Is This A Joke?

The Waterfront Well is one of the famous restaurants in the country. It is only one among several restaurants the Hargreave family owns. This one, in particular, has Lucas's private room which his friends from the Great 7 families also regularly borrows.

At that moment, a gentleman in a dark grey suit was waiting patiently inside a private room.

When the door opened, Lucas came in and ushered Diana. Atty. Pierpont stood in greeting, introducing himself to Diana.

"Good day Mr. Ingram. Hello Ms. Winchester. My name is Hector Pierpont. I will be representing you in your case against

Ms. Holt." Pierpont offered his hand to Diana for a handshake which the latter accepted.

"Nice to meet you. Thank you for your help." Diana smiled politely.

"It's my pleasure." Pierpont smiled in return. Upon seeing Lucas's bored facial expression, the lawyer cleared his throat and proceeded to talk about the case.

"I have already gathered everything I need to help you with the case. The people back at the Oxfield Crime Department and the Hopton Research Institute were very cooperative. As of now, Ms. Holt was able to bail out, with the help of Mr. Cook. But I assure you, that after we see them at court, she will receive her due." Atty. Hector Pierpont looked so charismatic as he explained the process. Diana was reassured with this.

"Alright. I'm really thankful for your help. Also to you Mr. Ingram." Diana said, gratefully.

Hector was surprised at how Diana formally addressed Lucas. With how Lucas made it seem that it's important to help Diana with her case, he wondered if the two have a special relationship. In the years that he spent as Lucas's lawyer, this is the first time he was ordered to take up a case of a woman who is not even related to his family.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "No problem. In the future, if you need the help of a lawyer, Pierpont will assist you."

At this, both Diana and Hector were startled.

Hector is almost certain that his earlier guess was correct.

Diana however couldn't believe what Lucas mentioned. How can she keep using Atty. Pierpont's services in the future? Will she be able to afford it?

"Yes. Ms. Winchester. I'll leave you my business card. In the future, just contact me if you have any questions or if you need my legal services." Hector respectfully gave his business card to Diana.

Diana received it and thanked him once again.

Just then, the waiter entered and brought their meal.

They ate their meal and chatted for a while.

"Thank you for the meal. I'll excuse myself first. I still have to stop by at the office." Hector bid farewell.

Now that the two are left on their own, Diana took this opportunity to thank Lucas once more.

"I'm really thankful for all of your help. I must have saved someone in my past life to give me this luck." Diana chuckled, fiddling with her fork.

Lucas smirked. "I didn't know you could be a sentimental person."

Diana laughed lightly. "It's true though! Even that first time we met. How lucky I was to have met you that time. Instead of ignoring me, you helped me."

Lucas remembered that fateful night so well. He had kept repeating it in his dreams. He wondered if there were any similar incidents that have happened to her. He hoped that she would not choose the same solution.

"I have a question. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Lucas started.

"Go ahead. Ask away." Diana said, smiling.

Lucas paused. Then he looked at her with clear eyes.

"Who were those people?" Lucas referred to Henry, Chantal, and her friends.

Diana cocked her head to the side."Oh. That was my twin sister Chantal, her boyfriend Henry, her best friends Beatrice and Leah."

"Was that how they always treat you?" Lucas asked. His fingers held the fork tightly.

Diana looked at Lucas's eyes, seeking if he had any other motive for asking.

She nodded. "It's nothing really."

She was used to their treatment. It has already come to the point that she didn't care. That night, she only felt like messing with them. Although she couldn't deny that she really wanted them off her back about Henry being her ex.

Lucas wondered at that. How else could she have thought that it's a good idea to get someone to pretend to be her boyfriend at that time? She must have already had enough and wanted to throw them off.

"Hey.. I'm always available for you to show off as your boyfriend." Lucas winked, chuckling.

Diana was startled. Thinking that he was only joking, she laughed.

Her coworkers have told her that their boss was serious-looking. She really can't put that and this in the same breath. Lucas had always shown his carefree side. She's not acquainted with the strict boss as of yet.

"Yeah.. as if.. Anyway, I don't think they even believed it. At most, they are disappointed at me for even getting someone to act as my boyfriend." Diana recalled her mother's phone call that night.

She also did not reveal that Chantal had spread the word that she's with an old man. Lucas was in no way old. Even if there were more years on him, she could tell that he would age beautifully like fine wine.

"We don't have to act." Lucas said seriously, looking into her eyes.

Diana's breath hitched. 'What's this? What does he mean by those words?'

Diana wondered if she was wrong in thinking that Lucas is a good man and was even thankful that time for not taking advantage of her.

Was she wrong?

How can he say those words so easily?

They have barely known each other.

Usually, don't people need time to get to know each other to know if they like the other?

Don't they need to weigh in their options?

Don't they at least have an inkling that the other liked them for a while already?

Diana laughed nervously. "I never knew President Ingram could joke so well. You almost had me there."

At this, Lucas leaned forward and gazed at her.

"Let me rephrase. I want you to be my girlfriend. Can I take you out on dates from now on?" Lucas said.

'Is this a joke?'

Diana froze.