Chapter 28

Roxanne

Two days later, the process of setting up the fake internship at Rose's family company was finally completed and I was free to take Lucas on a visit to the company. Rose had gone as far as allowing me access to take Lucas on a tour of the company, to make it look as if I really worked there as an intern.

I couldn't express enough how thankful I was for how Rose was helping me out. I offered that we take Lucas to the company together but she told me she had things to do in school. Rose was a member of the school's newspaper publication. It was why she was able to get her hands on so much information at any given time.

She had informed me that she wouldn't be able to accompany us to the company because she had a deadline to meet with the newspaper publication. Even though I would have loved it if Rose was actually there with us because I had never been to the company before, I appreciated and thanked her for everything she had done for me on the matter. She made sure to give me a detailed walkthrough of the area of the company that I was going to tour with Lucas.

On our way to the company, I could sense some residual elements of doubts within Lucas. I knew there was no way I was going to change his mind until he saw for himself. Even though he continued to assure me that he already believed me and there was really no need to go to this length to prove to him that I wasn't lying, I knew he was only saying that to not make him look bad. He wanted to confirm it himself.

The company wasn't in any way the 'small' company that Rose made it seem like. It became clear to me as soon as we stepped foot on the premises. The company had its own huge building and it shared none of it with no other organization. That alone erased the 'small' tag away from its status. The main building had the name of the company written boldly on it, SALFCORP.

While I tried to hide my surprise at the view before me from Lucas, I immediately told myself, if Rose came from the family that owned this company, then Rose came from a very wealthy family. The respect I had for her increased exponentially at that moment. Not because of the money, but because of Rose's humility and carefree manner that never suggested she was from such a wealthy family, even to someone that was as close to her as I was.

I glanced at Lucas and hoped that I was succeeding at hiding my own surprise at how big the company was. After all, I was supposed to have worked here before. He didn't look as impressed as I expected him to be until he spoke.

"I can see why you couldn't turn down the offer. This place looks really cool," he observed.

I nodded in agreement and we proceeded toward the main building. Rose informed me that there was another huge firm coming over today. They were trying to close down a huge deal, and it was recommended that we came around earlier so that I could wrap things up as quickly as possible with Lucas. With that in mind, I hastened up my steps and informed Lucas that we needed to move quickly because something was going on at the firm later and they wouldn't want non-staff members around.

He expressed his understanding. Then he began to give me scenarios that could prompt a company to put out such notice. His examples ranged between several types of firms with different operating structures. I was impressed by how much he knew about these things.

"You seem to know a lot about the professional space and ethics that guide them," I observed.

"It's nothing really. They are just things I picked here and there. Mostly from old books, I found in the house while growing up." He admitted humbly.

I knew Lucas was smart about so many things but he never stopped to impress me. He had so much knowledge for someone his age. One could almost conclude that he had lived a whole different life before the one he was currently living. It was how impressive and deep his knowledge of things ran.

He would know about this from years ago and explain details that could only be gotten from living in the era that it had happened. But he always concluded by giving the name of the old book he had gotten it from.

"I'm really sorry for doubting you in the first place," Lucas said, when we were almost done with the tour, judging by the map Rose had detailed to me. It was the fourth time he was apologizing in less than an hour. The visit had cleared the last of his doubts off his chest and he was beginning to feel bad about second-guessing me in the first place.

I felt momentarily bad for playing him this way and making him think he was the one in the wrong but I believed I was doing everything for his own safety. If Derek found out about him, I was certain he would hurt him. And I couldn't live with myself if something happened to Lucas because of me.

"It's really nothing," I told him. "I understand that you need to confirm certain things by yourself. I'm glad we have been able to reach an understanding."

He gave a curt smile and nodded in agreement.

"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," I told him and left for the females' restroom.

After I was done and prepared to go back to where Lucas was waiting for me, the last thing I had expected happened. I saw Derek and some other guys making their way into the lobby. They were all dressed formally in suits. I saw the managing director I had seen earlier rushing out to meet them.

"You're early, Mr. Hemming." the director said.

"I figured we could wrap things up quickly if we came early." I heard Derek reply. Making sure he didn't see me, I ran back to Lucas and told him we had to leave early.

"The tour is almost done, I think I'm starting to feel unwell. I need to grab something to eat." I told him.

"Of course," Lucas said. "Let's get out of here."

He had seen where I worked and there was no reason to be skeptical anymore so he agreed quickly to my demands. I began to walk as fast as I could. If we continued in this direction, we would be able to avoid any encounter with Derek and his group. All I could think about was getting out of this building as I walked. I ignored Lucas' protests to slow down and continued forward. I knew all that mattered was Derek not seeing me.

Even if I got out before Lucas, he could join me outside and there wouldn't be a problem. As I got to the last flight of stairs that would take me out of the building, I noticed that Lucas was nowhere to be found. I searched around for him with my eyes, I didn't see him anywhere close.

At the same moment, I turned and Derek appeared before me. I was so shocked that I slipped. I was destined for a fall down the stairwell if Derek hadn't grabbed me in time and pulled me close to him. He had needed to react so quickly that we almost fell. I held onto him for balance and tried to stabilize myself. We were so close that our lips were almost touching each other.

Finally, Lucas chose that moment to appear. I quickly moved away from Derek but he held my hand so that I couldn't free myself completely. Not knowing what else to do, I alternated my eyes between Lucas that was standing before me and Derek that held my hand. We all stared at one another and the tension between the three of us was so acute that it could be cut with a blunt knife.