“L-Lucas...” I whispered as his muscular figure hovered over my limp body.

He stopped, then asked, “I thought you said you wanted help?”

“I-I know, but...” Shit, it takes real courage to stand up to a man of such power like Lucas Davidson. “Not like...this...”

Lucas sat down on the bundle of silk next to me.

“Is it because I don’t **** you the way your dear old ‘fiance’ does?” he questioned, and I recognized a hint of anger in his voice.

I twiddled my thumbs together, covering my bare chest with the thin blanket I managed to grab. “No, but this is wrong—”

I felt the cold air hit my body as Lucas took the blanket off of me.

Then he pushed his lips against mine, filling each and every crevice of it. He broke off and stared deep into my eyes.

“I don’t care if you don’t want me, because as long as I want you, I want you. I don’t give a shit if your fiance catches us together. Because what’s important to me is you satisfy me, tonight and the nights to come.”

My chestnut-brown eyes widened. Until this night, which was his twenty-fourth birthday, he had never said anything like that to me.

As a nineteen-year-old, I’m always expected to please people, to live up to their greatest expectations. Well, not Lucas.

I know all he cares about is his companies and me, but unlike me, he knows how to manage both with ease.

I looked up to his blue ocean eyes and said,

“Enjoy it while you can.”

The next morning, I rose up from the gigantic bed, rubbing my eyes. The pale yellow sunlight shining through the glass doors of the balcony made my eyesight blur a bit.

I checked beside me, but Lucas wasn’t there. Then I saw his note:

Ella, I had to leave early for a meeting today. If you have to go out, remember to call me first and tell me where you’re heading. I can get the chauffeur to drive you. If you’re visiting your fiance, well, figure that out on your own.

-Lucas

Aish, this guy.

I, or rather, my fiance had called me four times last night. Shit, what if he starts to suspect something is up?

My phone rang. It was him.

“Hello?” I said, nervous.

“Ella, where are you? I called you like four to five times last night! I’m really worried!” His anxious voice replaced with relief to hear my voice.

I retied the satin ribbon of my bathrobe. “I’m w-was Mair’s house. I stayed over.”

Charles, my fiance, sighed. “Good. I thought you were missing. Anyway, still up for the coffee date for lunch?”

I clutched at my waist, my lower body still hurting from last night. “S-Sure Charles, I’ll meet y—”

“Can’t I just pick you up?” Charles interrupted. “You said Mair’s is just near here, right?”

I bit my lower lip. “Um, I’m at the store right now. I wanted to get chips.”

Charles paused. “Okay then. See you at twelve. Love you babe.”

Then he hung up.

I sighed, feeling the weigh lift off of my lungs. That entire phone call felt like I was holding my breath the entire time.

****, I have to be more careful. Luckily, my closest friend Mair Evans knows about my relationship with Lucas and can keep a secret, so if ever Charles calls Mair to confirm my whereabouts, she’s up and running.

But, seriously, why did it have to be this way?

“Ella! There you are!” Charles waved, standing up from his seat.

I smiled uncomfortably as the people around us stared at him, then at me.

To be honest, Lucas isn’t this clingy, I thought.

Wait, what the hell am I thinking?

Charles walked up to me and kissed my forehead. “Come on, I already ordered your favorite, chocolate donuts and mocha latte.”

I sat back on the comfy armchair and took a sip of my coffee.

Charles bit into his waffle. “So?”

“So...what?”

“How was Mair’s?”

I shifted in ny chair. “Oh, it was nice.”

Silence.

“Look! It’s Lucas Davidson!”

“What’s he doing in this coffee shop? Doesn’t he usually dine at fancy restaurants?”

I froze. I managed to turn around and see if it was for real.

And it was.

At the doorway stood Lucas, his dark wavy hair set perfectly, his Carribean blue eyes sparkling with mischeif.

Then he looked at me.

Like sending me a message, he ran his eyes up and down my body, then smirked.

Charles is here you idiot, I thought, almost believing he could read my mind.

Lucas sat down on the table just beside me and Charles.

I twiddled my thumbs together. What the **** is wrong with this guy?!

Charles, meanwhile, was staring at Lucas.

“Oh, so you’re Lucas Davidson? You look pretty young to be a CEO of the biggest company.”

I face-palmed myself. If Charles wasn’t my fiance, I would’ve told him Lucas doesn’t like being called too young.

Lucas turned blue eyes towards him, then to me, then back to him.

“I’m 24 already. That’s the adult stage.” Lucas muttered, adjusting his dark-blue tie.

Charles nodded, then turned to me. “Aren’t you going to eat your donut? I thought it was your favorite.”

I looked at my plate and realized I hadn’t touched the food.

“S-Sorry Charles, I...uh...ate a lot of chips and soda at Mair’s house.” I quickly lied.

Lucas sneaked a peek at me, as if to say, that’s the best you can think of?

Charles smiled. “That’s okay. But next time, don’t eat too much junk food. You might get a stomachache.”

Yeah, well, my stomach does hurt, but it’s because of Mr. Lucas over here.

“I gotta go to the bathroom,” Charles said, and stood up.

The second he went in the bathroom, I punched Lucas’s shoulder.

“Yah! What the **** are you doing here?!” I whisper-shouted.

Lucas rubbed his arm. “Can I not be here?”

“You know that I have lunch with Charles! So why did you come here?!”

“He’s too stupid to find out anyway. When he does, tell him I hate him for calling me young.”

I rubbed my temples.

At that moment, Charles came back.

“Ready to go, El?” He asked sweetly.

I softly smiled and nodded.

As Charles put his arm on my shoulder and we walked towards the door, I turned around and sneaked a look at Lucas. He was staring at me, and silently mouthed,

“Tonight.”

At around 3:30 PM, I headed to Mair's house. I managed to convince Charles to let me "stay" at her house since he would be away for five days to Tokyo.

The mahogany door opened, and Mair Evans appeared.

"Hey, El! Come on in!"

After getting seated on her plush cream sofa, I immediately explained what happened at the coffee shop.

"Seriously, Ella, why don't you just break up with Charles? You guys aren't married yet anyway."

I shook my head. "I'd be having to pay off about two thousand dollars on the gifts he buys for me. Plus, all the arrangements for the wedding have already been paid for."

Mair sipped her tea as her husband Jackson sat beside her. "El, do you like Lucas though?"

"I...I d-don't know," I shrugged. "I mean, he makes me feel...different-"

"In bed, you mean?" Jackson interrupted which earned him a punch to his shoulder from his wife.

I felt my cheeks redden. "W-Well, you have a p-point, Jackson..."

"Anyway, aren't you supposed to meet him tonight?" Mair asked thoughtfully.

I nodded slowly.

"Welp, I might as well help you get ready; Jackson can babysit Rianna." She added the last part as an afterthought.

Jackson held up a peace sign then walked towards their daughter's bedroom.

"Good evening, Miss Miyuri! Please, come this way. Master wanted to have dinner with you first." June, the maid Lucas hired for me, greeted.

"Good evening too, June." I murmured.

She led me towards a long hallway made of marble and gold, with paintings made by Picasso and Da Vinci. Finally, June stopped in front of a huge double oak door.

"Please enter, Miss Miyuri. Master Davidson is waiting."

I gave her a soft smile, then twisted the glass doorknob.

I entered and quietly shut the door. As I turned around, I saw a table covered in white satin, with a vase of roses in the middle and two candles on beautifully carved stands. And overlooking the balcony railing was the amazing Pearl Beach that Lucas bought for his private property.

I adjusted my off-shoulder top due to the wind.

Suddenly, I felt someone's arms circle my waist and pull me close. As soon as I felt the warm breath on my neck, I knew who it was.

"Hey, Luc..." I whispered.

I felt him brush his hair back, then turned my body to face him. "Listen, I'm sorry for showing up at the cafe." He kissed my shoulder. "Forgive me?\~"

I blushed instantly, feeling his soft lips on my skin. "O-Okay, f-fine!"

"You don't sound like it. Give me a kiss and I'll know you mean it." He pouted, his reddish lips only centimeters from mine.

I rolled my eyes and planted a kiss on his cheek. "There, happy now?"

Lucas raised his eyebrows, as if to say, Really? On the fucking cheek?

I giggled as he held me tighter.

Suddenly his eyes became serious. "Can't you just be with me?"

I stopped.

Yes, I should be with him, but what can I do?

My marriage with Charles is only for business.

"Soon." I said softly.

"Then kiss me as if there's no tomorrow," he whispered with that low, husky voice I loved.

I stared at his mouth for a second, then,

I did.