Chapter 57

He didn’t deny it. He didn’t tell her she was wrong.

What he did was glare at her with so much anger that she nearly apologized.

Swallowing hard, Kendall slowly straightened to put space between them.

“This…” he started in a quiet, tightly controlled voice. “Is a lot of audacity from you, Kendall.”

She blinked fast, trying to hold onto her bravery. “You… p-pushed me to this point.”

“You’re too big to cry over a little scolding!”

“You didn’t just scold me, you made me feel stupid! You humiliated me in front of everyone.”

“Oh, please…” He swallowed, failing to meet her gaze. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“Yeah?” She scoffed, angrily wiping away tears. “You yelled at me in front of the entire boardroom. And then you yelled at me in front of Mr Delcroix! When I’m the perfect secretary, you don’t compliment me nearly as many times as you yell at me when I make mistakes.”

“Is that what you want?” he asked, narrowing his eyes in exhaustion. “Praise? Fine. You’ve done so well, Kendall. Well done, I’m so proud of you.”

“I..." She blushed. "I don’t want sarcasm!”

He sighed, closing his eyes. “Then what do you want from me?”

Her chin clenched, and she glared drunkenly at him. “Explain why you were being so mean. Otherwise, my mind will keep telling me that it’s because you hate me.”

He looked at her, pursing his lips.

She expected him to brush her off again, but this time, he didn’t.

“I just… I needed you to leave.”

She stared at him. “What? You wanted me to—”

“I wanted you to quit your job,” he admitted. “So, I wouldn’t have to fire you.”

“Why?!”

“I thought it would be easier if you left on your own.” He trailed off and, sighing, looked away. “Because I can’t handle having you around after…”

She stared dazedly at him. “That’s what you accused me of, wasn’t it? When really, it was you.”

“Kendall.”

“You’re the one who’s having a hard time looking at me. I was right. You’re not as unaffected as you pretended to be. You like me just as much.”

He clenched his jaw, his expression hardening. “Just as much? You said you didn’t like me at all. Was that a lie, then?”

She blinked. “What? No. That’s not w-what I meant.” She exhaled, facepalming. “Except it is. That is what I meant.”

He frowned at her as she muttered the words. “Is it so easy for you to admit?”

She huffed, stumbling in her heels and grabbing his table for balance. “What? I can’t even admit it? I’m not allowed to like you, and I can’t say it aloud?”

“Kendall—”

A sob broke out of her, and he watched her in confusion as she rambled hysterically about how mean and unfair he was.

“For goodness' sake,” Lucien muttered, pushing out of his seat and stalking around the table. “Listen to me.”

“Is it so easy for me to admit, he says,” she whispered frantically. “Is it so hard for you? What’s so hard about it? I don’t understand—”

He grasped her wrists, gently shaking her. “Kendall.”

She paused, panting and finally looked at him, trying to focus her vision. “Oh? Did you apologize for ruining my day?”

He sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

She blinked drowsily, pouting.

“But there’s nothing for me to admit,” Lucien added. “All you’re feeling is confusion. You might not have real feelings for me, just admiration. Because I’ve been here, supporting you for the past eight years—”

“You’re saying I have daddy issues,” she muttered.

He blinked. “Well—”

“I don’t. Else, I’d have mommy issues too; they were equally horrible.”

He stared at her in surprise. How bad could her family life have been? “Well… there’s still some confusion. Either that or a childish crush that you need to get over—”

“Don’t tell me what to feel.” She was glaring up at him from under her lashes, bolder than he’d ever seen her be.

He tilted his head, a flicker of interest sparking in him. “Is this the real you, or is it just the alcohol making you so brave?”

“You’re surprised I’m not saying ‘yes, sir’ as usual?” She scoffed, poking a finger into his chest. “You think you can order me around and even tell me what to feel. And now you’re shocked that you can’t?”

“When your feelings are destructive, I should be the adult in the situation and—”

“I'm also the adult in the situation! I’m twenty-four years old—”

“And I’m forty-five,” he muttered, staring into her eyes. He tried to tell her with his gaze just how dangerous it was. “So, stop.”

She pouted. “Hypocrite.”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Or what?”

She tilted her head back, staring drunkenly up at him. “I’m not afraid of you, Lucien,” she whispered.

His body instantly tightened, and he clenched his jaw in firm resistance. It shouldn't feel so good to hear her whisper his name. “Stop it.”

“I’m not afraid of a man who’s too scared to want me,” she said softly.

The words hit him like whiskey. Warm, dizzying, and dangerous, dissolving his rationality and restraints. He should’ve sent her home the moment she walked in.

“And I’ll stop wanting you,” she murmured, each word drawing him deeper. “The day you finally admit you want me too.”

He hesitated. “...I don’t.”

Her eyes locked on his. “Liar.”

“Kendall—”

Her palm flattened on his chest, and she came a little closer. He didn’t move away. Couldn’t.

“You’re breathing harder,” she said quietly. “Your skin’s flushed, your pupils are dilated.”

Her fingers spread out against him, feeling the thud of his pounding heart against her palm.

Her gaze flicked down his body, then back to his. “Your body’s already confessing. So, stop lying.”

He swallowed hard, unable to look away from her.

“Stop torturing me,” she whispered. “Kiss me.”

Lucien’s breath hitched. “Kendall, I…”

“Do it,” she pleaded softly.

He knew it was wrong. Knew it would haunt him in the morning. But God help him, he couldn’t walk away.

He cursed under his breath. “Fucking hell.”

His hand curved around her waist, pulling her into him as he dipped his head and finally claimed her lips in a bone-melting kiss.

Pleasure soared through his body as she clung to him, parting her lips for him and giving in to their reckless behaviour.

Her tongue eagerly welcomed his, receiving everything he gave and loving the raw hunger in it. He tasted the tequila on her tongue and grew drunk on her scent, kissing her even more feverishly than he had the other night.

Her breasts were soft against his chest, her body fitting perfectly against him as her warm hands stroked his back. It felt too good to stop.

Tomorrow would come with consequences, Lucien already knew. But, just for now, he would live like life had no karma.