LUKENOWThis was more complicated than I’d thought. I told myself I should not involve myself too much with Scarlet, but all I could think about now was how to make her stop crying. All I wanted was a senseless fuck, but here I was, dealing with some serious matters I couldn’t avoid.She was a mystery with unfathomable issues. I couldn’t figure her out, which was unnerving. After being away from her mother for six years, her life had changed into some rollercoaster shit she kept to herself. And being the only person to find out about it was such huge accountability.“I’m sorry for doing this. I don’t know what’s gotten into me,” I said.She had stopped crying. “You forced me. This is not healthy, Luke.”“I know.” I sighed. “I should’ve been more understanding. I just thought I could help.” I took her hand and brought it to my lips. “For now, let’s get you something to eat.”We stopped by a restaurant, but before she could step out, I cupped her face, and without hesitation, I kissed
SCARLETThe sound of the devil’s name alone made my stomach twist. How much more has an unfortunate past with him? If only I could change the past, I would have. There was no way I would love a man like Raoul. He was pure evil.I begged him. I even got down on my knees when I did it. He locked me up in his house for almost a month. I was unable to go to school. I always had bruises. He was hurting me. He only allowed me to use my phone, so people would not expect anything. I lied to my friends. I lied to Mom. It was only Nate who began to suspect what was going on with me. Katherine thought I was in love, but Nate thought I was out of my mind when I told him I was going to marry Raoul.Everyone thought I was in love, but I wasn’t. How could I love a man like that?“I never loved that devil, Luke. I just don’t want you to meet him.” I stared back at Luke.His eyes narrowed. “Then why can’t you tell us what happened?” he asked.I clenched my fist. Why was everyone so interested in the s
SCARLETI fell asleep in the car. It was an exhausting day. I met two people I was afraid to face in my life. They all brought up the past I was trying to bury, to forget. Luke woke me up with a kiss on my lips. I opened my eyes and found we were in front of his apartment building.“We’re here,” he whispered.“I’m aware.”He chuckled softly. “I can’t wait to have you alone.”“Our parents are still in your apartment, Luke.”“Dad isn’t home right now. I was told that he was in the office. I’m sure Gene won’t bother us in the shower.” Luke unbuckled his seatbelt and then stepped out of the car. He turned to the other side to open the door for me.I stepped out; he caught my waist immediately. Our chest adhered.“Join me,” he whispered in a low tone.Damn, his flirting. My sex clenched. A cold bath would suffice to bank the heat I was feeling, but not today.“Mom will suspect if she sees me coming into your room, Luke. Don’t you have work to do?”He scratched his temple with his index fin
SCARLETI knocked on Katherine’s door twice, but there was no answer.“Katherine, open up.”Still no answer. I tried moving the doorknob, but it’s locked.“Is she inside?” I asked Nate. “She’s probably sleeping.”“She didn’t tell me she was going to leave the apartment. Do you have your key?”“Oh, of course.” Hurriedly, I unlocked the door using my duplicate key. I pushed the door open, but the lights were off, and she wasn’t inside.“She’s not here.” I turned on the lights and went to my bedroom.“I’ll call her,” Nate said. I nodded. He remained standing in the living room. I needed to get a few clothes and sleepwear. I was running out of clothes. I needed my laptop and other books as well. I opened the wardrobe to pick some.“Did she answer yet?” I asked Nate. I don’t want to talk to him, but I don’t have a choice.“She’s not picking up,” Nate said. He was now standing at my door, his hand in his pocket.I threw the clothes over onto my bed. “Did you tell her what happened?”He shoo
SCARLETI didn’t notice I fell asleep on Luke’s bed. I just felt the bed move and his presence next to me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me against him.“You look sexy in these clothes.” He whispered in my ear, which made me shiver. I wore a blue silk nightie I had taken from the apartment earlier.“Luke…” I whispered. “What time is it?”“It’s past one.”“And you just came back? What happened?” I tried to turn around to see him, but he did not let me.“Stay like this,” he said. His arm tightened around my waist. But I wanted to see his face. I lazily opened my eyes. I jumped out of bed to turn on the lights.“Oh my God!” I gasped for air as I came back to the bed. Luke’s lip was bleeding, and his cheeks were purplish red. His left eye was swollen. I crawled back to bed immediately.“What happened to you?” He looked badly hurt. “Did Thomas hurt you?”He smirked. He just looked at me with the same affection. “This is nothing.”“It’s not! How could he hurt you?” I caught m
SCARLETLuke went out of the door and then came back with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. He sat on the bedside table and filled the glasses. He handed me one.“So, shall we start?”“How about you ask the questions?” I suggested.“Hmm.” He nodded, then gulped the liquor straight. “All right.”I took a deep breath, getting ready for the possible questions he might ask. I must remember, too, that Luke had possessive tendencies.“Where did you meet the guy?”Okay. Not harmful as the first question.“I met him at a club.”He frowned. “What the hell are you doing in a club?”“I came with friends. Girls’ night.”“Okay. So, you met him there, asked for a drink, got to know each other, and then you became close.” He gulped another shot of his drink. “So typical. You fell in love, and then you married him. Why didn’t you know he’s married?”My mouth dropped open. “Whoa! That’s a heavy conclusion. That’s not what happened.” I stared at him, surprised. “Are you writing a movie script?”He
SCARLETLuke wasn’t on his side of the bed when I woke up. I checked the desk clock and found that it was only six-fifty. I stepped out of bed and then went straight to the bathroom.After a cold shower, I couldn’t stop thinking about my dream. Luke was with me, Mom and Thomas, and they knew about our relationship. We’re all happy. In reality, I knew that it would be impossible.When I came downstairs, Mom was already preparing breakfast. Thomas was in the living room, reading a newspaper. I couldn’t even look at him. He knew about my past, and I wasn’t expecting him to treat me the same.I greeted Mom first. She was settling the food on the tables, then Luke’s face appeared as he closed the fridge. His wounds weren’t swollen anymore as it was last night.“Darling, sit there,” Mom instructed. “It’s good to fill up your stomach before school.”I sat in the middle part, and Luke sat across from me. He put a plate in front of me and the other utensils.“Did you sleep well?”“Yes.”“Darli
LUKE“Rebecca?” I phoned her the next morning. “Please find any properties under the name Raoul Velazquez,” I requested.“Did you find a lead?”“He owns a club. Find the name and send it to me asap.”“Sure. Anything else?”“Nothing. Thank you, Rebecca.”“You’re welcome.” I ended the call.I hadn’t expected that this would become an endless road. I couldn’t afford to get tired. I did not expect that the fucker would be hard to find. I had tracked down people before, even those who were already dead. I was good at it. The next time I speak to Rebecca, I’m expecting to find a precise result. I already came this far. I should not give up.I had lost track of time. It was already ten-thirty, and I still hadn’t received a message from Scarlet. Was she planning to stay in her apartment? I told her that I would pick her up.I stared at the files on my desk blankly. Besides having unending things to do at Hotel B, I still had to deal with AT clients tomorrow. I pressed my temples with my two f