Chapter 61

Lucien’s mind was filled with a rush of emotions, the main ones being dread and discomfort.

Why was she here?

They were seated at the table, having lunch. He could barely chew.

He sat at the head of the table, Sabrina on his right and Kendall directly across her on his left.

“I just don’t get why you had to fire her,” Sabrina said with a pout. “Kendall’s great at her job. And she needed to get used to the office before joining Finance, that’s why she took the job.”

He ignored his daughter, putting another bite of the thinly sliced roast chicken in his mouth. Why was Kendall here? That was all Lucien could think about. Why had she come?

His chest burned with unease and guilt, sending heat through his veins until his skin tingled with sweat. Was she here for some sort of revenge because he’d fired her? He didn’t see why else she’d show up, the very day he’d fired her, and suggest he join them for lunch.

He’d wanted to refuse, but the sudden anxiety of leaving her alone with Sabrina had held back his words, forcing his feet forward even though he wanted to ignore her and leave the room.

Having to face her this soon after they’d nearly gone further than just a kiss last night was more torture than he’d expected to deal with.

How was he supposed to sit with her, eating lunch as if he hadn’t been moaning into her mouth last night? How was he supposed to act as if he hadn’t come too close to ripping her shirt off and indulging his desires?

His eyes fell closed now, and he clenched his jaw, fighting away the shameful thoughts.

“Dad!”

Lucien flinched, opening his eyes. “What?”

Sabrina huffed, frowning at him. “I said, when can Kendall go back to work?”

He stared at his daughter, his gaze intensifying with anger and his hand tightening around his fork until his hand trembled.

Some days, he wanted to track his wife down and send her their daughter in the goddamn mail.

“She will not be returning,” he muttered tightly. The audacity of Sabrina to ask that. It was all her fault. If she hadn’t been so nosy about his life to the point of sending Kendall to spy on him, they wouldn’t have gotten to this point.

He wouldn’t have found out about her crush on him, and he wouldn’t have started noticing how grown and beautiful she’d become. He wouldn’t have gotten tempted, he wouldn’t have learnt how her lips taste. And he wouldn’t have gotten addicted to that taste.

“That makes literally no sense,” Sabrina said. “You haven’t had a secretary better than Kendall in—”

“Sabrina, one more word about this and you’re moving out of my house.”

She froze, staring at him.

His tone had been icier than a winter night, and she got the feeling that he wasn’t joking. She nervously blinked.

“W-what? But… th-this was grandpa’s house. And, in your will, you’re leaving it to me.”

“I’m changing my will today,” he murmured.

Her mouth fell open, and she huffed. “You know what?” With a sudden angelic smile, she stood. “I’ll get some fruits for dessert.”

Lucien silently continued eating as Sabrina left. Mentioning his will was the only way he could ever completely shut her up.

Sitting stiffly in her chair, Kendall stared at her chicken salad and wished she could disappear. The tension between her and Lucien was ridiculous.

They didn’t look at each other, nor did they speak, but the silence was loud with everything they wanted to say.

Lucien sat in silence, refusing to take the risk.

It was ridiculous. Before, they would be deep in conversation about any of their favourite topics, so it wouldn’t be strange to find them alone, talking. But now, doing so felt like such a crime. Like anyone who looked in their direction to see them talking would immediately know that he’d nearly slid his fingers down the front of her panties last night.

Turning away, Kendall swallowed hard. It was the perfect chance to ask him why he’d fired her, but Kendall couldn’t find the courage either. She wanted to apologize for bursting into his office last night, but didn’t think it would make sense since she was planning on pissing him off again by getting involved with the Al-Siddiq issue as Justin had asked her.

And that would be her revenge on Lucien for firing her. Since he wanted her so far away from his business, she’d get deep in it and do such a good job, he’d have to humble himself and thank her. Hopefully, he’d even be so grateful, he’d ask her to come back to work. Then she could turn him down!

A smirk curved the corner of her lips as she took comfort in the future prospect of having him on the humble end of their odd dynamic.

Silently glancing at her, Lucien lowered his gaze in horror. She was smirking. He’d been right, he thought. She knew he was uncomfortable, and she was enjoying it. She had come here to take revenge by making him deliberately uncomfortable.

“Peaches, anyone?” Sabrina returned.

Just like that, the tension shattered, and the moment was over. Lucien inhaled and blinked in surprise at the realization that he’d been holding his breath.

“Actually…” Kendall’s hesitant voice floated softly between them. She forced a smile, standing. “I’m tired. I’ll take a nap. Let’s go out for boba when I wake up.”

Crestfallen, Sabrina opened her mouth to stop her, but then her phone rang.

Sighing, she grabbed the phone, answering the call as Kendall walked away from the table. “Hello?” She nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be available on Tuesday. Since we’ve signed all the papers, it should be easy to fund.” She sighed, listening to her accountant. “Well, I’m not sure. Let me ask my dad.” She looked over her shoulder. “Dad, does—”

His chair was empty.

Sabrina blinked, slowly turning back around. “Uhm, Whitney, let me get back to you, I need to check the contract. Call my home office number in ten minutes, and I’ll confirm with you.”

She sighed again, muttering curses as she headed to her office.

After thanking Helena for lunch, Kendall was walking through the house toward Sabrina’s wing. She took a bite of the apple in her hand and sighed, thinking of the outrageously awkward moment she’d had to endure during lunch.

She’d told herself to act like nothing was wrong and accept Sabrina’s request for a sleepover, but it was easier said than done when she was face to face with Lucien. The good thing was that she wouldn’t need to see him again.

She was approaching the library and looked at the doors with longing, wishing she could lose herself in a book for hours, the way she used to. But it was too dangerous. He could walk in at any moment.

She chose to ignore the library and kept walking, but unfortunately for Kendall, she wasn’t given a choice.

The door opened, and a hand suddenly grabbed her arm, yanking her back.

She was snatched into the dark library, another hand covering her mouth to muffle her scream as she was shoved back against the door.