CHAPTER EIGHT
1481 Words
Miles hadn’t been able to stop smirking since leaving the café. He strolled into Sinclair Enterprises like he owned the place, ignoring Olivia’s disapproving glare as he pushed into Lucian’s office.
Lucian didn’t look up from the papers on his desk. “You’re not on my schedule.”
“Schedules are boring,” Miles drawled, dropping into the chair opposite him. “Guess who I ran into a while ago?”
Lucian finally lifted his gaze, one brow raised. “Who?”
“Your runaway,” Miles said with a grin. “The girl from that night. Emma. And she was with a friend—Alexa. Gorgeous, sharp tongue, not my biggest fan yet.”
Lucian’s expression didn’t flicker, though his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “And?”
Miles leaned forward, smirking. “And I think I like Alexa. She’s got fire. Not the usual type, but… refreshing.”
Lucian snorted. “You? Interested in something more than a one-night distraction? Don’t kid yourself, Miles. You don’t do love.”
Miles shrugged, unbothered. “Maybe I don’t. But fun? That I do very well.”
Lucian sighed and returned to his paperwork. “Then keep your fun out of my office.”
“Or,” Miles said, ignoring him, “you could come have some fun with me. Let’s hit the club tonight. I’ll even book us a private room.”
Lucian gave him a flat look. “You know I hate noise.”
“You hate everything,” Miles countered with a grin. “Which is why you need me to drag you out. Come on. Just one night.”
Lucian hesitated, then finally exhaled. “Fine. One drink.”
The club pulsed with bass, neon lights painting the crowd in electric colors. Lucian sat in the private lounge, his drink untouched, while Miles was already laughing, waving for a waitress.
“I ordered us a treat,” Miles said with a wink.
The door opened and a stripper walked in.
Lily was dressed in black lace, her lips painted scarlet, eyes glinting with mischief.
Lucian’s face darkened immediately. “What the hell—”
Lily smirked, sashaying closer. “Relax. I’m just here to work.” She trailed a finger along Lucian’s arm. “Or… play, if you’re interested.”
He caught her wrist before she got closer, dropping it with cold precision. “Find someone else. I’m not interested.”
Her smile faltered, then shifted slyly toward Miles. “Your friend doesn’t seem so difficult.”
Miles grinned, already leaning back with easy charm. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
Within minutes, Lily was perched beside him, their laughter and flirtation filling the room. By the time they were kissing, Lucian had had enough.
“Enjoy your mess,” he muttered, standing. He tossed cash on the table for the bill and left without another glance.
Emma sat in the lecture hall the next morning, pen in hand, notebook open, though the words spilling from the professor’s lips blurred into meaningless noise. Equations scrawled across the board, students scribbled notes with quiet urgency, but Emma’s thoughts wandered elsewhere.
Lucian’s voice still echoed in her head from the night before.
Don’t be late, Miss Cole. I like my assistant where I can see her.
Her stomach tightened. It wasn’t just a job anymore; it felt like being caged.
When the lecture finally ended, she packed her bag quickly, eager to escape the suffocating classroom. The hallway buzzed with chatter, footsteps echoing against the tiled floor. Emma kept her head down, hoping to slip past unnoticed.
“Emma!”
She froze. The voice was achingly familiar.
Jason.
Her heart gave a small, traitorous skip as he jogged toward her, that easy grin spread across his face. The grin that once would have melted her.
“Hey,” he said, falling into step beside her. “Haven’t seen you around much lately.”
Emma adjusted the strap of her bag, eyes fixed ahead. “I’ve been busy.”
Jason chuckled. “Busy, huh? You used to have all the time in the world for me.” His tone was teasing, but something in it was sharper now. “What changed?”
Her throat tightened. In a rush, memory came back—standing outside that party, clutching her courage like a fragile flame, ready to confess everything she felt… only to see him in the corner, kissing another girl like she never mattered at all. That was the night she shattered, the night she’d made the worst decision of her life with a stranger who still haunted her.
She blinked, pulling herself back. “People change,” she murmured, trying to keep her voice even.
Jason tilted his head, studying her with amused curiosity. “Still dodging, huh? You know, you’re different now. Harder to read. I like it.” He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice. “But don’t think I’ve stopped noticing you.”
Her cheeks warmed, though not with the same thrill they once would have. It was different now—tainted. She managed a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Just then, her phone rang in her hand. She glanced down.
Lucian Sinclair. She had saved his number last night.
Her chest tightened instantly. Without thinking, she stepped aside. “Sorry, I need to take this.”
Jason blinked, caught off guard. “Seriously? Right now?”
“Yeah. Important call.” She didn’t wait for his response. She pressed the phone to her ear and walked away, leaving him standing in the middle of the hallway, baffled.
Jason watched her go, the easy grin fading into something else—confusion, and maybe a flicker of jealousy. Emma Cole had always dropped everything for him. Always. Yet now, she walked away without a second thought.
“Miss Cole,” Lucian’s voice slid through the receiver, smooth and commanding. “Don’t think about quitting. You’re right where I want you.”
The line went dead. Emma lowered the phone slowly, her heart thundering in her ears. For a long moment, she just stood frozen in the corridor, unable to breathe.
How did one man hold such power?
Alexa bounded down the stairs that afternoon, her messy hair tied into a bun, searching for food.
Rachel sat curled on the sofa in the living room, her attention fixed on a drama series flickering on the television.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Cole,” Alexa greeted politely as she passed through.
Rachel barely turned her head, waving absently. “Mm. Afternoon.”
Alexa slipped into the kitchen, opening cupboards, peering into the fridge, mumbling to herself about what to eat. Just then, her phone buzzed on the counter. She picked it up—and froze.
An email.
Her eyes widened as she read the words twice over:
A fashion brand was reaching out, offering her an opportunity to model for one of their products.
Alexa gasped, hand over her mouth. Her heart hammered in excitement. This—this was everything she had dreamed of. Modeling had always been the future she pictured for herself, though it felt distant, fragile. And now, here it was, knocking at her inbox.
But then doubt quickly followed excitement. What if it’s a scam? What if it’s not real? What if they’re just trying to trick me?
As she stood in the kitchen, debating, the front door creaked open. Lily walked in, her hair slightly disheveled, a smug curve on her lips.
Alexa turned, frowning. “Where are you coming from? It’s afternoon. Did you even sleep here last night?”
Lily dropped her bag lazily on the sofa and stretched, unbothered. “It’s none of your business what I do with my life.”
“It is when you disappear like that.” Alexa stalked toward the doorway. “Aunt, don’t you see? Lily just came back now. She wasn’t home last night.”
Rachel sighed, not looking away from the TV. “She must have had something very important to do, Alexa. Don’t start making trouble.”
Alexa’s jaw dropped. “Important? If this was Emma, you’d be shouting, calling her careless, saying she brought shame to the family. But Lily gets a free pass?”
Rachel finally turned her gaze, her voice firm. “Lily would never bring shame to us. Emma has always been the one to disappoint, the slow one. Lily knows her worth.”
At that, Lily’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, her chin tilted high, basking in her mother’s words.
Alexa’s chest burned with anger. “Unbelievable.” She grabbed her phone, clutched it to her chest, and stormed out of the house, ignoring Lily’s triumphant smirk and Rachel’s indifference.
She needed air. She needed space. And she needed to decide if she was brave enough to answer that email that could change her life.
- Writer
