slightly. She rested on Lucas’ chest and looked at him uncertainly. “Have you really taken care of my job offer? I haven’t received any news about it until now.”
Lucas tidied up Velia’s hair that had fallen on her face. He gave her a faint smile in response to her gaze.
“Do you doubt me?”
Velia fell silent for a moment. “Maybe I will be contacted tomorrow. I’m just worried that your people have forgotten about my issue.”
“You don’t need to worry. Just wait calmly.”
“Alright,” Velia nodded, exhaling in relief. “I will wait. I just… you know, I really want to go back to work.”
“Of course. It seems like you’re not comfortable staying here and want to go back to work. Is that a reason for you to go out?”
Velia shuddered. Lucas’ touch on her back felt different now. She quickly shook her head.
“It’s not that I’m not comfortable. I like this place. It’s just…”
Lucas’ gaze was momentarily distracted by Velia’s swaying breasts when she shook her head. He cleared his throat to refocus on the conversation.
“Just what?”
“It feels lonely here. I’m alone all day long. After you leave for work, I don’t know what to do. Even watching TV has become boring lately.”
Lucas smiled meaningfully. He realized something. That Velia was a temptation he could not ignore so easily. His defenses never applied when it came to Velia.
Quickly, Lucas recalled. Tomorrow’s schedule loomed in his mind. He had a meeting outside at 10 a. m. It seemed like an opportunity he could take advantage of.
Lucas decided not to go to the office in the morning but instead head straight to the meeting from the apartment. It seemed more efficient and, of course, gave Lucas a chance to make use of the current situation.
Lucas’s hand on Velia’s back moved. He reached for the nape of her neck and gently pulled her closer, planting a kiss on Velia’s lips. It was a deep and wet kiss.
Velia closed her eyes. A spontaneous moan escaped her, vibrating through her throat.
“You can contact me whenever you feel lonely,” Lucas whispered, between kisses along Velia’s neck.
Velia’s face lifted, granting Lucas the access he needed to expand his exploration.
Velia swallowed her saliva. It seemed Lucas had turned the room temperature up too high.
“You’re… working, Luc.”
Lucas’ tongue traced her skin. “I always have time for you.”
“I… ah!”
Velia could not finish her sentence. Lucas’ sucking on her neck and sudden groping of her breasts made her vocabulary vanish in an instant.
Lucas grinned. He pulled one of Velia’s legs to straddle his waist, guiding her and letting her sit on top of him.
“Do you want to say something?”
“I…”
Velia opened her eyes and rested on Lucas’ chest, trying to think.
“… don’t remember.”
It seemed the wet kisses, the touch of his hands, and the warm breath of Lucas had successfully made Velia lose her senses. Nothing remained in her mind except for primal instincts triggered when Lucas’ fingers brushed her clitoris.
Velia’s wetness landed on Lucas’ abdomen. Restlessness emerged and showed itself.
Lucas growled. Perhaps having a post-lovemaking conversation was not suitable for him. It was undoubtedly dangerous. Engaging in conversation with cunningness could lead him astray.
Unfortunately, now it was too late. Lucas had already taken the wrong path, and there was no other choice available. Except to get completely lost until the end of the journey.
Lucas held Velia’s waist, squeezing for a moment before lifting her slender body and seating her back on top of his masculinity.
“Ah!”
Velia’s moan resounded. Her sensual voice filled the air, echoing continuously. It continued to be heard with each movement Lucas guided, encouraging Velia to move erotically on top of him.
*