39

CHAPTER 39.
Andrianne’s heart raced as she thought about the consequences of Steve being fired. She knew her father too well and his motives for hiring Steve in the first place. Her father was a powerful man, and she knew he had a lot of connections. She feared that if Steve was fired, her father would get someone else to replace him, someone who might not have her best interests at heart. Andrianne quickly came to her senses, realizing that having Steve as her bodyguard was her best chance at staying safe.
“Lucas, please don’t fire Steve,” Andrianne pleaded with him, her voice trembling slightly.
Lucas looked at her with a mixture of concern and confusion. “Andrianne, I don’t understand. You seemed so unhappy with Steve earlier. Why do you suddenly want him to stay?”
Andrianne took a deep breath and tried to explain her fears to Lucas. “My father is a dangerous man. He hired Steve for a reason, and if he’s fired, my father will just find someone else to replace him. I don’t trust anyone else. Steve is the only one I know I can rely on to keep me safe.”
Lucas listened carefully, his expression softening as he understood her concerns. “I see what you mean, Andrianne. But we can’t just let Steve continue to make you feel uncomfortable either. What if we asked him to give you some space? That way, he can still be your bodyguard, but you won’t have to be around him all the time.”
Andrianne nodded slowly, considering Lucas’s suggestion. “That could work. But what if my father finds out? He’ll be angry that we’re trying to control who he hires as my bodyguard.”
Lucas placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about that, Andrianne. I’ll talk to your father myself and explain the situation. I’ll make sure he understands that it’s for your safety and well-being.”
Andrianne felt a small sense of relief wash over her. She knew she could trust Lucas to handle the situation, and she was grateful to have him by her side. “Thank you, Lucas. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Lucas smiled warmly at her. “You don’t have to worry about that, Andrianne. I’ll always be here for you.”
Andrianne took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. She knew that her father wouldn’t be happy about the situation, but she also knew that Lucas would do everything in his power to keep her safe.
As the evening wore on, Andrianne tried to keep herself busy. She spent some time reading a book in her room, trying to distract herself from her worries. But every time she heard a noise outside her door, her heart would race, and she would tense up. She knew she needed to find a way to calm herself down.
Eventually, Andrianne decided to go for a walk. She put on a jacket and walked out of the house, feeling the cool breeze on her face. She wandered aimlessly for a while, taking deep breaths and trying to clear her mind.
As she walked, Andrianne thought about her life and how it had changed so suddenly. She never imagined that she would be in this situation, constantly worried about her safety and surrounded by people she couldn’t trust. But she also knew that she was strong, and she wouldn’t let her fears control her.
Finally, after a long walk, Andrianne found herself back at the house. She went to her room and lay down on her bed, feeling exhausted but also strangely calm. As she laid on her bed and plugged in her earpods, the problems she was facing seemed to fizzle out at that moment… she felt at peace for a while and she hoped it would at least last for the time being.
Lucas knocked softly on Andrianne’s door, hoping she was in a better mood than when he last saw her. She removed her earpods and gave him a small smile before he entered the room. He noticed that she still looked upset, and he knew he had to do something to cheer her up.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” he asked as he sat down on the edge of her bed.
Andrianne shrugged her shoulders. “I’m okay, I guess. Just a little overwhelmed.”
Lucas nodded. “I understand. But I have an idea that might help you take your mind off things.”
Andrianne raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“I was thinking we could cook dinner together. It could be fun, and we could make whatever you’re in the mood for.”
Andrianne was taken aback by the offer but quickly became interested. “That actually sounds nice. Let’s do it.”
They made their way down to the kitchen, and Andrianne couldn’t help but avoid Steve’s gaze. She knew she couldn’t tell Lucas the truth about their past relationship, but it made her uncomfortable being around him. Steve noticed her unease, but he didn’t say anything.
Lucas rummaged through the fridge and cabinets, pulling out ingredients for spaghetti and meatballs. Andrianne sat at the kitchen table, watching him as he cooked. She couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles moved as he chopped the vegetables and mixed the meat. He looked appealing with his abs, and she had to look away before she became too distracted.
As they cooked, they talked about their day and other random things. Andrianne couldn’t help but feel more relaxed around Lucas. He had a calming presence, and she appreciated his effort to cheer her up.
Once they finished cooking, they sat down at the table to eat. Andrianne took a bite of the food and moaned in pleasure. “This is amazing, Lucas. You’re a really good cook.”
Lucas grinned. “Thanks. I learned from my mom growing up. She always said the way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach.”
Andrianne laughed. “I can see why she thinks that.”
They continued eating and talking, and Andrianne felt like she was finally able to let go of some of the stress that had been weighing her down. Lucas was a good listener, and she felt comfortable opening up to him.
As they finished their meal, Andrianne felt grateful for Lucas’s presence in her life. He had a way of making things better, and she couldn’t help but feel lucky to have him as her friend…. Friend because it would be odd to refer to someone in a contracted marriage as a husband.