While Chance, Fait, and Koty were exploring the forsaken sixth floor, Lola was babysitting Tucker.
At first, Lola didn't mind so much. The car was quiet and he was content with patiently waiting until he was given further instruction.
That was until Tucker broke the precious silence and Lola's contentment was swiftly pushed aside.
"Um, Mr. Lola, was it?"
Lola glanced at Tucker and decided to just ignore him. This man had tried to harm his employer and then had caused them all to be out for the remainder of the night.
'Perhaps I am too old for this.' He thought to himself.
Tucker wasn't going to give up in a chance at conversation so easily. He stared directly at Lola with wide eyes, silently begging for a response.
While Lola preferred being let alone, Tucker was a social creature. He couldn't handle long periods of silence.
Feeling Tucker's burning gaze, Lola was slightly irritated. He relented slightly and coldly asked, "What is it Mr. Malone?"
"Do you think it is safe for them to go up there?" When Tucker had been forced to visit his old office, he had found the space unnerving. It almost felt like it was haunted.
"Mr. Flynn and Ms. Foster are more than competent enough to deal with whatever situation may arise." Lola said his piece and hoped that the chatty man would quiet down.
"But that creepy guy made it in there before. What if he set a trap?"
"Mr. Malone, did you see that person set a trap?"
"Well, no. But he could have gone back later."
"While I cannot speak for Mr. Addison nor can I accurately assume how Mr. Flynn approaches such situations, I can assure you that Miss Foster will not let them rush about unknowingly in a hazardous environment." Lola's annoyance increased tenfold with every word he said. His stare also had chilled a few degrees, causing Tucker to shiver.
The pressure from Lola's gaze was enough to keep Tucker quiet for about ten minutes. After that, he couldn't resist anymore and continued to harass the unlucky driver.
"Mr. Lola? Is your name an abbreviation of some sort? A nickname?"
"Lola is my surname." He furrowed his brows and tried to think of a way to shut the man up. Maybe if he just went along with it and used short answers, Tucker would figure it out.
Right?
Wrong.
"I see... Are you married Mr. Lola?"
"I am not."
Very wrong.
"Oh? Have you ever been in love?"
"Please, Mr. Malone, just say what you would like to." At this point Lola was ready to throw the man out of his car.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. Lola."
'No, you're not.' Lola thought to himself.
"But I talk more when I'm nervous. I can't help it." Tucker paused for a moment to gather what he wanted to say.
"I am afraid. More afraid than I've ever been in my entire life. You see, my Rita, she is my everything. I would do anything for her. When I heard she was in an accident, my world stopped. Everything stood still." He looked down at his hands and traced the fading red marks along his wrists.
"Mr. Lola, I can't lose her." He turned to look Lola in the eye. "Have you ever had someone like that?"
Lola didn't look away from Tucker's stare nor did he reply. This question was something one stranger really shouldn't ask another. It really was too intrusive.
For Lola, it brought long suppressed feelings to the surface.
Tucker wasn't sharp enough to see it in the darkened vehicle, but a spark of emotion flickered in Lola's icy blue eyes before he could shut it down.
Finally sensing that he had asked something he shouldn't have, Tucker turned to look out of the passenger window.
"Sorry." He murmured. "It's none of my business."
Thankfully, Lola's phone buzzed and broke the weird atmosphere that had formed in the car.
It was a text message from Chance.
[All set. One our way down.]
A very relieved Lola started the car and drove back around to the front of the building to pick them up. As soon as he parked, he swiftly fled the vehicle and stood by the door to wait for Chance and the others.
He somewhat wished they would take their time so he could enjoy a few minutes of peace (away from Tucker).
It was not to be however, less than a minute passed before they came out of the building and walked over to the car.
He opened the door and greeted them like usual and then returned to the driver's seat.
"Where to, Mr. Addison?"
"We still have some time before the meeting. I think it is just enough to snag some carryout and then head to the library." Chance couldn't help but feel excited when he thought about going back to the secret stash of books on the top floor.