Chapter 88 Brewing crack
Down at the restaurant, the air between them had shifted. No more small talk and no more holding on as Emily drew in a breath.
“Luc, Dad’s request is for you to come back home. I believe he meant it.”
Lucas let out a short, humorless laugh and leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Em. He is certainly planning something else. And I’m not coming back.” His jaw tightened. “Didn’t he disown me? Locked my room, froze my account as if he gave me everything, as if I didn't work for almost what was in those accounts? Tell him I said no.”
“Come on, bro.” Emily leaned forward, urgency flashing in her eyes. “He said he’ll give you back everything including his new investment. He had even unfrozen my account yesterday.” Emily said with a smile but was not so excited about it.
Lucas’s fork stilled midair. For a second, something flickered across his face like surprise, then annoyance, before it hardened. “I’m happy for you, Em. I really am.” He dropped the fork onto the plate with a soft clink. “But Dad should be ashamed of himself for doing that in the first place. Freezing your account because he was trying to control me like some teenager? That attitude of his made me sick and that’s damage control.”
“Yeah,” she admitted quietly. “He messed up, big time.” Her voice cracked as she reached for his hand. “But please, big bro, just come back home, okay? Even if it’s temporary, just come.”
Silence stretched between them. The noise of the restaurant faded into a distant blur, clinking glasses, low laughter, waiters weaving between tables. Lucas stared at their joined hands, his thumb brushing absently over her knuckles.
“Fine, I’ll give it a thought,” he finally said, voice low. “But no promises. I need to get back to work.”
Relief washed over her face, fragile but real. She stood abruptly, as if afraid he might change his mind, and he rose with her. Walking around the table, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug, clinging longer than usual.
“I’m badly missing you at home,” she murmured, running her fingers over the rough line of his stubble. “And I think Dad is missing you too.”
Lucas locked her eyes briefly. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering for a heartbeat before pulling back. He took her hand and led her toward the exit, weaving through the tables with quiet protectiveness.
“I know you missed me,” he said gently as he walked her to the door. “I missed you too, baby sis.”
Then he pushed the door open. A rush of cool air met them. He paused at the doorway, one hand still on the handle. His expression darkened as resolve settled back into place.
“But as for Dad missing me…” His lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. “That’s a lie. If he truly missed his son, he would’ve told me that himself the other day.”
A waitress, Judy, who had brushed past them on her way to another table, as they headed to the exit had stopped. Her steps slowed. Her eyes lingered. A bright, knowing smile spread across her face as she watched Lucas and Emily walk toward the exit, hands linked, heads bent close. Even after they stepped outside, she remained by the transparent glass window, still smiling as Lucas escorted her to her car like a perfect gentleman.
Upstairs, in his office, Alex saw everything. The security feed glowed on the system in front of him.
He was still watching Lucas as the camera at the entrance filled the screen. Judy’s reaction didn’t escape him.
His expression darkened. Instantly, he picked up his phone and dialed the restaurant manager. He asked to speak with Judy, his eyes never leaving the footage.
“Hello, sir. Judy is here,” the manager said moments later, passing the phone over.
A soft shuffle was heard, then, “Yes, sir?”
“Judy.” Alex’s tone was calm, way too calm. “I need to ask you something. Please, come to my office.”
A pause. “Yes, sir?” Judy replied uncertainly, lowering the phone slightly and glancing at the manager. “Sir, Mr. Alex requested my presence in his office. Do you know why?”
The manager frowned. “No. You didn’t do anything wrong, did you?” he asked, taking the phone back.
Judy shook her head quickly. “No, sir.”
“Then go on.”
Minutes later, she stood outside Alex’s office. She knocked lightly.
“Come in.”
The room felt colder than the restaurant floor. Alex sat behind his desk, posture rigid, the security monitor still on the image of Lucas holding Emily’s hand outside.
“Yes, Judy,” he began, folding his hands together. “Do you know the new kitchen guy, Lucas?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered promptly. “He just left the restaurant with his girlfriend.”
The words struck like a physical blow. Alex’s heart twitched painfully, but his face barely moved. Only his fingers tightened slightly against each other before he forced them to relax.
“What makes you think she’s his girlfriend?” he asked evenly.
Judy’s smile vanished. “I…I’m sorry, sir.”
“No.” His voice remained controlled, almost gentle. “You don’t have to apologize.” He leaned back slightly. “I think she’s his girlfriend too.” The words tasted bitter.
“But I need evidence from you,” he continued, his gaze sharp now. “You overheard something. Something that made you smile. I saw it clearly in the footage.”
Judy’s eyes flicked nervously to the monitor.
“I need you to tell me exactly what you heard,” Alex said, his voice lowering just a fraction. “That’s all.”Alex didn’t speak immediately. He let the silence stretch, watching Judy shift uneasily under his steady gaze.
“So,” he said at last, voice measured, “which part of their conversation proved that?”
Judy swallowed. “Well… the way they hugged each other showed they’re close. Not just casual close.” She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “Then she touched his jaw.. like this.” She gestured lightly to her own face. “And Lucas kissed her forehead.”
Alex’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“And when they were leaving,” she continued, her voice smaller now, “Lucas held her hand and said, ‘I know you missed me, I missed you too, baby.’” She stopped abruptly.
Something had flickered across Alex’s face. It came sharp and dangerous…then gone in a second, but enough to make her pulse spike.
“That’s… that’s all I observed, sir,” Judy finished quickly. The air in the office had shifted and it felt heavier, and colder.
Alex leaned back slowly in his chair, fingers steepled in front of his lips. For a brief second, his composure slipped, just a crack before the mask slid firmly back into place.
“You can go back to your duties now, Judy,” he said evenly. “Thank you and keep this between us.”
“Yes, sir.” Relief flooded her tone.
She practically fled the office, heels clicking fast against the floor as she hurried back to the dining area, her mind spinning. Since when did the boss concern himself with the staff’s personal relationships?
At the office, Alex’s restraint snapped. “Fuck this.” He shouted angrily.