A Proposal
1157 Words
Ariel
Luca’s eyes danced on mine as he dropped the question on me. For a split second, it felt like he was proposing marriage to me.
“What!” Was all I could bring myself to say. Was he sure what he was asking from me? Did he realize we just had mind-blowing s*x?
Did he know how complicated things were already for us as neighbors? Why did he want to make it more complicated by making me work for him?
Lucas continued, and this time, I could see that he meant every word he said. “I plan to leave this place for a duplex downtown. You can work for me as an in-house chef while I pay you handsomely.”
I listened to every tone of his voice. Every note sounded right. I chuckled uncontrollably.
He’d only met me a few days ago. I’d only had a one-night stand with him because I was in distress. But working for him was way out of my plans.
Lucas’s face widened as he watched me laugh. “Did I mention anything funny?”
“Yes!” My voice pitched.
“And what is that?”
“You don’t know me,” I continued. “We barely know each other, and now you want me to work for you.”
“You’re not sure if I’m truly a chef. I don’t know if you’re who you say you are.”
“I’ve known you long enough to have an ounce of trust in you.”
“Ounce of trust,” I chuckled again.
“Yes, Ariel. If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have you in my bed.”
His voice sent a quick shiver down my spine. Oh! How did one man have an intense way of making me feel his presence?
I slightly shook my head, getting a good hold of myself. And ensured I wasn’t drowning in the smooth grab in his eyes.
He’d mentioned that he was moving away from the condo apartment to a bigger house.
My mind began to create several scenarios in my head.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he was a wanted criminal hiding out from the police here in Woodstock.
Or maybe he was a celebrity with a major career fallout and sought solace in this not-so-small town.
He could be anything, but right now, that wouldn’t matter. It was already complicated as it was.
I couldn’t even start to think of how I had shamelessly just slept with this man I barely knew. Working for him now would be awkward, even though the offer was tempting.
“For the record, this is my bed, not yours.”
Lucas ruffled his hair with his fingers, “That’s not what matters right now. Are you taking the job or not?”
“I can’t,” I replied hesitantly.
“And why is that?”
“We just had s*x, and for the life of me, I can’t begin to imagine how awkward it will be.”
“From where I am lying, you don’t have many choices. In fact, you’ve got no choice aside from the one I am offering now. You need a job; no one is willing to employ you. However, I am offering you a job.”
“Who says no one is willing to employ me? I have got an interview tomorrow.” I lied.
“Tomorrow is Saturday…” Lucas arched a brow, catching on with my lies.
“In a bar…”
He shook his head. “You’ve one week to think about this and tell me what you decide.” Lucas was on his feet and getting dressed.
The rest of his clothing was in the sitting room, so he was only in his briefs. He was about to leave the room when he paused and turned.
“And as for the s*x,” his eyes rummage through my naked body, setting fire to me still and making me flush all over before pulling the covers up my chin.
He smiled smugly before continuing, “We’re both adults and are allowed to have fun once in a while. So you don’t have to worry about anything. We can act like this never happened. I wouldn’t want anything compromising my stay in Woodstock.”
With that, he walked out of the room, leaving me speechless and devastated.
***
One week now since Lucas Donovan walked his arrogant self out of my room after making an outrageous proposal and jaw-dropping assumptions.
One whole week of me feeling sorry for myself after being used and dumped by another male.
However, if I was being truthful, he didn’t use me. If anything, I had been the one using him to feel better that night.
After seeing Ryan and hurting all over again, I was unable to be on my own, and I would end up soaking my pillows with tears.
As I stood on the porch of Lucas's new duplex, I wondered just how rich he was to afford such a thing.
Perhaps Joan was right. Lucas was a billionaire! Maybe he was involved in money laundering, and things got hot, which is why he was in Woodstock!
Oh, Ariel! Stop thinking about the man. I sighed, pressing the call button on the wall.
I had spent one week thinking about his offer, and unable to come up with any other options, I decided to take it.
Even though every nerve in my body was screaming that coming here was like signing a no-peace treaty. I couldn’t turn back.
I needed money, and to get that, I needed a job.
Hell, I had been busting my sweat out trying to land a decent job to no avail. I was about to let the first opportunity I got slide past me.
Besides, Lucas already made it clear that we were both adults, and things didn’t have to be weird between us because we had s*x.
He was right!
Accepting this job had nothing to do with wanting to be near him or the fact that I had been unable to get what happened between us out of my head.
Not now, Ariel.
It was all going to be professional, and it wouldn’t matter if we were going to stay in the same house.
I pushed the doorbell again, listening as it rang inside the house.
Perhaps he was not home, or I was in the wrong house. I stared at the paper in my hand. Lucas had pushed this into my hand the day he moved out of the apartment.
So I knew I was definitely in the right house.
Finally, I heard the sound of the door unlocking. And when it opened, my heart dropped to my feet when I saw a gorgeous woman standing by the door, facing me.
Who was she? Lucas' girlfriend? wife?
At that moment, I realized I knew nothing about Lucas.
- Writer
