THE CEO'S BINDING DEAL

3: WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT

Kayla didn’t remember how she left the room.

One moment, she was standing in front of Andrian Vance and the next, she was outside.

The cold air hit her face, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside her.

Her legs moved on their own as she got into the waiting car, her mind still stuck on his words.

Lucas Grey works for me.

Junior Analyst

Begging for a promotion.

She pressed her fingers to her temples.

No.

That couldn’t be true. Lucas wouldn’t do that.

He absolutely couldn’t.

But the knot in her stomach said otherwise.

The car ride home was silent, too silent

Andrian’s words clawed on her skull on repeat like a broken record.

And for the first time, doubt started creeping in.

By the time she reached home, her hands were still trembling. Her thoughts still jumbled and confusing, still trying to decide what to believe.

“Where were you?”

The voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Kayla looked up slowly.

Her stepsister stood there. Observing her and taking in her reaction slowly

“You look… tired,” she added, tilting her head slightly with a wicked smirk on her face

Something about her tone made Kayla pause.

It wasn't concern or curiosity.

It was pure mockery.

“Wherever I go has nothing to do with you, Isla. I'm sure you were more than happy and was anticipating me not returning,” she replied coldly

The smirk slipped off her face

She was blunt

“It's good you know I didn't want you to come back. So what are you doing back here? You could have died outside for all I care”

“Get out of my way”

Kayla said pushing her aside

But Isla wasn't done.

She grabbed Kayla’s arm, leaning close, her lips brushing against her ears, “hope last night was a bomb”

Then she added sharply

“While you were out there serving others, Lucas was begging me right in my bed”

what?

Kayla's heart dropped, how did she know? And what did he mean by Lucas being in her bed

Unless… Lucas really did have something to do with what happened last night

Isla smiled in satisfaction at her confusion, this was exactly the reaction she wanted.

Then suddenly she tripped and fell.

“ Kayla!” She cried in a shaky voice “I was just asking where you were, you didn't have to push me!”

Push her?

She barely even touched her.

Before she could react a hand grabbed her roughly and shoved her aside.

“Isla”

Lucas rushed forward his voice full of concern “are you okay”

Isla nodded timidly, leaning into him.

Lucas turned to Kayla his eyes hard,

“Isla was just worried about you. She waited up all night.And this is how you treat her?”

“Lucas… my sister didn't touch me” Isla whined

“Enough” he turned to face Kayla, “ I'm tired of you always protecting her, she should learn how to admit to her faults”

Kayla let out a small bitter laugh

Protecting her?

Lucas called this protection, she suddenly felt exhausted.

This was the fiance that she showed off smugly in front of Andrian Vance, the one she clung onto so dearly.

Andrian Vance may be a jerk, but he was right about one thing.

She truly was naive.

“I didn't even touch her”

Lucas scoffed “So who did then. Are you trying to tell me Isla pushed her own self”

Yes, yes she did .

“Lucas I'm not in the mood to argue with you, move out of my way.” She said trying to go around him and he grabbed her arm firmly.

This gave her hope.

Maybe he felt bad and wanted to hear her out. He wanted to listen

Kayla was smug, she lifted her chin skifhy“ of course I didn–”

“Apologize” he interrupted firmly.

“What?”

“You heard me right and clear Kayla. Don't think being the eldest gives you the right to treat your sister however you want. Apologize right now!”

Kayla trembled but she didn't looked away.

She still stood her ground firmly and said through gritted teeth “ I'm not going to apologize for what I didn't do–”

Slap.

The sound cracked through the hallway

Her ears rang. Her cheek stung and for a second the world went quiet

Kayla froze. She looked at him in disbelief. Her hand slowly rose to her stinging cheek, tears hung in her eyes as she looked straight into Lucas’ eyes.

Lucas looked stunned, staring at his own hands in disbelief he regretted it soon after he did it.

“Kayla I–”

“I'm sorry” she bowed to Isla

When she looked up

Isla looked smug. Smug and satisfied.

The sting hadn't faded, but the shock was worse. This was the man she defended to Andrian last night. This was love?

The little guilt Lucas felt just a moment before vanished into thin air.

With a proud expression on his face, this was how he wanted her to be, obedient and giving into anything he says.

“It's good you apologize, you're the eldest and should give in to her. You shouldn't take things she says to heart”

Kayla nodded In confusion, still trying to process what just happened

She didn't know what to do anymore.

Isla clenched her fists in excitement

This is just the beginning Kayla.

I will take everything away from you.

No one stopped me before and no one's going to stop me now.

I'd make sure you live to see me steal everything away from you

You deserve nothing.

Not even your beloved finance.

I'm going to take him away from you, I'd make sure of it.

She glared at Kayla so hard Kayla had to turn to look

But she didn't react

She was already numb and felt used to it.

She looked at Lucas once more and started to question herself

Is this really the man she wants to spend her life with?

Someone whose trust is so fickle. Someone who is so easily manipulated?

Kayla met Lucas' eyes one last time.

And for the first time there was no love in them, not anymore. Her eyes cold.

For years she's called him safe, called him her home.

And today? Today he's shown her where his real home was.

“I'm done” she said quietly, not to Isla not to Lucas but to herself.

She turned and took the stairs two at a time, leaving them standing there. Her room door slammed shut behind her.

Lucas grew uneasy. He felt something in his control was slipping away from him but he soon brushed it off and tended to Isla.

Kayla watched through the peephole of the door with clenched fist.

If he had at least followed after her.

Maybe she could over look it and forgive him.

Andrian's words came back to her, sharp as glass:

‘Someone like you, doesn't survive long in games like this’

Her jaw clenched.

“Then I'd learn the game” she whispered to the dark room.”and I'd win”