Chapter 41 Running

Chapter 41 Running
SIENNA

I couldn’t shake Lucien’s actions from my mind, even though I’d tried. A part of me wanted to believe he did all this because he cherished the time we shared and wanted more of it, but another side of me didn’t agree. It saw nothing but a woman willing to be used by her boss, and it broke my heart.

Truthfully, his actions made my heart skip. A treacherous part of me was impressed, and my expectations rose beyond repair. Maybe I was just thinking further than I should. Maybe he had plans for me… for us… and for what we shared. Maybe I’d just been overthinking and being paranoid for nothing.

For a second, I wanted to believe it was something beyond a fling, that it was something real, something different from being used. But before the thought could fully form, I pushed it away. My boss belonged to another world, and settling for a woman like me was definitely out of the question. No. I shouldn’t expect more if I wanted to avoid getting hurt. One day, this would end. When he found another woman, he would definitely leave.

“Sienna, are you here?” His voice drifted into my ears, interrupting my train of thought.

When I turned my gaze, my eyes locked with his. They shone brightly with the moonlight diffracting through the windshield. I flicked my lashes, and my eyes fell on his lips. The scene from the office replayed in my head. Gosh! I was getting comfortable around him, and I hated it. Unlike before, when I would feel shy and guilty after our escapades, this time was different. I felt nothing but sheer satisfaction and excitement.

“I’m right here. You don’t need to hold back if you want it.” He snapped his fingers in front of my face, causing me to blink. I bit my lower lip and retracted my gaze, embarrassed. Had having too much of me dulled my self-restraint?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mumbled, denying what was obvious. I shut my eyes and pursed my lips, hoping he wouldn’t probe further.

He didn’t counter me. Instead, he chuckled and raked his fingers through my hair.

“Tell me if there’s anything wrong,” he said. “I promise to clear your worries.”

I opened my eyes and let out a deep breath. “Lucien, I…”

“What?” His brows rose, revealing his glinting eyes. “What did you just call me?” His lips parted.
“Lucien,” I responded, my face contorting in confusion.

“Fuck!” he cussed, not angrily, but in a flirtatious manner. “Can you call me that one more time?”

“Lu…cien,” I called, totally oblivious to what was happening and what had caused his reaction.
“Do you know this is the first time you’ve called my name?”

My confusion deepened. “No fucking way.”

“Well, it is.” He snaked his hand around my neck and caressed the nape softly. “You’ve always driven a wedge between us by calling me ‘boss.’ That’s a fence I’ve been trying to destroy for months.”

Hearing him speak about it made me realize I had never really called him by his name since we met. It had always been ‘boss,’ and I hadn’t even noticed. Seeing how bright his smile was because I had called his name made me smile too. My boss could be cute sometimes.

“I… I didn’t think it was right to call my boss by his name,” I stammered, searching for an excuse that wasn’t there.

“Really? Is that what I really am to you?” he asked. “Just your boss?”

My cheeks reddened and my face flushed at his question. I stared into his eyes, unsure how to stop looking because of how shy I felt.

“Answer me, kitten,” he husked. His voice sent a chilly sensation through me. “Am I just a boss to you?”

What did he mean? Did he want me to acknowledge him only as my boss, or did he want something more? My throat bobbed as I tried to read his eyes for answers, but they were unreadable. That was the problem—I could never know what was going through my boss’s mind, no matter how hard I tried. I was confused. Should I admit it or just play along? What if he saw me as nothing more than an employee?

“Kitten…” he whispered, leaning forward.

“I…” I blinked. “You… I think you…” I unlocked the door, slipped from his grip, and stepped out of the car before he could stop me. I needed to play it safe. It would be better not to answer than to give a response that might ruin things. “Thank you for bringing me home, boss. See you at work tomorrow,” I said. I waved, shut the door, and headed into the apartment.

My breath hitched, and my teeth nibbled my lower lip as I inwardly prayed that he wouldn’t try to stop me. I really didn’t want to know what he thought about me or us. Not yet. I was afraid the truth might be too bitter to swallow. I would rather live in my delusion than face a truth that might hurt me.

I didn’t stop walking even when my shaky legs almost gave out. I kept going until I slammed the door behind me. A loud breath escaped my lungs as I leaned my back against the door and slowly slid down.

What was supposed to be a simple night out had turned into a dangerous game. Now, my heart was involved, and right now, it was either I got hurt or I survived.

“What’s wrong with you?” Angel’s voice echoed suddenly, snapping me out of my trance. I was startled, almost screaming.

“Oh my God! Oh my God!” I inhaled sharply, placing a hand on my chest. When I raised my gaze, I saw her towering over me.

“What? Did you see a ghost?” she asked, her lips curling into a smile. “You’re acting like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

“Oh yeah… I just saw a ghost, and that’s you,” I breathed out, rising from the floor. My chest heaved up and down as I struggled to steady my breathing.

“Really? Is this what I get for surprising you?”

“Surprise me?” I mumbled. “This isn’t a surprise. This is attempted murder,” I added.

She laughed. “That isn’t the way to welcome a friend and roommate you haven’t seen for two weeks.”

I snorted. “Oh! I didn’t think of that since I was almost killed by the same friend.”

“Come on, girl. I’ve missed you so much.” She pulled me into a hug. “I’ve missed your meals.”

I chuckled. “You should’ve just said you missed my meals instead of lying about missing me.” I hugged her back, inhaling her familiar scent. I’d really missed my carefree friend. There was no one else to chat with about her multiple crushes and boyfriends. Not having her around for two weeks had been torturous.

“Well, I missed both. Am I not allowed to?” she joked.

“Oh! You’re allowed to, but you aren’t allowed to lie,” I countered.

Breaking the hug, she rolled her eyes. “Whatever!”

I giggled. “I didn’t think you’d be back until the weekend.”

“Plans changed, girl. Mom needs me.” She reclined on the couch. “I’m going to see her tomorrow.”

I settled beside her and nodded. I didn’t know much about her family, but I knew her parents were both alive and well. I didn’t dare probe further.

Abruptly, she stood from her seat and shifted closer to me, her side pressing against mine. Her brows creased, and a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. An ominous feeling rose in my chest instantly. Whatever it was, I just knew it wouldn’t be good for me.

“Tell me, who’s that lucky guy?” she asked, glancing at me teasingly.

I tilted my head backward, trying to understand her question. “What guy?”

“The one who dropped you off.”

Heat rushed to my neck and face. She had seen the car, and she would definitely keep probing until I couldn’t hide it anymore. Gosh! It shouldn’t have been now.

“How did you—”

“What do you expect? He parked right in front of the house, for God’s sake,” she cut me short. “So tell me. Who is he? You should introduce him to me so I can help you vet whether he’s a good one or not. You know I’m familiar with men and their species.” She bombarded me with words. I couldn’t counter her. I just nodded. Knowing Angel, she wouldn’t stop until she was satisfied.

“Driving you home doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a gentleman, but I can identify one when I see him. Just introduce him to me, and I’ll tell you what kind of attitude he has. Also, he—”

“Angel.” I placed my hand on her lap and squeezed it softly. “I’m tired. It’s been a long day at work today. I should rest early since I still have to go to work tomorrow. I’m not like you, who still has a few days left of her annual break,” I said, leaving her no room to interrupt.
Just like I had done earlier, she stared at me. I stood up, patted her shoulder, and rushed toward the bedroom.

“You are such a snitch, Sienna. I know what you’re doing,” she shouted behind me. “Running from my question. You don’t want to tell me who he is, right?”

As soon as I got into my bedroom, I locked the door, collapsed onto the bed, and breathed out deeply. I was exhausted and muddleheaded. So many things were happening at the same time. Maybe I shouldn’t have lied to Angel. Just like she said, she was an expert in situations like this, and maybe she could offer a solution for dealing with this undefined relationship between my boss and me.

But I just couldn’t. I was scared. What if she criticized me and accused me of seducing my boss?