45

Chapter 45.
As he sat back in his chair, he thought about the situation with Andrianne. He couldn’t help but feel jealous about Steve and his connection with Andrianne. He didn’t want to admit it, but he knew that he had feelings for her. Even though their marriage was only a contract, he found himself caring for her more than he had intended to.
Lucas knew that he had to do something to keep Andrianne safe, especially with the recent discovery of the hidden cameras in her house. He couldn’t risk anything happening to her, not after everything they had been through.
With a heavy sigh, Lucas leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. He needed to clear his head and come up with a plan to protect Andrianne. He couldn’t let his jealousy and feelings get in the way of her safety.
As Lucas finished up his work for the day, he shut down his computer and packed his briefcase, ready to head home. He stood up from his desk and stretched his arms and legs, feeling the tension in his muscles release. He looked around the office one last time, making sure everything was in order before leaving.
Lucas walked out of his office and through the hallway, passing by other employees who were also getting ready to leave. He nodded and smiled at them, exchanging pleasantries as he walked towards the elevator. Once he reached the elevator, he pressed the button and waited patiently for it to arrive.
As the elevator doors opened, Lucas stepped in and pressed the button for the ground floor. The elevator began to descend slowly, and Lucas leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes momentarily to relax.
As the elevator reached the ground floor, the doors opened and Lucas stepped out into the lobby. He walked towards the front desk to bid the receptionist goodnight before heading out of the building.
The cool evening breeze hit Lucas’s face as he stepped out of the building, he took a deep breath and exhaled, feeling the stress of the day slowly dissipate. Lucas got into his car and drove towards his home, enjoying the quiet and peaceful ride.
Lucas couldn’t help but smile as he walked towards the stairs, his heart feeling lighter than it had all day. Coming home to Andrianne always seemed to have that effect on him. He knew that their marriage was merely a contract, but over time, he had grown to appreciate her presence in his life.
As he entered their room, he took off his suit jacket and hung it on the rack by the door. He then unbuttoned his shirt and walked over to the en suite bathroom to wash his face and freshen up.
After a few minutes, Lucas came out of the bathroom feeling refreshed and energized. He walked down the stairs and into the dining room, where Andrianne had set the table for two.
The aroma of the delicious dinner Andrianne had made filled the room and made his stomach growl in anticipation. Lucas took a seat at the table, and Andrianne poured him a glass of wine.
“How was your day?” Andrianne asked with a gentle smile.
Lucas sighed, taking a sip of his wine before replying. “It was a long day. Work was hectic as usual.”
Andrianne nodded sympathetically. “I can only imagine. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Lucas shook his head, a small smile on his face. “No, thank you. You being here is enough.”
Lucas and Andrianne sat down to dinner, and Andrianne served Lucas the dish she had been preparing while they conversed.
“So, Andrianne, tell me more about this Steve guy,” Lucas asked, breaking the silence.
Andrianne’s heart sank at the mention of Steve’s name. She had hoped that Lucas wouldn’t ask about him, but she knew that she couldn’t keep it a secret forever.
“Well, we went to college together,” Andrianne began hesitantly. “But that was a long time ago.”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed as he prodded for more information. “Did you date him?”
Andrianne shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “Yes, we did date for a little while.”
Lucas was taken aback by Andrianne’s admission. He had no idea that she had dated someone before him, let alone someone who she had kept in contact with.
“Why didn’t you tell me about him?” Lucas asked, his tone slightly accusatory.
Andrianne sighed, feeling guilty. “I didn’t think it was important. We haven’t spoken in years.”
Lucas studied Andrianne’s face, trying to decipher her thoughts. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the thought of Andrianne being with another man.
“Did you still have feelings for him?” Lucas asked, his voice slightly strained.
Andrianne shook her head quickly. “No, of course not. I love you, Lucas.”
Lucas let out a sigh of relief at Andrianne’s answer. He didn’t want to think about the possibility of Andrianne having any lingering feelings for Steve.
“Alright, I believe you,” Lucas said finally. “But just be careful around him. I don’t trust him.”
Andrianne nodded in agreement, knowing that Lucas was just trying to look out for her.
The rest of dinner was filled with light conversation, and Andrianne did her best to keep her mind off of Steve. She was relieved when the meal was finally over and they retired to the living room to watch TV.
But even as they settled in on the couch, Andrianne couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. She knew that her past with Steve had the potential to cause problems with Lucas, and she wasn’t sure how to navigate the situation without hurting anyone.
As Andrianne entered her room, she could feel the tension from her conversation with Lucas still lingering. She sat on her bed, picked up her phone, and saw a text from Steve.
“Hey, Andrianne. Can we meet up tomorrow? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Andrianne hesitated for a moment, wondering if meeting up with Steve was the best decision, given everything that had happened recently. But curiosity got the better of her, and she replied, “Sure, where and when?”
Steve quickly responded, “How about the coffee shop near your office at 2 PM?”
“See you then..,” she said and hung up immediately. She needed to sort some stuff out with Steve and she needed to do that fast.