LUCAS' POV.
As I washed my hair in front of the mirror, a smile lit my face. Apart from Emily being beautiful, her lying about not sleeping with me was adorable. The way her cheeks heated up, and her dark, mysterious eyes seemed to increase in size, while looking all around, except my eyes, was endearing.
She was a bad liar, and she knew it, but she was a fierce one. She didn't back down, even though she knew she was really bad at lying, and that I probably had her all figured out.
It got me more intrigued, and interested in her. Why? To other girls, such a night was considered as a rare opportunity— something they couldn't imagine in their wildest dreams.
If they managed to sleep with me, they wouldn't let me go. They'd do anything to talk about it, and keep the memory fresh. They might even attempt to sleep with me again. I was sure some would definitely lie that they were pregnant just to keep a hold on me.
But she was just throwing it away? Even denying it? Or did she not know who I was, and the amount of wealth I controlled? No, she definitely knew about it because John was also wealthy.
We came from a background of wealth. So why didn't she act like other girls, and latch on to me? She was already over with John, so I really couldn't understand her reasons.
It made me more curious about her, and the kind of person she was. What had made John hold on to her for years? The John I knew was a player— the sweet and shy type that led girls to believe he'd never hurt a fly. Unfortunately, when the day came when he was tired of them, they'd realize that 'Oh, he's damn well capable of hurting more than a fly.'
John was a major heartbreaker. He and Tray would make good friends. From time to time, I wondered why they weren't already good friends.
After taking my bath, I pulled back my curtains to let the light shine into my room, and grimaced at the brightness of it.
The room was perfect. I stood at the window for minutes, simply taking in the beautiful view of the mansions next to me, and the people beyond the mansion's gates, going about their daily businesses.
It was late in the afternoon, and I guessed it was a really good idea not to go to work. I would have slept in.
After changing into a brown sweatshirt, and a pair of white joggers, I went down the stairs, ruffling my hair. It felt so good to do that. Usually, I was unable to touch my hair because I didn't want to ruin my hours of styling. (Just kidding— I don't take hours to style my hair. We can agree those are lady things, right?)
The living room was split into two. One that led to the staircase, and to the dining room, and beyond it lay another with the door to the foyer, John's second study, another staircase leading to more rooms, and the large kitchen.
I went there to make myself some coffee, and saw Katie, and Emily typing. Katie was sitting on the chair with her laptop on her lap, while Emily was on the floor, her legs curved inward, and her laptop on the center table.
She stretched, raising her hands, and holding her fingers, but when she saw me, she took her hands down immediately, and flushed pink.
"I thought John gave you offices?" I asked, walking past them to the kitchen.
"Our office spaces are a little too small, so I thought it'd be better if we came down here." Katie replied, turning to look at me, as I walked past.
"Oh, keep up the goodwork." I commented, and a maid bowed in front of me.
"What would you like, sir? We'll have it ready." She offered, and I placed a hand on my chin.
"A Latte." I replied, and she bowed again. "We'll have it ready. You only need to wait a while." She said, with her cheeks colored pink, and turned around, leaving.
I sat on a sofa opposite Katie and Emily, and Katie looked up.
"How was New Zealand? I was told the scenery is amazing." She said, softly.
"It is, indeed. I got on a Ferris Wheel while I was there, and can't deny that the view was good. Later, we went to see the water. There were beautiful rocks on the edges, and the waves, against the background of the sky, had a beautiful calming effect." I said, with a smile, recalling it.
I liked Katie. She also was unlike other ladies. Maybe because she was John's secretary, but she didn't try to chase or seduce me, and even though I'd never taken advice from her; she seemed to be capable of giving good suggestions.
She was calm, observant, sensitive, reserved, and listened well.
"How was the trip overall?" She asked, and I took some time to think. Stephanie had been a pain in the neck, but she had later realized she had been demeaning her worth, so maybe the trip wasn't all that bad?
"I think it was great." I replied, and shortly, I was served my Latte. My eyes fell on Emily, who was unnaturally focused on her work. I doubted she was really typing.
The sound of her pressing a single key stood out in my ear, and I was guessing it was the back key. She wasn't concentrating, and was writing stuff she had to delete seconds after.
"I presume you've had breakfast?" I asked Katie.
"I had a few slices of bread, but I'm afraid she hasn't taken a thing." She said, and I saw Emily scoff.
"Because someone is clearly so childish, and keeps locking the fridge." She muttered under her breath, but I heard it.
"If they locked the fridge, then why don't you ask the maids for something?" I asked, and she looked up in shock.
"Uh, I didn't mean to… Did… did you hear that?" She paused, then added, "Sir?"
"Why don't you ask the maids to make you something?" I repeated.
"John warned the maids not to serve her, as she's not the mistress of his house." Katie replied, looking at the ground, and I looked at Emily, who was staring at her laptop with a defiant look.
Why was John still so childish?
"Well, I'm about to have Brunch. You both should join me." I said, getting to my feet, and Katie signalled to Emily to pack up, and she did.
I ordered the maids to make a meal for three people, and they made us a healthy breakfast of chicken broth, steamed vegetables, and baked potatoes.
It was a home-made meal that I had longed for continuously.
"I have a question, Katie." I said, with a little smile, suddenly feeling in the mood to tease Emily about her little lie.
"Go on, Alpha Lucas." She said, dropping her fork, which was about raising a baked potato to her mouth.
"You can keep on eating." I said, stealing a glance at Emily, who continued to spoon broth into her mouth, warily. I knew she was listening to everything we were saying, even though she appeared to be oblivious, and unbothered.
"Thank you." Katie said, and chewed on her potato slowly.
"So, you're a woman, right? It's a question only women can know. Actually, there's this friend of mine. You know him—Tray."
"Ohh. Yes, I do."
"So, he's been bothering me with questions, but I have no reply, so here's the question. Can a woman forget about spending a night with a stranger, even though she was drunk?" I asked, and Emily stopped, with her spoon in her mouth, then continued to take in more broth.
"Hm. I think it should be unforgettable, unless she has a bad memory. Why I think it will be unforgettable is because it's forbidden. They say the forbidden fruit tastes sweeter, not because it's special, but because it's forbidden. She knows deep down that she's not supposed to do it, but she's doing it. I really don't see how she'll forget it, unless she's used to sleeping around with strangers." Katie said, and I turned to Emily with a smile.
"What do you think, Emily? Do you think she could really be used to sleeping with strangers?" I asked, and she began to cough, as the broth choked her.
Katie immediately poured water into a glass, and Emily drank it all, and continued to cough.
Her eyes went red, and filled up with tears, and Katie began to pat her back.
I smiled secretly. She was probably imagining that I was insinuating she was a loose woman who went around sleeping with anyone, including strangers.
Later that afternoon, I found Emily arranging her office, trying to free up space. I knocked softly on the open door, and she turned.
She bowed, and looked a little uncomfortable to see me.
"I wanted to ask if you were okay." I said, and she looked puzzled at first, before giving a really short, and awkward laugh.
"The choking is completely gone now. You don't need to worry about that." She said, and I raised a brow.
"I'm talking about yesterday."
"Oh. Yesterday." Her cheeks heated up, and she looked away. "Yes, I'm fine." She replied, although it seemed to be filled with doubt.
"I apologize on his behalf." I said, and her dark eyes met mine. Once more, I couldn't tell what was going through them.
She simply nodded, and held her hands together.
I really wished to know her genuinely. She opposed everything I thought I knew about women. I had tagged them all as the same, but she was showing me a really different side I didn't know a woman could have.
Being a naturally curious person, I was intrigued, and wanted to know all the sides to her.
"Would you take my hand of friendship if I extend it to you?" I asked, and she loo ked up at me, with confusion lighting her eyes for a second, and for once, I could see through her.
I predicted her answer.