31

EMILY'S POV.

When we had been told of Lucas' arrival, I was surprised at how quickly John's expression changed. He closed his eyes, and exhaled softly.

If I was right, it seemed like he was finally realizing what he was doing. It felt like maybe Lucas was someone who corrected him a lot. Because the look on his face was like he had been unable to stop himself from doing something he had been cautioned against.

He left me, and walked out of the study, and I followed after him immediately. It was my chance to escape.

I saw Lucas standing there, and it shook me how handsome he was. He looked tired, but it didn't kill the glow in his green eyes. His brown hair was perfectly styled atop his head, with the sides shaved in a low cut, and he was fashionable with his white T-shirt styled in a french tuck, into green pants—the color of his eyes.

On his arm was a white coat, and his sneakers were a design I had not seen anywhere else. They were definitely limited edition sneakers.

Our eyes met for a fleeting second, and I chid myself for thinking about him in that manner when his nephew had been harassing me moments earlier.

I took my chance, and walked past John briskly towards the staircase. I was grateful to Lucas for interrupting.

As for not calling him with his title, I didn't feel he deserved that respect in my mind. He looked just as twisted as his nephew. Never ever would I trust a Granger.

He was definitely aware of the fact that John was cheating, based on how close they were.

It felt like my life could not get any worse, but it just did. Why did Lucas come to the house? How was I to deal with my conscience biting at me whenever I looked at him? Was he going to be a regular at the house? That would be uncomfortable. Well, I just had to avoid him.

However, the next morning, I was proven wrong, as I saw a traveling bag being wheeled into the living room by a maid.

"Whose is this?" I asked, stopping her.

"Oh, it's for Alpha Lucas. He ordered it to be brought from a hotel he had left it in." She said, with a smile, and my jaw fell.

"What? So, wait… why's he bringing all his stuff here?" I asked, waving my hands to the other bags, and the traveling bag.

"According to all the information from the maids, I heard…" she began in a whisper, moving closer to me.

"Okay?" I urged, leaning forward, so she could say whatever she had to say.

"This is his rightful mansion!" She squealed, barely containing her excitement, and the files in my hands fell to the floor, abruptly. She looked at me in shock, and bent to pick up my papers, although my eyes were stuck in space.

His mansion!? He was going to be living there!?

My hands wrapped around my body. He had seen my body! He knew what I looked like without clothes.

My hands flew to my mouth next. He probably remembered me making little, crazy sounds. I had… I had probably said stupid things. His lips… they had touched mine…

The steamy night came back to me, and I almost screamed, as I let myself stagger backwards to the wall, and leaned against it with wide eyes.

"No, no…" I said, and the maid looked at me weirdly.

"Are you… are you okay, Miss?" She asked, and once more, my arms tightened around myself.

Stop thinking. Stop thinking! I chid myself, and took my files from her, walking away quickly, and looked around like he'd suddenly pop out from somewhere.

How was I to avoid him when he was going to be living with me?

I got into my office, and dropped my files on the table, then went to lock my door. I leaned against it, and pressed my hand to my chest, feeling embarrassed.

He'd probably be looking down on me, knowing I also cheated, and still went extreme on John for cheating. Wait, Katie had said he was the youngest Alpha who didn't like ladies. He probably disliked me more for drunkenly forcing myself on him.

I had been drugged, so I was probably desperate, clingy, and… agh!

My memories of the moments before the real thing happened were blurred, and I couldn't think much.

One thing was sure, I had forced myself on him, and had wrapped my legs around his waist, not allowing him to leave. That was well-remembered.

A little embarrassed cry left my lips, and I plunged my fingers into my packed hair, ruining it slightly.

My hands immediately fished out my phone from my pockets, and I dialed Dahlia's number.

"Hey, sweetie." She said, when she picked the call, and I could hear something like the sound made from wringing clothes in the background.

"Did I call at a bad time?" I asked, and bit my lower lip.

"No, it's fine. I'm almost done with the laundry. I'll be happy to speak with you anytime." She said, and I took a deep breath.

"Dahlia… I'm knee-deep in trouble." I began, with my fingers still digging deep into my hair, loosening it up in an ugly way.

"Why? What happened?" She asked.

"The man I forced myself on is here to stay. In John's mansion. It's actually his." I whispered frantically, and heard her gasp.

"You do not mean it." She said,

"What do I do, Dahlia? Even if I do apologize. It will be awkward. He's seen all of me. He'll think I'm cheap, and I can't be too mad with John because there will be someone watching me, knowing I cheated." I said.

"Okay, take a deep breath."

"Oh, Dahlia, I said, and did a whole lot of embarrassing things. I can't bear to see him. Honestly, I never thought this way, but now that I might see him everyday, I'm suddenly remembering everything. When I stare at him too, my heart spirals crazily and racks with guilt, and embarrassment…" I blurted out in a frenzy.

"Okay, calm down. Calm down, Emily. Take a deep breath, and listen to me."

"Okay, I'm listening." I replied, breathily.

"Play it cool. Okay? Don't seem too flustered, but make sure he sees the sincerity in your apology. He shouldn't get the idea that you're reckless, or loose. When you see him, apologize deeply, and let your sincerity show on your face." Dahlia advised, and I took a deep breath.

"I'll do just that." I said.

After my phone call with Dahlia, I went to my room, and began to write out a letter. Maybe I'd give it to him.

*Good morning, Alpha Lucas. I must say that I'm really ashamed to write this to you. I can't bring myself to face you…*

I stopped, and squeezed up the letter in a ball.

My balls of papers didn't stop there. All the letters I managed to write ended up in balls, after I went through them for a final read.

Then, a knock sounded on my door, and I looked up, folding the one I was reading at the moment.

I tucked it into my pocket, and got to my feet, making for the door.

"Who's there?" I asked, as I opened it.

"It's Kaye, Miss." She replied, as I opened the door. "Are you okay, Miss? You seemed out of it earlier." She said, referring to my reaction when I heard Lucas owned the mansion.

"Oh, I'm fine. It's just a lot of stress I'm currently going through."

"I'm sorry about that. Well, I came to inform you that Alpha John requires your presence." She said, and I bit my lip.

What if he tried to do the same thing again?

Thinking about that, I walked to my table, and picked my pen up. It wouldn't do much, and I definitely didn't have the nerve to hurt a person, but it made me feel better to have something in my hands.

I took a deep breath before walking into John's second study, and saw him leaning against his desk.

"You called for me?" I asked, and he extended his arm, holding out a folder containing some files to me.

I closed up the distance, and closed my fingers around the edge of the file, but he kept his hold on it, making me look up into his eyes.

"I was really awful last night, wasn't I?" He asked, and I tugged on the folder, but he didn't let go. "You're really not coming back to me?" He asked, and I managed to tug it free from his fingers.

"Who should I give this to?" I asked.

"Lucas. Tell him to check it out." He said, with his eyes boring into mine, and I bowed, before turning away.

As I exited his study, I felt haunted by a fleeting thought, but shook my head— For a moment, he felt like the old John…