LUKE“Congratulations, Mr. Alejandro.” Cameron Waltz stood, reaching her hand out to me. I stood and accepted her hand. A smirk played on the side of her lips.
“Thank you.”
“I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you. I just needed a diversion. I can’t let the public know that I’m selling a property. I’m sorry, your girlfriend probably hates me right now.”
“I didn’t tell her about you.”
She let go of my hand and chuckled. “And I am right that you have a girlfriend. I wish we could meet again, Luke, but that would be impossible. I’m going back to Edinburgh in two days.
“Yes.” And it’s Scarlet’s commencement day in two days. I had no reason to stay here. “Thank you, Cameron.” I closed the binder with the contract and the title of the sixty percent ownership of the Hightower Club and handed it to Rebecca.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you that much. I’ve been trying to reach Mr. Velazquez, but I’m afraid he’s out of town.”
“I heard.” The fucker was, unfortunately, hard to catch. The last time Ryan was tracking him, we were told that he was back in Sydney with his first wife.
She cocked her head. “Then I guess you’ll just have to find him when you go back to Cambridge.”
“What do you mean? I thought he was in Australia.” Wait, was he really?
“I’m sorry, Luke. He’s in Massachusetts.”
I grabbed her hand. “Who told you that?”
“Ow?” She glared at my hand.
“Who told you?”
She pulled away. “I have a source. And why don’t you ask your lawyer? I told her, but I did ask not to tell you right away.”
“Fuck!” I cursed. “Did you know about this, Rebecca?” I turned to her.
“I knew, but…”
“You knew, and you didn’t tell me? Why?”
“Because Miss Waltz was right. We couldn’t let you get distracted—”
“That’s not a fucking excuse! Set a flight to Cambridge right now. We’re flying back today.”
“But Luke—”
“I said right now, Rebecca!” I shouted.
“Yes, sir.” Rebecca excused herself and exited the room.
“You didn’t tell me about this, but you told her?” I shook my head.
“I had to. I still needed you here.”
“But you know that I am looking for him. You said you’ll help, but you chose to be selfish, is that it?”
“I didn’t say that I would help, Luke. The Hightower was our only agreement. We have a business here. He’ll probably come to you when he finds out about this.”
“You have a point, but you knew something, and I let you waste my time here, playing around.” But I don’t care if I see him or not. He was close to Scarlet all this time. I clenched my fist. “Thank you for everything again, Ms. Waltz. I hope we never see each other again.”
“No, Luke, it’s not like that—”
I didn’t want to listen to her anymore. I walked out of the door and left the office. Rebecca was waiting for me in the car when I came out of the building. Ryan was in the driver's seat. I slid into the car and slammed the door.
“I couldn’t believe both of you have been lying to me,” I told them.
“I’m sorry, Ryan didn’t know,” Rebecca said.
“What is it, Rebecca?” Ryan asked.
“Velazquez is in Cambridge.”
“What?” Ryan yelled. “What the hell are you thinking, Becks?”
I exhaled a sharp breath, letting the frustration out of my system. “I’ll talk to her, Ryan.”
“I’m so sorry, Ryan, Luke…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, my voice tight.
“I wanted you to get this deal. I still believe that this is the closest way to get to him. So, what if he’s in Cambridge? He was hard to find. Waltz was right. He will come to you himself when he found out you partly owned the Hightower.”
“But that’s still fucked up. We’ve been trying to track him down for a week—” Ryan snapped and then sighed. “We didn’t sleep.”
“He’s been close to Scarlet. Didn’t you realize that?”
“I know, but nothing has happened to her—”
“Yet!” “Yes, sir.” Ryan started the car and pulled out.
SCARLETWe were getting close to the big day. I was too nervous; I still wasn’t in the right mindset. I’d been thinking about a lot of things. Mom stayed in the apartment with me yesterday, but Thomas asked us to come to Luke’s apartment because he was coming tonight. I didn’t know if I could face Thomas. Mom was planning to tell Thomas about my employment offer in Edinburgh tonight. Also, I hadn’t heard from Luke since that day. He didn’t text or call. I guess I was right about him. He’d betrayed me, and there was no more reason to talk to him.
We went to Luke’s apartment; it still felt and smelled the same. I could see and smell Luke everywhere. I remembered how we made love on the couch. I remembered how he kissed me whenever he got the chance. In his room, in the kitchen, or the living room… It was making me dizzy. It was such a bad idea to come back here.
I helped Mom to cook dinner that late afternoon. She prepared a salmon dish, and she made Thomas an apple pie for dessert. I remembered it was all his favorites. The food was still hot; Thomas came right on time. Mom greeted him sweetly at the door, covering his face with her deep kisses. Thomas squeezed her tight. He loved my mother, there was no doubt about that. Apparently, I betrayed him by not telling him everything. It was partly my fault he was cold to me.
I watched them, and I admired their relationship. They were perfect for each other. A relationship like theirs wouldn’t ever happen to me. I could never kiss Luke like that in front of our parents.
“Scarlet, honey?” Thomas called out.
“Huh?” I blinked. He called me by his usual endearment. “Yes?”
“What are you doing there? Come here. I’m here to congratulate you. Don’t just stand there. Come.”
I grinned back. Really? Did he mean that? I ran towards him. Thomas opened his arms and embraced me tightly. I hugged him back. I almost wanted to cry. No, I was already crying. I admit that I miss Thomas too, and his sweetness.
“Why are you crying?” he asked softly, stroking my hair. I shook my head. I buried my face in his chest.
I missed you, Thomas. “Oh, that is so sweet. I love seeing you like this. But the food is getting cold, my dear. Why don’t we eat first and continue this moment later?” Mom walked back to the dining room.
“Yes, we are coming. Just a minute,” Thomas said.
I stared up at Thomas. “I am so sorry.”
Thomas wiped away my tears with his thumb. “I know you are sorry. I’m proud of you. But can I talk to you alone later?”
“What is it about?”
“Later.” He smiled.
“Is this something I can’t tell Mom?”
“Yes.”
I sighed. It’s probably about my secret. “Sure. Of course.”
Thomas and I walked to the dining table. Mom served us the food, and she sat beside Thomas. We looked like a happy family, only Luke wasn’t here. This was what we’re supposed to be. A family.
“Oh, by the way, Thomas. Scarlet got a job offer to Edinburgh.” Mom announced proudly.
Thomas nodded. “Really? That’s good.”
That’s it? Is he not going to oppose it? “You think so?” I asked.
“Yes. Why not? It’s a good start for your career.” Thomas cut his salmon and started eating.
“But AT—”
“AT has a lot of interns. You are too good for that position. I could give you a higher one when you come back.”
“Really? You are allowing me?”
He laughed. “Why not?”
Mom clapped her hands. “Oh, this is wonderful. What did I tell you? You have nothing to worry about. We just have to tell Luke—”
“No,” Thomas said. “Don’t tell him.”
Mom frowned. “Why not? Scarlet and Luke seemed very close now, Thomas.”
“Yes, they are very“I still think that we have to, Thomas. He’s in London right now, but he’s coming to her graduation,” Mom said.
“I’ll decide when we should tell my son.” Thomas continued to eat his food. Mom and I remained silent.
Thomas asked me to talk to him upstairs after the meal. Mom volunteered to wash the plates, so I came upstairs and followed Thomas to Luke’s office. Thomas was sitting in Luke’s chair when I found him. He put down the book he was holding.
“Scarlet.” He said, “Come here.”
I nodded. I sat on the chair in front of him.
“I heard you’re leaving on the day of your graduation?”
“How did you know?”
“I know“Yes. I am going with my friend Katherine.”
“I can help you and your friend. I’ll purchase a house for you, so you don’t need to rent, and I’ll provide everything you might need.”
“That’s very generous, Thomas.” But I couldn’t stop asking myself, how did he know? I bit my lower lip. “But I’m sure Katherine already has a place for us.”
“Just do what I say, Scarlet,” he pressed.
“Why are you doing this? I don’t understand at all.”
“I don’t want you to think that I want you to leave. You are my daughter now, and I will do everything for my family. Including keeping you and Luke away from each other.”
My eyes grew wide. My jaw dropped. He knew. He knew what was going on with me and Luke.
“H-how…”
“I know everything about you, Scarlet. I know because I have to know. I already knew who you were when I married your mother. I know everything, and it’s because I love you and Gene so much that I’m going to do this. Break up with Luke, Scarlet. You two can’t be together. You’re supposed to be siblings.”
My hands were sweaty, and I couldn’t stop the shaking. My heart was pounding fast in my chest. I could almost hear my heartbeat.
“How did you know? If you knew, why didn’t you do anything?”
“I didn’t know until I saw it with my own eyes.” Thomas pulled something out of his coat and tossed it onto the table. It was pictures of me and Luke together. We were kissing in public, there were pictures of me in front of the school. He’d had us followed? Why didn’t I notice this?
I looked away. I began to cry.
“For Gene’s sake, Scarlet. I am going to ask you to stay away from my son. Forget everything about him and come back to us when you think you are ready.”
I wiped away the tears. “I don’t think I can just break up with him.”
“You will, because I can’t let Luke go crazy on his own in London, chasing the man who’s after you.”
I looked back at him. “What?”
“Luke is looking for a man named Raoul Velazquez. I think you know what I’m talking about.”
I grabbed my mouth. “No! That can’t be true.”
The reason why Luke’s in London was because of me? It wasn’t about the woman, but for me? But I hadn’t believed him. I’d pushed him away and accused him of cheating.
I’m so sorry, Luke.“I want him to stop his madness,” Thomas said. “Luke can’t do anything about it anymore. I’m going to help you get rid of the man if you leave without telling him. Break up with my son. Please, Scarlet… for the sake of this family.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll have to tell your mother. Your choice.”