65

65
Chapter 65

Lucien Alessandro

'Hey! I'm here'
I felt a sting in my heart the moment I spotted Scarlet and that dude stepping out of the school. They were laughing, and he was looking at her intimately like they were lovers or something.

My stomach riled up with anger, heat caught up in my throat as my breath hitched, but I tried to compose myself.

Scarlet paused when she saw me, her face flashed with shock for a moment.

"You are here?" She walked up to me and asked surprisingly.

"I sent you a text. You didn't get it?" I glared at Derek for a moment before returning my gaze to Scarlet.

I watched as she took her phone out of her handbag, and her eyebrows creased. I guess she was just getting my text now.

"I had no idea you texted me. I didn't have my phone with me." She looked unbothered about it.

"Alright. Can we leave now?"

"Sure." She nodded, then turned to Derek who had been throwing me glares the whole time, and said. "Bye, Derek. I'll call you."
The way she smiled at him made my heart ache. Is she in love with him?
Just the thought of it made me clench my jaws tightly.

"Alright. Bye." He smiled at her before she walked over to hop inside the car.

Derek's glare welcomed me as I glanced at him one more time before going to join Scarlet in the car. There was only one thing I knew. They weren't just friends. He definitely feels something for her.

"Who is he?" I tried not to sound hurt, but my voice gave me out.

"Who?" She looked at me, blinking her eyes cutely as if she had no idea who I was referring to.

"Derek?" She raised her eyebrows, and I huffed silently, turning my face away from her.

"I think you've seen him a few times. Don't tell me you don't remember him?" She gasped, but I drove off without looking at her.

Silence assumed the atmosphere afterwards, and it felt awkward. What the fuck could I do to get her to let go of what happened?

We arrived at my apartment after about twenty minutes' drive, and she got rid of the seatbelt as soon as I pulled over at the parking lot.

"Scarlet..." she had pushed the door open in a bid to alight when I called her attention, and she paused, turning to look at me.

"Hmm?" She raised an eyebrow, her eyes boring into mine blankly.

"Can you not bring someone to the house again?"
I've been thinking about it after she brought her friend to the house. It wasn't safe for her and myself. I didn't trust anyone, and I had enemies everywhere.

She stared at me for a few seconds before she nodded, muttering an 'okay' and without waiting for another second to pass, she stepped out of the car and closed the door, walking away afterwards.

'Just tell her how you feel, Lucien'
I ran my fingers through my hair. That was the last thing I would ever do. She was my friend's daughter. I wouldn't ever do such a thing to my friend.

'But you've been fucking her'
My subconscious mind reminded me, and I slammed my hand against the steering wheel in frustration.

"Fuck it!" I cursed, throwing the door open. I followed her inside.

"Scarlet..." I held her hand, bringing her to an abrupt halt as she headed to the staircase.

"Hmm?" She looked up at me, her eyebrows raised.

"Why are you doing this?" I was barely holding myself together as I gazed into her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Again, she acted clueless.

"You know damn well what I am talking about, Scarlet. You are driving me nuts. Can't you see that?" My voice came out breathlessly as I suppressed a yell.

I placed my hands on her shoulders, and took a deep breath before gazing into her eyes.

"I get that you are mad at me. Yell at me, hit me. Just do anything other than driving me crazy." I pleaded with her because I was already losing my mind.
Never in a million years did I ever imagine that I'd be in this situation. Where I would be helplessly in love with someone. A situation where I'm wrapped around a lady's fingertip and unable to escape. Worst thing was the fact that I couldn't even control it.

"Lucien..." her eyes bored into mine. Cold and blank.

"What do you do?" She repeated the same question that had been driving me nuts. Can she give this up already?

I exhaled, my hands falling off her shoulders.

"If you are not ready to tell me what you do, then we are not having this conversation." And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away. Not soaring another glance. As if I wasn't even there.

My jaws clenched tightly as I watched her until she was out of my sight. At that moment, I had no idea what I was feeling, but I just knew that I was frustrated.

My phone started to ring, getting my attention. It was Vladimir calling.

"Hey!" I pressed the phone to my ear.

"Boss... The drug samples have just been sent in from the lab. It's already been tested. You should come over if you have time."

"Take care of it, Vlad. I need to handle some things here."

Vladimir went silent for seconds before he replied with;

"Alright, boss."

"One more thing. I need you to find me information about someone. I will send you his picture."

"Alright, boss. I will do that."

After the call ended, I scrolled through my phone and once I spotted Derek's picture, I forwarded it to Vladimir.
You must be wondering how I got his picture on my phone, but that is like the easiest thing anyone can do, so it wasn't difficult to get it.

I counted my steps toward the staircase in a bid to go see Scarlet, but I paused and asked myself. Does she want to see me?

'Just leave her be for now, Lucien'.
I told myself and exhaled. I tur
ned and headed to my wine cellar to have some drink to clear my head...