The Guest Room
1013 Words
After dinner, Old Mrs. Cole smiled warmly. “Elena, tomorrow’s the weekend—no work. Why don’t you and Lucas stay the night?”
Elena hurried to decline. “Grandma Cole, I have to swing by the set tomorrow morning. It’s not convenient…”
Old Mrs. Cole turned promptly to Lucas. “Ah-Chen, that’s your fault—making family work weekends. Cancel it.”
Lucas nodded politely. “As you wish.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Elena’s heart sank.
Old Mrs. Cole beamed, summoning the butler. “It’s settled, then. Third floor has plenty of empty rooms. Have the staff show them up.”
With every step up the stairs, Elena mentally cursed Lucas a thousand times.
Third floor.
The landing opened into a spacious central lounge—fridge, sofas, coffee table, everything.
Elena’s room was on the left side with Ethan’s. Lucas’s was alone on the right.
Once the butler left, Lucas poured a glass of warm water and headed toward his room.
From the corner of his eye, he caught movement on the left: Ethan blocking Elena’s path to her door.
“Elena Brooks, I need to talk to you.”
At the same time, Elena noticed the door on the right quietly closing.
She looked at Ethan. “Money first.”
Ethan handed over the check without hesitation.
Elena was momentarily surprised by his generosity—until, predictably, he lingered at her door.
“Elena, I’ve been thinking about what Grandpa said tonight.”
“We could actually make this work. If you commit to me properly, I swear I’ll stop messing around. Whatever money you need—no problem. Deal?”
Elena stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “Did a door hit your head?”
The old Ethan had looked down on her constantly and never lacked women. Now he wanted to “reform”?
In her eyes, he’d just tasted the benefits of her influence on his grandfather—and Lucas’s earlier comments had rattled him.
Ethan insisted, “I’m serious.”
“Why don’t you ever believe me? If I didn’t like you, why would I let Grandpa push the engagement? But you’re always so cold—I had to look elsewhere…”
In his mind, he’d already sacrificed plenty for her.
Elena laughed coldly.
Classic guilt trip.
A rotten man thinking he was the victim.
Her eyes turned icy. “Get lost before I start cursing. No one wants your pathetic redemption arc. You’re an eyesore.”
She slammed the door—uncaring if it caught his foot.
Ethan hopped on one leg, pain shooting through him. He pounded the wall in frustration.
No woman on earth was beyond Ethan Cole.
As long as he didn’t let go, no one could take her.
Elena finished her nighttime routine, slipped into pajamas, and climbed into bed.
A friend request notification popped up—Lucas, sent half an hour ago. She hadn’t noticed.
She was about to reject it when a knock sounded at the door.
Assuming it was housekeeping with fresh linens, she grabbed her phone and opened it.
Before she could register, a tall, broad figure pressed in. The hand behind him shut the door smoothly.
Elena’s heart leaped to her throat. “You—what are you doing in my room? Get out!”
Lucas pinned her against the nearby cabinet, arm circling her lower back, pulling her flush against him.
Low, urgent voice: “Why didn’t you reply?”
He’d been going insane wondering what Ethan said. He’d messaged her—no response. Half an hour of agony in his room before he finally knocked.
Elena clutched her still-lit phone. “I was in the shower.”
Only then did Lucas notice the change: white silk slip dress, soft and slippery, V-neck revealing cool porcelain skin with a faint post-shower flush.
The thin silk pressed against his crisp black shirt. Fabric might as well not exist—just heat rising fast between them.
Bath-fresh scent mingled in the air.
He glanced at her phone screen. If he hadn’t shown up, another rejection would’ve come.
He dropped his head, instinctively holding her tighter.
“Don’t reject me. Please don’t reject me.”
The height difference buried her completely in his embrace.
Elena struggled for air. “Lucas Bennett—loosen up. I can’t breathe.”
He eased slightly. She tipped her head back for oxygen—only to face a wall of a man, immovable.
His breath grazed her neck, lips brushing faintly.
“Baby… what did you two talk about?”
Elena froze, realizing only after a beat what he meant.
“If you want to know, ask Ethan. Why sneak into my room?”
Lucas’s large palms spanned her waist, controlling.
“I only want to hear it from you. I want you to explain it to me.”
Elena’s temples throbbed.
What were they to each other that she owed explanations?
“You’re overstepping.”
His voice was muffled against her skin. “I only overstep with you.”
Elena took a deep breath. “I’m not obligated to feed your possessiveness.”
Sure, her engagement to Ethan was on paper only—no interference.
But alone in a bedroom with Lucas—her ex and technical “uncle”—still sent a forbidden thrill through her.
Suddenly—knock knock.
Elena went rigid.
“Elena dear? You’re not asleep yet, are you? Grandma needs to talk to you~”
Panic surged. She had no idea what to do.
Lucas steadied her flailing hands. “Don’t be scared.”
Elena hissed through gritted teeth, “I’m scared because you’re here! Hide in the bathroom—now.”
The words flung him back to college—when they’d had to sneak around.
He hated it.
Another knock. “Elena? Did you hear Grandma?”
Elena’s fingers twisted his shirt at the waist in desperation. Seeing him lost in thought, she cupped his face with both hands, eyes shimmering, voice soft and pleading.
“Please.”
- Writer
