Chapter 48 Dates!

Chapter 48 Dates!

Lucian’s POV

I walked straight to the restroom and I pushed the door open slowly, the sound of it creaking felt louder than it should.

I was still lost in thought, replaying the way I'd just grabbed Tessa by the throat and yanked her up like she was nothing but an item to be treated roughly.

As I walked into the restroom, the white light inside suddenly felt too bright, almost annoying.

I squinted and walked to the sink slowly.

I turned the tap on, splashed water on my face and exhaled sharply like I was trying to wash away more than just exhaustion.

It suddenly feels like I've been holding my breath for years.

A few moments later, I lifted my head and looked straight into the mirror.

For a long time I didn't move, I just stood there staring at my own reflection like this was my chest time seeing me.

My eyes were red, not just from almost holding in tears, but from anger, from shame.

I looked totally different—not a good kind of different, but the kind that made me question when exactly I started breaking.

“You, killer!” The voice in my head suddenly snapped.

I kept staring at myself in the mirror until the reflection stopped feeling like mine. The man staring back at me looked like someone who had almost taken a life—and maybe…just maybe a part of him wished he had.

I tightened my jaw. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I muttered to myself quietly.

My voice sounded strange, rough. “You almost killed her. You lost it. You lost control.” I kept whispering as my fingers gripped the edge of the sink so tight I watched my knuckles gradually turn white.

Then I leaned closer to the mirror. “You don’t love Riley,” I whispered again like I was trying to convince the man inside the mirror.

“You don’t love her anymore. You just need answers. That’s it. That’s all.”

I kept assuring myself, but even as I said it, my chest felt heavy, like it had detected the lie before my mind did. And my eyes betrayed me, exposing a weakness I couldn’t afford.

Then suddenly, like someone pressed a button in my head, the memory came rushing back.

The first time I met Riley.

Honestly that day was the most ridiculous, and embarrassing moment of my life.

I remembered I was inside the male restroom at a private club, minding my business.

I was tired from meetings, annoyed with life, and just wanted some quiet moment so I'd gone to the bathroom to have my time.

That was when the bathroom door flew open so hard it hit the wall. I'd frowned immediately. “What idiot doesn’t know how to read signs?” I'd muttered.

But before I could even step out of the restrooms to check, I suddenly heard a female voice—slurred and careless. “Ugh… why is this place spinning?” And then she walked in—Riley.

She was completely drunk and wasted she didn't even realize she'd walked into the men restroom instead of the female’s

Her hair was messy, heels in her hand, makeup slightly smudged and she barely was able to stand straight.

She kept staggering from one point to another and didn't even care to look at my face.

Then a few moments later, she eventually stood straight and looked at me once, but then I was shocked again, she didn’t scream, didn’t panic.

She just blinked at me once and said, “Oh… hi.” Like it was normal. Like she had walked into a grocery store, not the men’s bathroom.

I could still remember how shocked I'd been that night.

The audacity!

I didn't even realize when I stepped out from the stall completely and started to stare at her like she was crazy. “You’re in the wrong place,” I remember warming her that night.

But just like every other drunk person, she didn't care.

She waved me off like I was just being dramatic.

“Relax, Mr. Serious. I just need to pee. I’m too drunk to care.” That was the only thing Riley had said that night.

And before I could even process what was happening, she'd already walked to the corner, squatted down on the floor like it was the most normal thing in the world and started to ease herself. No shame. No fear. Nothing.

The minute my brain caught up with what was happy, I immediately turned my back as if I hadn't just seen her pull down her white panties.

I tried to act normal but it didn't last long.

My ears were burning with the sound of her urine splashing loudly against the floor.

I couldn't bear it anymore so I suddenly snapped, “Are you insane?” I shouted.

Again, she just laughed. “Probably!” She said calmly almost too nonchalantly.

“You could get hurt walking into the men’s restroom like this. Do you realize that?” I realized I was starting to sound concerned.

Again, she ignored me like I haven't just said something helpful.

“Can you pass me the tissue?” she asked casually, like we were old friends and we've known each other for decades.

I couldn't believe her, so I just stood there frozen for a second.

“Come on, Mr. Serious, help me pass the tissue.” She slurred again.

Then, out of pure disbelief, I grabbed the tissue roll and stretched my hand back without looking at her.

“This is unbelievable,” I'd muttered. And Riley only giggled. “You’re kind of cute when you’re angry, you know that?” age joked about it.

I couldn't turn around because I didn't know if she was still undressed or not.

But right now, I just couldn't wait to grab her and throw her out of the restroom before other guys see her here and try to take advantage of her drunkenness.

Back then even before I first met Riley, people were already whispering about me—they gossiped that I might be gay since they've never seen me with any lady before.

They whispered that I wasn’t into women.

Saying I was too cold and too focused on business.

Honestly, part of the gossip was true—the part where they said I’m too money-oriented and tend to forget about having a social life.

It's true.

I never showed up to parties with dates. Never had rumors about girlfriends. My life was basically centered around the office, contracts, and meetings.