Chapter 94 Contract consequences
For three whole days at the company, Lucas turned into ice. He walked past Alex as if he were irrelevant. Messages from Alex were left unread. Calls rang out unanswered.
Even when Alex stood two feet away and called out his name, Lucas would ignore him. He would calmly turn to the nearest staff member and initiate a conversation especially with Zenith and Margaret.
Margaret, with her honeyed laughter and lingering touches, would lean a little too close, and call Lucas handsome. She would do it in that breathy tone that infuriated Alex. Lucas knew she was flirting. He knew Zenith was also hovering, offering to fix his apron and whispering jokes. Yet Lucas allowed them just to piss off Alex because he knew he was watching.
So one of those times, Alex sat rigid before his system, jaw clenched as the security feed displayed the hallway monitors. His eyes burned as Lucas laughed at something Zenith said by the kitchen door.
He was still smiling as he walked through the corridor and met Margaret. She hovered and touched his arm. Lucas didn’t pull away but smiled more charmingly.
Alex’s fist slammed softly against the desk. “Damn it, Lucas…”
Then he saw him glance at his watch and head toward the locker room. It was his break time.
The corridor camera showed a clear empty hallway. No sight of anyone.
Alex shot to his feet so fast his chair rolled back swirling around. He was out the door before his mind could caution him otherwise. He took the stairs instead of the elevator, heart pounding and not just with anger, but with desperation.
He needed to talk some sense into Lucas. He had to warn him about Margaret and Zenith. Or maybe he just needed to see him breathe in the same space.
The locker room door creaked as Alex pushed it open. The fluorescent lights hummed softly. The air smelled faintly of detergent and steel lockers.
Lucas was lying down on the wooden bench with his eyes closed.
The door clicked shut, followed by a sharp metallic sound of the lock.
Lucas didn’t turn immediately. “Come on, Zenith, open that damn door. I’m not in your mood.”
Alex’s voice came low and controlled. “Oh, I see.”
Lucas froze. Then jerked upright, eyes widening when he saw who stood there. For a second, something vulnerable flashed across his face before it hardened.
Alex stepped forward slowly. “So that snake is your playmate now? To the extent you think of him with your eyes closed?”
Lucas scoffed and looked away. “Please, sir, I…”
“Will you stop doing that?” Alex snapped, the sound echoing against the lockers. “You know I hate it when you call me that. Don’t call me sir.”
A deep silence fell between them. Lucas didn’t respond and didn't look at him either. Instead, he lay back on the bench deliberately, folding one arm under his head like he didn’t have a care in the world.
He closed his eyes, dismissive and infuriating.
Alex stared at him, chest rising and falling sharply. “You think this is funny?”
Lucas didn't react.
“You’re flirting with Margaret.”
Still nothing.
“She’s not harmless, Lucas.”
Lucas finally opened one eye lazily. “And since when did you start caring who I talk to?”
Alex’s throat tightened. “Since she started looking at you like she wants to devour you.”
Lucas sat up slowly, their eyes now locked. “And what if she does? I’m not yours, remember? We are done.”
The words sliced, it do everytime Lucas said it.
Alex’s legs moved before he could stop himself. He reached Lucas, settled beside him, and gripped his wrist. Not painfully, but firmly. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” Lucas asked, trying to withdraw his hand.
“Pretend you don’t know what she was doing.”
Lucas’s pulse jumped beneath Alex’s fingers. He tried to pull away again, but Alex didn’t release him.
“You think I didn’t see you?” Alex continued, voice rougher now. “Laughing and letting her touch you. Smiling like she is someone special.”
“Maybe I like the attention,” Lucas shot back, though his breath hitched when Alex leaned closer.
Their knees brushed, the air shifted and Lucas' face flushed.
“Then why do you look like this?” Alex murmured, his eyes locking with him.
“Like what?”
“Like you’re hurting, like you're missing me too.”
For a moment, the hostility cracked. Lucas swallowed and muttered with a shaky voice. “Let go of me.”
“Not until you stop punishing me,” Alex responded lowly.
“Punishing you?” Lucas laughed bitterly. “You think this is about you?”
“No, it’s always about us.” The words landed heavily.
Lucas’s jaw tightened. “There is no ‘us.’ You made sure of that.”
Alex’s grip softened, but he didn’t let go. His thumb brushed unconsciously over Lucas’s wrist. “If you think pushing me away and letting half the company drool over you will fix what happened, you’re wrong.”
Lucas glared at him, “And if you think locking doors and acting jealous gives you the right to question me, you’re worse.”
Their faces were dangerously close now. Close enough to feel each other’s breath. Close enough that anger tangled with something far more dangerous.
Alex’s voice dropped. “I’m not jealous.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Really, and you ran down here like a man possessed.”
“I came to warn you about Margaret and Zenith because they're not your type.”
“Hmh, sure you did.” Lucas leaned forward suddenly, invading Alex’s space this time. “Then warn me.”
The challenge hung between them. Alex’s eyes darkened. His hand slid from Lucas’s wrist to his waist before he could think better of it. “She’s not the one you should be playing with.”
“And who should I be playing with?” Lucas whispered, the heat in his tone betraying him.
Alex’s jaw flexed. “Don’t test me.”
“Or what?” Lucas held on steady.
For a split second, it looked like Alex might kiss him or strangle him.
Instead, he released him abruptly and stood up, running a hand through his hair. “You’re impossible.”
Lucas stood too, heart racing though he kept his expression cool. “Then stop chasing me.”
Alex looked at him, really looked at him. “You think I’d still be here if I could?”
Those words did it. The silence that followed wasn’t cold anymore.
It burned.
“Lucas, I need you to stay away from Margaret and Zenith. They’re just flirting with you.” Alex broke the silence but his voice was tight and urgent. He stepped closer, the space between them shrinking with every word. “Baby, stay away from them. You can’t let her keep touching you like that. I saw her…”
“And what is your business there?” Lucas cut in sharply. His eyes flashed. “I’m not gay. I can date any girl I want without your permission.”
Alex’s jaw clenched. “Oh really?” He gave a humorless laugh. “Are you trying to piss me off so I’ll cancel the contract?”
Lucas slowly sat down on the bench, shoulders squared, chin lifted in defiance. “Maybe you should cancel it. You’d be doing both of us a favour.”
For a split second, something dark flickered in Alex’s eyes.
Then his chuckle came low and dangerous. He sat closer until their knees almost touched. “Come on, baby… don’t you get it?” His voice dropped to a whisper. “That contract is the only weapon I have to keep you with me. I can’t let you go. Hmm?”
The confession hung heavy in the air. Lucas turned his face away, disappointment cutting deeper than anger. “That’s exactly the problem.”
“Lucas,” Alex said softly, lifting a hand to his chin and forcing him to look at him. “You need to come back to me.”