LUCAS'S POV
I kept my voice low but firm as I turned to Clara. "You can't be talking to Evelyn about anything," I said, my tone sharp enough to slice through the charged air. There was no room for argument, and I made sure my words conveyed that.
Clara's eyes widened, her surprise quickly giving way to defensiveness. "I didn't tell her anything," she replied, her voice edged with indignation.
I didn't buy it. Folding my arms, I fixed her with a steady gaze. "I was watching you the whole time," I said, my words deliberate. "What were you two talking about?"
She waved a hand dismissively, her tone as casual as she could muster. "It's basically decoration stuff," she said. "No big issue."
I narrowed my eyes, unconvinced. "If it was just about decorations, why did Evelyn look so shocked?" I pressed, each word carrying a sharper edge than the last.
Clara hesitated, her gaze darting away from mine. "She asks a lot of questions, you know," she muttered, trying to sound nonchalant. "I'm sure she was just surprised."
The flimsy excuse only fueled my suspicion. I leaned forward, my voice dropping another octave. "Clara, I was watching you the whole time," I said again, more forcefully now. "What were you really talking about?"
Her defenses started to crack, the faintest flush of guilt coloring her cheeks. "She asked about the photo I showed her," Clara admitted, her voice quieter now. "The one of your condo. She seemed surprised, that's all."
I felt my frustration rise, a tide threatening to crash. Taking a step closer, I fixed her with a hard stare. "Clara, I need to know everything," I said, my voice cutting through her weak attempt to deflect. "What else did she say?"
Clara's face hardened with a flicker of annoyance, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Lucas, she was curious, okay?" she snapped. "She wanted to know why I was decorating your place and why you didn't mention anything. She even asked about your involvement in the charity event. I tried to keep it casual, but she kept pushing."
The frustration boiled over, and I ran a hand over my face, rubbing at my temples as if that could ease the tension. "This is exactly what I was afraid of," I muttered, more to myself than to her. "That's why I needed you out of there when I called her aside." I leveled her with a serious look. "Evelyn can't know more than what's necessary, Clara. She has her place, and you have yours. That's why you're here."
Clara's posture slumped slightly, the fight seeping out of her. Her eyes dropped to the floor, and she let out a long sigh. "Alright," she said, her voice quieter, almost contrite. "I apologize. It won't happen again."
For now, I'd take her word. But I knew this wasn't the end of it.
Not by a long shot.
Satisfied for the moment, I nodded toward the car. "Let's go," I said, my voice tight.
Clara and I climbed into the car, and I steered us toward my condo. The city's neon lights streaked past, but the hum of traffic did little to distract me. My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I turned the conversation to something more pressing.
"Do you have any plans for the full moon?" I asked, keeping my tone casual as I glanced at Clara. "We need to move to the next phase of the plan."
"I was planning to join the hunt in Suncrest," she replied, her voice steady but distant.
I shook my head, my jaw tightening. "You know I need you here in Mooncrest," I said firmly. "I'll make it worth your while."
Clara's expression hardened instantly. "I don't want to get involved with what's happening in Mooncrest," she said, her voice laced with defiance.
I frowned, the weight of her words sinking in. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, my tone sharper than intended.
She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "First," she began, "I think Evelyn likes you, but she doesn't know how to tell you."
I let out a low chuckle, the corner of my mouth twitching upward in a smirk. "Really?" I asked, amusement flickering in my voice. "That makes things easier for me."
Clara's gaze shifted to me, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She was shocked when she saw the picture on my phone," she added cautiously.
My curiosity flared. "The one of my condo?" I demanded, my tone sharp.
She pulled out her phone. "Yes," she said, her voice almost accusatory. "Why didn't you tell her?"
I sighed, the weight of my choices pressing harder against my chest. "It's none of your business, Clara," I said, my voice carrying a warning edge. "Knowing very little will save you."
Her expression flickered, a flash of hurt crossing her face before she quickly masked it.
"And just so you know," she said, her tone clipped, "I had to email her a copy of the picture. She'll probably use it to confront you."
I clenched my jaw, swallowing down my frustration. "Thanks for the heads up," I said flatly.
The rest of the drive was cloaked in silence, thick and heavy, broken only by the occasional sound of her phone tapping against her knee.
I glanced over at her once, her face unreadable, her eyes locked on the road ahead.
Finally, as we pulled into the lot outside my condo, I decided to break the silence. "What's the second thing you wanted to talk about?" I asked, cutting the engine.
Clara turned toward me, her brow furrowing as if she were puzzled. "What second thing?" she asked.
I gave her a pointed look. "You said you don't want to get involved in what's happening in Mooncrest," I reminded her. "The first thing was Evelyn liking me. So what are the second or possibly other stuff you want to talk about?"
A slow, mischievous smile spread across her lips, her gaze dropping for a moment before locking onto mine. "Ah, that," she said, her voice dripping with teasing. "Well, the second thing I can share, but any other stuff?" She leaned closer, her breath warm against my ear. "That should be my little secret."
Her smile turned sly as she whispered, "And since I'm playing ball with you, Lucas, I think you should return the favor. Or rather," she added, her voice dropping lower, her breath warm against my ear, "play with your balls."
The air between us was electric, a dangerous cocktail of tension and unspoken intentions. I knew I had to tread carefully if I wanted the information.