Chapter Twenty-Four
Drake and Lydia had barely gotten Amelia’s room straightened back up, and were exiting the room, when they heard the sounds of footsteps echoing up the stairs. Drake hurriedly pulled Lydia into the room closest to Amelia’s old room. The room just so happened to be an old library. The footsteps stopped as they neared their hiding space and Drake and Lydia sat with bated breath. They just knew that at anyone moment they were going to get caught. That the rouse would be up.
When the door handle to the old library started to turn, Drake swept Lydia into his arms, and pulled her into a passionate embrace, his lips locking hers. The intruder would see two lovers locked in a passionate embrace and not to smugglers in the dark of night.
“Eehmm,” Came the annoying noise of Diane clearing her throat, “Kevin told me that you left the dining room abruptly to take care of business.” She stated looking down her nose at Lydia, “I now see what type of business you meant.”
Oh if only Diane actually knew how spot on she was.
“Is there a reason you are hear, Diane?” Drake asked, choosing to ignore her comment about business.
Diane glared at Drake, still upset over the use of her given name, but. decided to continue on with what she’d come up here to discuss. She’d berate him about what he called her later on. “Yes. I just got off the phone with Jessica. She will be attending the cruise with us. I expect you to escort her around the islands.”
Drake scoffed at Diane’s request. “Diane, I am attending this shit show of a wedding with my GIRLFRIEND,” Drake snarled, gesturing at Lydia beside him. “I am not going to escort anyone. And I’ll tell Jessica exactly that when I see her tomorrow. Unless of course you want to get that ridiculous notion out of your head right this very minute! I don’t think Jessica nor you would would like the scandal of a public rejection.”
“Why you…” Diane sputtered, her face turning red with rage.
“Come on, Princess.” Drake called to Lydia, grabbing her hand, “Let’s finish our discussion elsewhere.”
Lydia, knowing how to play the game, looked up at Drake affectionately, a soft smile on her face (even though she was feeling anything but affectionate). “Goodbye, Diane.” Lydia called as she walked out of the room with Drake.
As they reached Drake’s room, Lydia pulled away from him, a look of irritation on her face. “That was too close, Drake.” She hissed.
Drake frowned at Lydia, not sure what had caused her to be so upset.
“We are looking at a potential homicide, Drake.” Lydia snarled pacing the room, trying to keep her anger tampered, “We can’t risk you losing your temper and throwing a damn hissy fit every time we stumble upon something new. We were almost caught, Drake!”
Drake was about to apologized to Lydia for losing his temper, until she’d accused him of throwing a fit. Her insinuation irritated him, He thought that if anyone could understand his feelings about the situation, it would be Lydia. But now it felt like she could care less about how Drake was feeling. It felt like her only concern was the mystery behind it all. Drake had started to think that perhaps there was something more between him and Lydia than their initial contract, but now that didn’t seem to be the case.
So hurt as he was, he lashed out in return, “My apologies. I forgot you were just here for the money and the publicity that comes with dating a billionaire.” He snarled, almost immediately regretting the words as the came out of his mouth, especially after he saw the look of betrayal on Lydia’s face.