Ophelia's POV
"Hello, boss. Do you need something?" I heard one of my assistants ask as I marinated some chicken wings. I averted my stare towards the new visitor in the room with a warm smile.
"Hi, Lucas," I waved my free hand at him, which he reciprocated with a grin.
"Nah, I'm fine. I don't," He uttered to my assistant who nodded, and exited the room with a tray of order in his hands.
"How's everything going today, Lia?" He asked, nodding towards me.
"Great. What's up? Do you want to tell me something?" I asked, noticing the way he seemed nervous around me.
"Yeah. When you're done with your work, can you make a quick stop at my office before leaving?" He questioned. I was slightly confused by his question but regardless, I nodded before slamming the oven's door shut.
*Alright. I'm done now. They'll take care of the chicken. What do you want to say?" I asked, taking off my protective clothings and moving away from the kitchen equipments.
"Let's go to my office. This place makes me sorta nervous," He muttered, which made me chuckle and nod.
Afterward, I grabbed my handbag and trenchcoat. I darted a smile at him as I made to open the door.
But, Lucas was faster than me, "After you," He reached the door, and creaked it open with a mock bow.
"Thanks," I smiled with a nod.
The short trip to his office was comfortably silent as the both of us were tossed in our respective circles of thoughts. I was inwardly worried about why Lucas seemed so impatient to speak to me.
I wondered if I had done something wrong, or if my assistants had messed up with something.
I stepped into his office with a sigh, and stood awkwardly at the center of his room with a tensed gait.
Lucas cast a quick glimpse at me, and shook his head with amusement evident in his features before he trekked to the refrigerator to grab two cans of soda water.
"Why are you acting like I'm going to beat you, or something? Is this your first time being in my office? Take your seat, Lia," He fondly huffed, plopping on a couch and setting the cans of soda water on the table.
"Yeah. Right, I'll take a seat," I nodded before gingerly sitting opposite him. Lucas cackled like I had just made the funniest joke in the universe, and I was slightly confused but I didn't utter a word.
I squeezed the unopened can in my hand, "So, I'm here. What do you want to discuss with me?"
"Always business-like and straight to the point, aren't you?" Lucas teased, and took a big gulp from his can.
I just shrugged, "I have to go home to Jeremy very soon. It's almost seven in the evening,"
"Yeah. I understand. By the way, how is Jeremy doing? He's turning three this year, isn't he?" Lucas expertly changed the subject, which made me groan inwardly.
I didn't want him beating around the bush. It heightened my nervousness.
"Yeah. He is," I nodded.
"I really don't know how to put this without making it sound weird," Lucas began, sitting upright and setting the can of soda water on the table.
"Uhm, what is it? I promise, I won't get mad or anything at you. You can tell me," I gently reassured him.
"You won't?" He asked, with his tone laced with hesitance.
"Yeah. I won't," I darted a smile at him.
Lucas took a sharp exhale before he reached into his pocket, fished out two slips and slid them to me.
With a perplexed frown, I stared at the slips which seemed to be tickets, from a closer view before gazing back at him, "What are these?"
"I got tickets to this Cinema along the road. It's opening the day after tomorrow, and I'd like us to see a movie together there," He rapped out in a breath.
I let my jaw slack in shock as I eyed the tickets.
I was short of words. Lucas asking me out to the movies was totally random, and I didn't know how to politely turn him down without hurting his feelings.
"I-Can I think about this for a day? I'll give you my answer tomorrow," I replied.
Lucas's shoulders visibly sagged in relief as he nodded eagerly to my statement, "That's perfect. I thought you were going to reject me on a whim,"
My heart tug with guilt as I feigned a hurt expression, "Hey, I'm not that evil. I don't hate all men,"
"Right?"
"Yeah, right," I mumbled, ignoring the heaviness of my heart.
Thereafter, I uncapped the can of soda water with a sigh, and swallowed half of it in one gulp.
Things were definitely going to get really awkward between Lucas and I when I rejected him the next day. I thought as I wheeled my car out of the restaurant's parking lot onto the road.
+++
"Do you know how sexy you are?" I heard a familiar male voice ask, just as I was about to cross the hallway to Daphne's condo.
With curiosity blooming inside me, I tiptoed towards the direction of the voice, and hid behind a pillar.
I clasped my hand over my mouth in shock, and to prevent myself from hurling a curse at Ryan when I saw him literally eating Elena's face, with his hands roaming around her ass.
Elena let out soft chuckles as she looped her arms around his neck, and recaptured Ryan's lips.
The scene was too heartbreaking for me to bear.
A terrible wave of despondence crashed over me, and nearly caused me to burst into tears at the sight. But I swallowed the heavy lump of tears in my throat, and forced myself away from the scene.
With hot tears blinding my vision, I reached into my bag and retrieved my phone. I dialed the first number that came to mind as I walked to Daphne's.
"Hey, Lia. Did you get home safe?" Lucas's cool voice drifted into my ears.
I blinked away the clusters of tears pooling inside my eyes, "Hey. Yeah, I did,"
"That's great,"
"About the movie thing. I thought a lot about it, and I've decided to go on a movie date with you," I croaked, wiping my tears off with the back of my hand.
"Really?" Lucas sounded excited yet tentative.
"Yeah, really," I asserted.
"Thanks, Lia. I really appreciate it, and I promise I won't let you down. Have a nice night," He uttered before hanging up.
I slipped my phone into my bag, and with one last sniffle, I knocked on Daphne's door.
I was stupid for falling into Ryan's trap of lies again.