Tangled Hearts

CHAPTER 5

Interests Revealed

My heart thudded erratically from the events at the restaurant as I paced back and forth in my bedroom. My palms were still sweaty and I felt a chill crawl up my spine as I recalled Dominic's cold gaze in my mind's eye. I dialed Clarice, my hands were shaky as I held the phone.

“She messed up Clarice,” I said immediately. I ran a hand through my hair, and my voice shook, “She revealed that she was paid, Clarice… ” I recounted the happenings at the restaurant. My mind raced as I considered the possibility of Dominic investigating deeper into this.

“Lucas?” Clarice's voice sounded surprised, “How come? I thought he'd left the country,” Clarice's voice was sharp.

“I don't know, Clarice,” I whispered as I sat down. “He just walked in, he and Dominic….” My breath caught at the hostility between the two of them. “Dominic nearly went nuts.”

I heard Clarice’s sharp intake of breath, “This is a big problem, do you think Dominic will let things slide?” she sighed, “It's all my fault, I shouldn't have brought up this idea.

My breath hitched, “It's not your fault, the lady messed it up,” I gently massaged my temple with my hands, “He’s suspicious, Clarice. He suspects the one behind it,” my heart beat erratically. “Thank God the lady had the sense to slip away when Lucas came in.”

There was a pause on the line before Clarice responded, her tone softer. "Stick to the story, Elara. Don’t admit to anything. You have to remain calm.”

“I'm trying,” I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself down. “He's smart and… I don't know,” my breath hitched. “I feel like he could find out at any moment.

My phone beeped in my hand as I spoke, and my heart sank as I glanced at the screen. “Dominic's calling me,” my voice trembled, a thread of panic unraveling in my belly. “Should I pick up?”

“Of course, you should,” Clarice answered immediately. “Just act like you normally would, okay, you got this. Call me when you're done.” I wish I was, I thought, ending the call, I breathed out slowly before answering Dominic. “Hello?”

“Elara,” Dominic's cold voice made me shudder. I could sense a current of anger in his voice. I took a deep breath, bracing myself, “What the hell was that at the restaurant? What games are you playing?

My hand holding the phone trembled, but I kept my voice cold, “What are you talking about, Dominic? I had nothing to do with that woman,” I breathed slowly, hoping he couldn't detect the lies in my tone.

“You're lying,” Dominic snapped, “If you pull any tricks again, maybe I'll talk to your father and tell him I've had a change of heart, what do you think?” His words sent a chill down my spine. If he told Father anything, I was done for.

“I understand,” I whispered.

“Good,” Dominic answered. “I don't care what you had with Lucas, but I don't want to see you anywhere within meters of him,” he growled.

My eyes narrowed and I huffed, who was he to tell me what to do? “You don't get to tell me who I can or can't see, Dominic. I'm not one of your minions,” I snapped, my anger rising.

“I don't care,” Dominic shot back, his tone dripped with venom. “I won't have my name soiled by the media because of you.”

His harsh tone made me shiver slightly, “I'm not some belonging of yours, this is just… just business,” tears welled up in my eyes as I spoke.

The line went silent for a while before he spoke, his voice was cold, “Business or not, you will do as I say,” Dominic's words were overbearing.

The nerve of this man, I blinked back tears as I tried to speak, “But he came…”

“I don't want your excuses,” he cut me off. “If I see you with him again, you'll face the consequences, Elara.” The line went dead.

I cupped my face in my palms as I tried to process his words, my stomach curled as a mix of emotions flooded me—pain, anger, and a lump formed in my throat. I was in that position when a knock sounded at the door and mother walked in.

“Elara,” her expression was queer as she stared at me. “You have a visitor.”

“Me?” I furrowed my brows, “Who?”

My heart skipped a beat. "Lucas is here? Now?"

She nodded, her eyes flashing as she stared at me, “I don't know what you're up to having Lucas here at this time, but I don't want to see him again,” Mother's face hardened. “Is that clear, Elara?”

My heart thumped, what was he doing here? I wondered. I ignored Mother's threat, she obviously wouldn't believe me if I said I hadn't invited Lucas over. Mother was aware of our history.

“Okay,” I whispered, getting to my feet to go downstairs. My mind filled with thoughts and questions as I headed downstairs. What could Lucas possibly want? And why now?

Lucas was seated at a coffee table when I walked in. He turned as I approached, his warm blue eyes fixed on me, nearly making me stumble. “Elara,” he breathed, his voice light.

I avoided his eyes, the eyes of a man who once knew me so well,” Why are you here?” I stared out the window.

His lips curled slightly, but his eyes dimmed, “I came to see you.”

After only months after being my entire world and leaving me in the lurch, I thought, a stab of pain flitting through me.

We sat down opposite each other, the air between us thick with unspoken words. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the silence stretching on until it became almost unbearable. “What do you want, Lucas? I breathed, my eyes fixed on him.

"I've been thinking a lot about us," Lucas fixed his gaze on the little flower vase on the table. His eyes met mine, "About what happened between us."

My heart pressed painfully against my ribs, "Lucas, I—"

"I made a mistake letting you go," he cut me off, his eyes bored into mine.

No, I wasn't having this conversation with him, my breath caught in my throat and tears threatened to overcome my defenses. “Lucas you should leave,” my voice cracked as I got to my feet to leave, rather than escape rather. I yelped when his hands caught mine, holding me back.

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race. "I want you back, Elara."

Lucas’s declaration sent shockwaves through me, leaving me stunned and unsure of how to respond. The walls of the room seemed

to close in as I realized that my life was about to get even more complicated.