Chapter3:LucasBlake
1227 Words
Emma felt like she was going to throw up. She quickly took off the necklace. Without thinking, she threw it in the bedroom trash can. The diamonds made a clinking sound when they hit the metal.
She ran into the guest bathroom and turned on the shower. The hot water burned her skin, but she didn't care.
She grabbed the body wash and scrubbed her neck and body hard. She needed to wash away every trace of Marcus. Every memory of him touching her.
Her skin turned red from the hard scrubbing, but she still felt dirty. She thought about that necklace touching another woman's neck. It made her stomach hurt.
She imagined the necklace swinging as that woman moved under Marcus. The thought made her want to throw up.
The bathroom door suddenly opened. Marcus stood there, staring at Emma through the glass shower door. His eyes moved over her wet hair, down her shoulders, following the water drops on her body.
Marcus's breathing got heavy. His eyes burned with wanting. "Emma, you're so beautiful," he said. His voice was thick.
Emma heard his voice and quickly wrapped herself in a towel. She stepped out of the shower, but thinking that he might have looked at that other woman the same way made her feel sick.
"Don't come near me." Emma took several steps back, but Marcus was already coming closer.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Marcus reached out to touch her cheek, but Emma quickly moved away from his hand.
Marcus didn't give up. He pulled her into his arms. His hands started moving over her body, touching her back through the towel. Then they moved lower.
"Emma, I want you," he whispered in her ear. His breath was hot on her skin.
Emma's body went stiff. She tried to pull away, but Marcus was much stronger. His hand moved to her chest. His other hand slid down toward her inner thigh.
"Let's have a baby, okay?" Marcus's voice was full of longing. "We could have a beautiful child. A little girl with your eyes."
Emma felt ice water flood through her body. She thought of the photo that woman had sent. The same hands touching her now had been all over another woman's body just hours ago.
Anger exploded inside her chest.
"Get away from me!" Emma pushed Marcus with all her strength. "Marcus, I'm tired! I don't want to do this right now!"
Marcus stumbled backward. He looked surprised by her sudden anger. He stared at Emma's face with confusion.
"Honey, I'm sorry." His voice immediately filled with guilt. "I shouldn't have pushed you. I just want you so badly. I love you so much."
He stopped and looked at her face. "If you don't want a child right now, we can wait."
Watching Marcus's sorry expression, Emma felt mixed up emotions in her stomach. This man had been gentle and caring toward her for three years. She couldn't match this version of him with the man who was with another woman last night.
But the facts were clear. Those photos. Those messages. The necklace in the trash can.
That night, Emma lay awake staring at the ceiling. Marcus's breathing was steady beside her. The painful images played in her mind over and over. She didn't sleep until morning.
The next morning, Emma woke with dark circles under her eyes. Her reflection in the mirror looked hollow and tired.
"Honey, are you feeling okay?" Marcus asked with concern. "You look exhausted. Maybe you should rest today."
Emma shook her head. "I'm fine. We need to get ready for your grandfather's birthday party."
As they drove through the gates of the Blake family estate, a black car suddenly raced past them. It stopped right in front of the main door. The license plate said "LUCAS-1."
Marcus's hands tightened on the steering wheel. His face got dark right away.
"Uncle Lucas," he said under his breath.
Lucas Blake was Marcus's uncle, Richard's youngest son. Even though he was only six years older than Marcus, Lucas had always scared his nephew.
He had refused to work at the family company. He started his own company instead. That company was now worth five times more than Blake Group.
Lucas was known for being smart, mean, and holding grudges. Last year, he heard Marcus saying bad things about him at a business dinner.
As punishment, Lucas refused a business partnership that would have made Blake Group hundreds of millions of dollars.
Marcus parked behind the car. As Emma stepped out, her high heel got caught in the gravel driveway. She wobbled and was about to fall backward.
Suddenly, a pair of strong hands caught her waist. They held her steady against a solid chest.
Emma looked up into a pair of deep, dark eyes. The man was tall and powerful, probably around thirty-two years old.
His face was sharp and perfectly shaped. High cheekbones. A straight nose. A strong jawline. He wore a perfect dark gray suit that showed his broad shoulders and lean body.
This was Lucas Blake.
"Careful," Lucas said. His voice was deep and magnetic, with real concern in it.
For a moment, Emma found herself caught in his stare.
Marcus appeared beside them. His face was red with jealousy. He roughly grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her away from Lucas.
"Thank you, Uncle," Marcus said shortly. His voice was tight with barely controlled anger.
He dragged Emma toward the house entrance. After they walked a few steps, he leaned close to her ear.
"Emma, you know I don't like you getting too close to other men," he whispered harshly. "Not even my uncle."
Emma almost laughed. Here was Marcus, who had been with another woman just last night, acting jealous about her talking to his uncle.
"So you'd rather have your wife fall flat on her face in front of the Blake family house?" she replied coldly.
Marcus immediately backed down. "Honey, that's not what I meant. I just don't want people to get the wrong idea."
Emma ignored him and kept walking toward the entrance.
The Blake family house was impressive, with a grand entrance and crystal lights hanging from the ceiling. But Emma felt no happiness being here.
In the living room, Marcus's grandmother Marie immediately called out with a big smile. "Emma, Marcus, you're here! Come sit down!"
Emma took a deep breath and forced a polite smile. Whatever her feelings about Marcus, she still respected his grandparents. Richard had always treated her kindly.
"Hello, Grandpa. Hello, Grandma," she greeted them warmly.
Marie's eyes lit up as she watched Marcus and Emma come closer. She had been trying to convince Lucas to settle down and get married for years.
"Come, sit here next to me," Marie patted the sofa beside her.
As they sat down, Lucas entered the living room. Marie's expression immediately changed to disapproval.
"Look at Marcus," she said pointedly to Lucas. "He's got his company running smoothly, and his wife is absolutely beautiful. They might be giving us a great-grandchild soon."
Her voice got stern. "And you? You're almost thirty-five and still single. If you don't bring a girlfriend to the next family gathering, don't bother coming at all!"
Lucas's eyes moved to Marcus, then settled on Emma. His lips curved into a half-smile.
"Yes," he said quietly. "Really beautiful."
- Writer
