Chapter 51

He wanted to kill Justin.

“Great seeing you again, Mr Sinclair,” Liam greeted politely.

Lucien didn’t even look up, nodding in response. “Mm. How’s your father?”

“He’s doing well, Sir. He sends his regards.”

“Who’s this?” Justin asked sweetly, looking up at Kendall.

He’d called them over, and now they both stood beside their table, pissing Lucien off.

Kendall cleared her throat. “Uhm, this is—”

“Justin Delcroix?” Liam said, flashing his white smile as he offered a handshake. “An honour to meet you, Sir. Congratulations on your recent partnership with Gold Holdings. Very inspirational.”

“Ohh?” Justin raised a brow, shaking his hand. “Thanks.”

“I’m Liam Ghates. Kendall’s…” He trailed off and gave Kendall a deep, meaningful look. “Friend.”

She sighed, looking away.

“Oh, la laaa,” Justin said, grinning. “A Ghates? Very interesting.”

Lucien wanted to walk away from the table so bad. Justin snickering and asking the two if they were dating was the least of his worries, he just didn’t want to be in Kendall’s presence at that moment.

He couldn’t even look at her. His plate was empty now, so he couldn’t even pretend to be busy eating. He put down his fork, wiped his mouth and picked up his coffee.

He was trying to act like she wasn’t there, but her presence at his side was so heavy that he was failing. He was hyperaware of her every move, feeling his skin tingle as though the air shifting when she moved physically caressed him.

Heat filled the inside of his shirt, suffocating him.

Lucien would do anything to undo last night. To stop feeling like some sort of predator.

The worst part was that he was sitting there, still thinking of what they’d done. He’d tried to erase the memory, but it persisted, showing him over and over again. The way she’d clung to him, moaning when he’d deepened their kiss.

His eyes snapped shut, and Lucien turned away, clenching his jaw.

Unaware of his torment, Justin was chatting on and joking around with the two. “Is this how kids date these days?”

“We’re not dating,” Kendall quickly corrected. “I…” She slipped a glance at Lucien. “I didn’t come here with him. We met right outside.”

“Oh?” Justin said. “Do you wanna join us then?”

Lucien opened his mouth to object.

“I can’t,” Kendall quickly said. “I’m meeting Sabrina here.”

“Oh, me too,” Liam said. “She uh... sent me a text to meet her here.”

Kendall’s heart dropped at his words, and she sighed, turning away. Great. She was setting them up again.

Kendall already knew Sabrina wouldn’t come. Her plan was to let Liam get Kendall alone. She’d done it before in high school. Kendall had been mad when she’d ended up alone in that room with Liam Ghates, but she’d told herself not to overreact. So, she had let it go.

This time, she wouldn’t even bother entertaining it.

“I have to go. Have a lovely breakfast.”

She turned and walked away.

“Ken!” Liam sighed, rushing after her. “Wait!”

Justin chuckled, shaking his head as he watched them go. “They’re cute. He clearly likes her, and she’s not having it.”

“He’s a little creep,” Lucien muttered.

Sighing, Justin looked gravely at him. “We really need to find out why you’re so bitter all the time, Lucien.”

Lucien rolled his eyes and grabbed his phone. “Says the man trying to control his adult sister’s life.”

“I have to,” Justin defended. “Else she’ll turn into Sabrina.”

Lucien let out a dry laugh. “Good one.”

“I practice them in the mirror,” Justin returned acidly, watching Lucien get up. “Where are you going?”

“Don't worry about that. Just finish your pancakes and go home.”

“That big…” Justin clenched his jaw, swallowing his insults as he watched him walk away from the table.”

Lucien stopped walking near the doors and raised his phone, staring at the screen. He let out a heavy exhale and raised a hand. He didn’t tap the screen just yet, his fingers hovering just over the screen.

Since when did he need to gather courage to phone Kendall? It was ridiculous.

Sighing, he scrolled until he found her name and dialled.

He’d wanted to put this off until later, but he had to do it now. Firstly, because he couldn’t put up with this awkwardness any longer. Secondly, because she probably needed an excuse to get away from Liam.

The guy followed her like a lovesick puppy. Or, like a leech, more like. He sucked the energy out of her in a very similar fashion, from what Lucien could see. And she, people pleaser that she was, didn’t even know how to say no.

Sabrina, being her best friend, should’ve been the person Kendall could call in that situation, but Lucien had already gathered that his daughter was the reason they’d met in the first place.

He watched the call ring, and then she picked up.

“Yes, Sir?”

Her voice was quiet and calm, but filled with a subtle tension only he knew the reason behind.

He cleared his throat. “Where are you?”

“I’m… in the parking lot.”

“Who is that?” Liam said in the background.

Kendall sighed. “It’s my boss! Go home.”

“No, but we’re supposed to spend the day together. It’s Saturday, Ken, I left the office for you. Please?”

Lucien stopped hesitating. “Do you need to get away?”

There was brief silence. “Yes. Please.”

He tensed. Her ‘please’ had been completely innocent, but it still sent his thoughts reeling back to a moment he really needed to stop thinking about.

The moment that broke him and shattered any resistance he’d been holding onto.

He cleared his throat. “Go to the office. And wait for me.”

A pause.

“Your office? Is… is there work to do?”

Kendall’s heart was pounding. He was going to fire her, wasn’t he? She closed her eyes in tense fear.

Regret twisted her entire being until she felt tears prick her eyes. Was she going to lose everything she’d worked for? Working at Ashcroft was her dream, and now she’d lose it because of her lack of discipline.

“No work,” he said. “We… need to talk.”