THE BILLIONAIRE'S FORBIDDEN DRIVER

Closer Than Ever

Chapter 4

Arabella was already moving before Lucas could take a second step. "Wait," she called.

Lucas stopped immediately, and the servant shifted very uncomfortably from one foot to the other and couldn’t stand still.

"Miss Kingston," the servant said carefully, "Mr. Kingston asked to see only him."

"I heard you," Arabella replied.

She was a bit restless because she knew her father never summoned employees to his private study at midnight and something wasn't right.

Lucas remained so calm as if being summoned by one of the most powerful businessmen in the country was no different from being asked to park a car.

"It's fine," he said quietly.

Fine? Nothing about this felt fine.

She felt tense, feeling unsure of what was about to happen. "What if it isn't?" she asked.

For a brief moment, something warm that made Arabella’s heart heavy softened in Lucas's eyes, then it disappeared.

"I'll be okay, Miss Kingston," Lucas assured her.

The formal address somehow made her chest full because she wasn't sure why, and before she could stop him, Lucas had already followed the servant down the hallway.

Arabella stood still watching and waiting until both of them disappeared around the corner and that was when she realized her hands were trembling.

Victor Kingston's study was the one room in the mansion that made even grown men nervous. It’s decorated with dark wood-lined walls, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stretched toward the ceiling, awards-filled glass cabinets, photographs of presidents, billionaires, and world leaders.

Everything inside was able to remind visitors exactly who Victor Kingston was and how much power he possessed.

Lucas entered without hesitation as Arabella’s father sat behind his desk with a glass of whiskey well rested beside several folders. The billionaire didn't immediately look up. Instead, he continued reading a document testing him.

Lucas recognized the tactic instantly, as many powerful men enjoyed silence and they believed it unsettled people.

He finally lifted his head. "Sit," he said.

Lucas sat and neither of them spoke for a few seconds.

Arabella’s father studied him the same way a business person studied a contract before signing it.

"How long have you worked for me?" he asked.

"Two years, sir," Lucas replied.

He nodded. "Any complaints?"

"No, sir."

"Problems?" he asked again.

"No, sir." Lucas responded.

He leaned back in his chair. "You have an impressive record."

Lucas remained silent because the compliment wasn't really a compliment. It was an observation.

He tapped one of the folders on his desk. "My security team says you've never been late."

Lucas said nothing.

"You've never called in sick or even asked for a raise. That’s unusual," he added.

Lucas almost gave a faint smile on his face. "I like my job, sir," he replied.

Arabella’s father stared at him while trying to read and understand him, but unfortunately for him, Lucas had learned long ago how to keep a straight face under pressure, and he knew how to keep his thoughts hidden.

Eventually, he nodded and got straight to the point. "I'm assigning you to Arabella," he said.

Lucas's expression didn't change but every instinct inside of him became stronger.

He continued. "Starting from tomorrow."

Lucas waited as Arabella’s father folded his hands together.

"She'll be attending several engagement-related events over the next few weeks. She has a habit of avoiding things she doesn't want to do, and the last thing I need is for my daughter to disappear every time wedding plans are discussed,” he said.

Lucas immediately understood what he was saying, he wanted a driver, a babysitter and a shadow for his daughter and someone to make sure she showed up where she was supposed to, but what her father didn't realize was how dangerous that assignment actually was.

"Understood, sir," Lucas replied.

He nodded. "Good."

The meeting should have ended there, but he studied Lucas longer again this time. There was a strange feeling of curiosity from Arabella’s father in the room but not suspicion. "Tell me something," he said.

Lucas kept a straight face and looked at him. "Sir?"

He gently moved the whiskey around in his glass. “What made you choose driving as a profession?”

The question wasn't random and Lucas knew immediately that Arabella’s father was only testing him.

"I enjoy driving," Lucas replied.

He wasn’t convinced enough with Lucas' response. "So do race car drivers."

Lucas almost smiled as the older man leaned forward. "You strike me as someone capable of more."

For the first time that night, Lucas felt genuinely amused. "I appreciate that, sir," Lucas said politely.

He waved a dismissive hand. "That wasn't a compliment."

There was a moment of silence between them and Arabella’s father finally stood up because the meeting was over.

"You're dismissed,” he said.

Lucas rose to his feet. "Thank you, sir."

As he reached the door, Arabella’s father spoke to him again without looking up. "Take care of my daughter."

Lucas stood still for a second, then he nodded. "Of course, sir," he replied.

He left, but the words Arabella’s father said followed him all the way down the hallway.

Arabella was pacing back and forth and every passing minute made her more anxious. The moment Lucas appeared at the end of the hallway, she rushed toward him. "What happened?" she asked immediately.

Lucas blinked his eyes, clearly surprised. "You waited?" he asked.

She pressed her lips together in annoyance at the question and she gave a sharp reply. "Of course I waited," she replied.

Something unreadable flashed across his face, but it was gone before she could notice it.

"What does my father want?" she asked.

Lucas hesitated, and it was a very noticeable mistake, and it made her feel worried inside.

"What happened?" she asked again.

"Nothing," Lucas replied.

Arabella opened her eyes widely after Lucas responded because she knew that was a lie. "You're lying."

Lucas gave a small smile because he knew he was still going to tell her." No, I'm not," he replied.

"You are, Lucas," she insisted.

They both stared at each other for a second, then Lucas finally shook his head. "Your father assigned me to drive you full time," he explained.

Arabella blinked her eyes in surprise. "What?"

"He wants me to be accompanying you to engagement-related events," Lucas said.

The words landed somewhere between relief and disbelief without accusations or confrontation, just driving alone. Then another realization hit her big time, which made her heart skip for a moment. "Meaning you'll be around more?" she asked before she could stop herself.

"Yes, Miss Kingston," Lucas replied.

"Good," she said quickly.

The word came out too fast, which made Lucas smile deeply.

Arabella immediately regretted responding immediately Lucas replied. "You know what I mean," she muttered.

"Do I?" Lucas asked.

She looked at him and the smile on Lucas' face was still there. For the first time since she'd known him, Lucas looked relaxed.

He isn’t the perfect employee everyone saw and, somehow, she liked that version of him far too much.

The realization of how she sees Lucas differently from others made her heart race again, but before either of them could say anything else, another voice interrupted.

"Well.” It was Damian Sterling and, of course, he stood at the far end of the hallway with his hands tucked into his pockets watching them and neither Arabella nor Lucas had heard him approach.

A strange expression crossed Damian's face. "There you are," he said.

Arabella stepped back without thinking twice, creating distance between herself and Lucas. The moment hadn't been inappropriate though, but somehow being caught in it felt wrong.

Damian's eyes briefly moved toward Lucas before returning to her. "Wedding planner meeting tomorrow," Damian informed her.

Her mood instantly went off. "What?" she asked.

"Ten o'clock,” Damian replied.

"No,” Arabella said.

Damian let out a long sigh. "You haven't even heard the details."

"I don't need to," she replied.

Lucas remained professional and silent, exactly as a driver should.

Damian checked his watch. "I'll pick you up tomorrow."

"No," Arabella replied firmly.

He looked at her more closely. "No?"

Arabella folded her arms like she had made up her mind. "I'm not going.”

Then Damian gave a very cold smile, the kind she was beginning to hate. "That's unfortunate," he said.

Something about his tone made her very uneasy, then he added, "Because your father already promised you'd be there."

She felt a sudden cold feeling all over her after hearing this. Damian turned and walked away, leaving her standing there frustrated and trapped.

She looked at Lucas for a brief moment, then Lucas quietly broke the silence between them.

"Tomorrow might be difficult," he said.

Arabella let out a bitter laugh. "Might be?" she repeated.

Lucas didn't argue because they both knew the truth that tomorrow wasn't going to be only difficult, it’s going to be a disaster and neither of them had any idea just how bad it was about to become.