Aren't You Coming?
1336 Words
Just as Sam Lewis accepted Sara Hart’s gift, Ella Duvall rushed over, clearly anxious.
"Sara, are you alright?" Ella Duvall asked, looking her up and down with worry. She had been in the restroom when she overheard gossip about a confrontation involving Sara Hart and rushed over without hesitation.
"I should have just stayed with you," she added, sighing relief after confirming Sara Hart was unscathed.
Sara Hart gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm fine."
Only then did Ella Duvall notice Sam Lewis standing beside them.
"This is my friend, Ella Duvall," Sara Hart introduced.
Ella Duvall’s gaze subtly appraised Sam Lewis as she extended her hand. "Hi, I’m Ella."
"Hello, I'm Sam Lewis." He smiled, giving her hand a light, courteous shake before releasing it.
"I know," Ella Duvall replied, her red lips curving up as her gaze lingered on him a bit longer than necessary.
With her intended task completed, Sara Hart turned to Sam Lewis and said, "Thank you for the invitation. I’ll head out now."
Sam Lewis hesitated, wanting to persuade her to stay, but after tonight’s commotion, he opted against it. “I’ll have the driver take you back.”
“No need, Ella drove.”
Sam Lewis nodded but didn’t let her leave just yet. “Wait here for a moment. I recently prepared some sachets for insomnia. I’ll get them for you.”
Since it was for insomnia, Sara Hart agreed. “Alright.”
Once Sam Lewis left to retrieve the sachets, Ella Duvall finally asked, “What happened? Who gave you trouble?”
Knowing Sara Hart’s temperament, Ella Duvall was sure the other party must have crossed a line for Sara Hart to engage in a public confrontation.
“An old classmate - there’s been a long-standing misunderstanding. I lost my cool and ended up making a scene.”
"You? Lost your cool?" Ella Duvall looked at her in surprise. Sara wasn’t the type to cause trouble.
“Yes, I threw wine at her.”
Ella Duvall’s eyes sparkled with excitement, almost ready to cheer. “Good for you, Sara! You’re too nice most of the time. When people bully you, you should stand up for yourself!”
Sara Hart shook her head with a slight smile. Most people thought her passive and easy to bully, but it was simply that she didn’t care enough to react.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ella Duvall asked.
Sara Hart nodded. “Sam stepped in when she tried to hit me.”
Ella Duvall glanced thoughtfully in the direction Sam Lewis had gone. “It seems Sam is quite protective of you.”
“Sam is just a kind person.”
---
While returning with the sachets, Sam Lewis encountered his grandfather, Dr. Lewis, at the staircase.
“Grandpa…” he began.
“What about that young lady?” Dr. Lewis asked, cutting to the chase.
“Which young lady?” Sam Lewis replied, feigning innocence.
“The one you defended so fervently just now.” Dr. Lewis raised an eyebrow, giving his grandson a knowing look. “Don’t pretend I didn’t notice. You seem quite fond of her.”
“Grandpa, you’re reading too much into it,” Sam Lewis said, exasperated. “She’s just a young girl, and if anyone heard you, they might misunderstand.”
“Oh, so you’re saying you don’t have feelings for her?” Dr. Lewis retorted knowingly. He was well aware of his grandson’s nature - though warm and easygoing on the surface, he was quite proud and aloof underneath. This was not someone who would go out of his way to protect just anyone, especially not in a crowded setting.
“Of all the young women in the capital, you never took a liking to anyone until now…”
“Grandpa, please stop speculating. I have to go.” Sam Lewis sidestepped his grandfather, eager to return to Sara Hart, who was waiting downstairs.
“Wait a minute - what’s that in your hand?” Dr. Lewis blocked his path with his cane.
“Just some sachets I prepared.”
“You’re only giving her that?” Dr. Lewis shook his head in disappointment. “She gave you a thoughtful gift, and all you have is this?”
Unimpressed, Dr. Lewis sighed in frustration. “Bring her to dinner sometime.”
Sam Lewis, exasperated, merely muttered a quick reply, “Grandpa, please, don’t overthink this.” He hurried downstairs, leaving Dr. Lewis behind, who stood there, thoughtful.
Just then, Adrian Blake and his friends stepped out of the tea room nearby.
“Dr. Lewis, we’ll be leaving now,” Eric Thorne said politely.
“Oh? Not staying longer?” Dr. Lewis asked.
“No, we have other matters to attend to.”
“Let me have Sam see you off,” Dr. Lewis offered.
“No need, sir. We’ll be fine on our own.” With that, they began to make their way downstairs.
Lucas Graves, walking at the end of the group, glanced back at Dr. Lewis, feeling a lingering sense of unease. He’d overheard Sam Lewis’s conversation with his grandfather and was certain now that Sam Lewis was interested in Sara Hart. The realization had left him uneasy.
Meanwhile, at the entrance, Sam Lewis handed Sara Hart the sachets just as Adrian Blake and his friends were coming down the stairs.
Sara Hart hadn’t expected to see Adrian Blake here and froze, unsure of what to do as her fingers tightened around the sachet bag.
“Leaving so soon, Mr. Thorne?” Sam Lewis greeted them casually.
“Yes,” replied Eric Thorne. Noah Ashford’s gaze, amused and speculative, shifted between Sara Hart and Sam Lewis. With a hint of a smirk, he remarked, “And this young lady? I don’t think we’ve met before.”
Sam Lewis kept his calm smile. “This is a junior of mine. We were at the same lab before. She’s a bit of a homebody, so it’s normal you haven’t met.”
Eric Thorne raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but said nothing further.
Ella Duvall noticed the subtle tension in the air.
“Let’s go,” Adrian Blake finally said, turning and walking towards the exit.
The group followed, and just as they reached the door, Lucas Graves called back over his shoulder, “Sara, care to join us?”
Sam Lewis looked briefly surprised, but Sara Hart managed a small smile. “I’ll head out now, Senior.”
He nodded. “Take care.”
Sara Hart and Ella Duvall fell into step behind the group while Sam Lewis watched their retreating backs, a slight smile playing on his lips before he turned to return to the event.
Outside, the men had each come in their own cars, and Sara Hart noticed Adrian Blake hadn’t moved toward his yet. The entire group seemed to be waiting, adding to the already tense atmosphere.
Ella Duvall glanced over at Sara, whispering, “Does Adrian know you were planning to come to this banquet?”
“No,” Sara Hart replied, shaking her head. She hadn’t known he would be here either.
Ella Duvall hesitated, wondering whether Sara Hart should ride with her or Adrian Blake. The air was thick with unspoken tension.
Eric Thorne and Noah Ashford exchanged a few words with Adrian Blake before heading off to their cars, leaving only Lucas Graves, who hesitated momentarily, sensing the awkward atmosphere.
He gave Adrian Blake a tentative smile. “Hey, Adrian, I’ll head out too. Maybe have a nice chat with… um, you know who.”
Then, turning to Ella Duvall, he added, “Could I hitch a ride with you?”
“Oh, sure,” Ella Duvall said, slightly flustered, catching on to the subtle hint. Soon, the two were gone, leaving Sara Hart and Adrian Blake standing there, heavy silence between them.
After a few moments, Adrian Blake finally turned to face her, his voice calm and distant. “Aren’t you coming?”
- Writer
