Chapter 50

“He’s a great guy!” Justin said, huffing angrily. “I don’t know what she wants. It’s been fifteen years since our parents passed away. I need to see to it that she’s married.”

He took the small plastic tongs and reached for the jar of sugar, dropping a cube into his coffee. “He’s loved her since they were in high school. I just don’t see why she won’t accept him. As her older brother, don’t I have the right to show her the error of her ways?”

He glanced up as he stirred his coffee. Pausing, Justin raised a brow.

It was like talking to a blank wall. Lucien was frowning dazedly into space, a strange look in his eyes.

Justin frowned. “Lucien!”

Blinking, Lucien looked at him. “Hm? What do you want?”

Scoffing, Justin leaned in. “You think I have nothing better to do than to sit here and waste time with you?”

“Go away then.”

“Go away?” Justin huffed. “You’re the one who told me to meet you at this café!”

Lucien blinked and looked around at the annoying elegance of his surroundings. Every surface was so shiny and clean, it nearly made his head hurt.

“Since when do you actually come when I call you?” he murmured.

Justin’s eyes narrowed. “Did someone provoke you last night, so you punched them unconscious, and now you’ve got them in your basement, but they won’t wake up, so you think they're dead? And you need me to help you get rid of the body.”

His lips twisting in a scowl, Lucien sighed. “Why don’t you start writing novels for a living? You’ve clearly got a wild imagination.”

“So, why do you look so guilty?”

“I don’t look guilty.”

“And since when do you leave the office to have coffee before lunchtime? Are you avoiding someone at the office?”

“I own the damn company, they should avoid me!”

Justin leaned in. “Who’s they?”

Lucien paused. He sighed, looking away. “I’m not avoiding anyone. It’s the weekend, Justin, there aren’t many people in the office.”

“So, why—”

“I missed you! Okay? I missed you, so I called you out for coffee.”

Silence followed his words, and they stared at each other.

Simultaneously, they turned away and gagged.

Justin covered his mouth, trying to control the nausea. “Never say that again.”

“I regretted it as soon as the words left my mouth,” Lucien apologetically said.

“God, I need food if I’m going to deal with your madness.” He raised a hand to order.

A waitress came and while she took Justin’s order, Lucien zoned out again.

He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn’t even know what to do. He hadn’t been able to go home because he didn’t want to face Sabrina, after what he’d done last night.

The regret burned through him. How could he fix things?

And Kendall. How would she see him now that he’d crossed that line? Already, he’d given her the impression that he didn’t care for emotional connections, only sexual ones. Would she think he was lusting after her?

Wasn’t he?

Groaning, he shook his head.

“What the heck is wrong with you?” Justin said, taking a bite of his thick pancakes. “Eat your food.”

Lucien blinked and looked down at the plate of food that had suddenly appeared before him.

“About Jemima,” he continued. “What do you think I should do?”

Lucien sighed, picking up his fork. “Let the poor girl marry whoever she wants.”

“But that’s just it! She doesn’t want to marry anyone. According to her, all men are dogs, and she won’t waste time with one. She’s so stubborn, I don’t know what to do with her. She has no interest in joining the company, she doesn’t want to get married…” He sighed.

Silently, Lucien took a bite of his food. He couldn’t even taste the eggs.

Justin leaned back in his chair. “Hey. What if I get her a good friend for positive influence?”

Lucien shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Is Kendall busy lately?”

His fork froze. He looked at him. “What?”

“Kendall. Is she busy lately?”

“How would I know? Why’re you asking me? Just cause I helped guide her through life, doesn’t mean I’m actually her father!”

Justin made flustered French noises, raising a hand. “Woah!”

Swallowing hard, Lucien busied himself with cutting his pancakes.

“I was asking because you’re her boss! If anyone would know how busy she is, it would be you.”

“…Oh.”

“Oh? Are you going to answer me?” Blinking, Justin glanced toward the entrance. “Oh! Never mind. She can answer me herself.”

“What?” Lucien went cold, stiffening up in every fibre of muscle he possessed.

Justin waved a hand. “Kendall! Hello.”

Lucien glanced over his shoulder and inwardly cursed, dropping his fork.

It was Kendall and that Liam boy.

“So, you’re saying Lucien Sinclair interfered?”

Harvey Mills nodded, hands politely tucked against his round middle as he looked at the back of the man before him.

Standing at the windows and looking out at the city, he sighed.

Then he turned around, and Harvey shrank away under the weight of his stare.

A smile curved his lips. “It’s okay,” Eliott Cross said.

Harvey gulped, feeling his heart clench in anxiety. He didn’t know whether to trust the smile on that face, it had deceived him too many times before. The smile of an angel often preceded great destruction, and if Harvey had to do one thing in his life, he wanted to escape whatever destruction Eliott Cross brought about.

“Lighten up, Harvey,” Eliott said, grinning down at him.

“You’re… you’re not mad?”

Sighing, Eliott brushed something off the lapel of his suit. “Why would I be? It isn’t the first time Sinclair’s gotten in my way. He has a knack for doing so.”

“R-right!” Harvey eagerly said. “Everyone knows how cold-hearted he is and how blatantly obvious he’s made his dislike of you! He probably did this on purpose. To sabotage you!”

Eliott chuckled. “You think? What could I have done to… make him consider me an enemy?”

Harvey blinked. Was Eliott pretending he and Lucien had no history? “You? N-nothing. You’re… you’re a saint, everyone knows that. He’s the problem.”

“He is, huh?” Eliott nodded, smiling even though his blood was boiling. “I should pay him a visit, then. Shouldn’t I?”