Lucas POV
I glared at the ham and Swiss baguette and mocha coffee resting on my table as if it owed me big time.
There was something about its presence that ticked me off.
Yes, it was the same sandwich and coffee my assistant brought in, claiming it was from Katherine Fielding.
How could she be so shameless as to send me our favorite food? What does she want now?
The sight of the sandwich and iced coffee bugged me, but I couldn’t seem to throw it away. A big part of me is already conducting a picket in my head which left me with nothing to do except glare at the whole thing for almost an hour now.
Lunchtime had come and passed, but I couldn't seem to find the drive to consume the whole meal despite the grumbling of my stomach.
"What are you doing?" Oliver asked when he walked in unannounced, disrupting me from my musings.
I shot him daggers while he sauntered closer, seemingly unaware of my i
Lucas POVIt kind of threw me off to see Agatha in the flesh. Just last week, she was in Paris. Now, she was standing in front of me, grinning happily. I called her name, breaking the stunned silence cloaking us. The sound jolted my employees out of their open-eye staring. I could not blame them. Agatha had this effect on just about anyone. She commands attention even if she is not trying.Even Dan Burns, my assistant, was star-struck. It was the first time Agatha visited me on my turf.Because she was a noted personality- known for her work in ramp modeling and fashion in Europe, she had a somewhat celebrity status.I could not blame my people if they stared at her. It was not always that a person of Agatha’s status would grace our office. It was only natural that her sudden appearance would disrupt our daily grind. Still, despite her elegance, beauty, and sophistication, my thoughts were consumed by the woman who worked two floors below me, seemingly unaware that she had
Katherine POVI had been pacing my floor, biting my knuckles, and feeling nervous as the seconds ticked.After thrusting the food package into Dan Burns’s hands, I hurriedly left because I feared the possibility of meeting Lucas Sanders.I can’t explain it, but something about him bothers me.I can’t seem to get it off my head that he was angry at me.His body language tells me so, but his actions belie the impression every time I think about how he has turned my life around.He saved me, even if he did not realize it. Lucas Sanders was my savio
Lucas POVI have decided. I will let every thought of Katherine out of my head. I will be finally letting go - the happy and the sad, the bitter and the sweet. All of those memories I will push down the drain where it belongs. Agatha does not deserve to wait.For five years, she had been with me. I should reward her loyalty with fidelity and trust.With that resolve in mind, I left the office, but not before leaving instructions with my assistant that I would return later to finish my task. Once Oliver had left, I found out that sitting alone in my office was stifling. Work had piled up because my concentration had been distracted by the appreciation lunch that Katherine had sent. Despite the knowledge, I don’t feel like tackling the work any time now. I was feeling antsy. I needed to do something to get out of this choking atmosphere. I drove off the parking area of SF Conglomerate to go to a jeweler shop in Berkeley. Before coming over, I secured a rushed online reservat
Lucas POVAs expected, the sales attendant’s eyes widened at the prospect of a huge sale. She was smiling when she invited me to follow her. We went from alley to alley inspecting numerous shelves until she stopped where everything around us was either in color pink or purple. The color seemed incongruous with my business suit, and from time to time, I could see some looking my way, but I ignored them. My eyes were trained on the dolls. I picked a doll that resembled Erin’s hair color, black, and put it in my cart. Then, as an afterthought, I bought some more. Then, a dollhouse caught my attention. “Little girls, I was told, loved dollhouses, sir.” The attendant told me.She did not need much to convince me and asked for their most oversized dollhouse to join my other purchases. As I walked the alley, I found several items, that again the saleslady said that little girls would like, and took them all. There was a manicure and pedicure toy set, a do-it-yourself bead set, a life-
Katherine POV“What did Noreen come here for?” Veronica demanded after Noreen left my office. I stared at Veronica, seeming stumped by the question. “Kate!” She cried out to get my attention.Trying to dispel the feeling that crowded my chest after I heard what Noreen had to say, I started shaking my head. “She just told me about the arrival of Mr. Sanders’ fiance.” I was glad my voice sounded normal and gave myself a silent tap.I don’t understand myself anymore. I know I should not care about the fiancee, but the idea that she was real bothered me big time. Veronica snorted. “That woman wanted to cause trouble. I wonder how the arrival of Mr. Sanders’ fiancee is related to you?” I picked the document on my desk and pretended to pore over it while my head was busy groping for words.“Greg had the impression that Mr. Sanders and I had an affair when he came up to my defense. He must have told Noreen.”Nix squinted her eyes at me. “She came here to gloat.” She deduced. I slowly
Katherine POVOliver did not stay long.He only checked up on Erin after he talked to her doctors to get an update on her condition before he left.“So, my big girl is going home,” I told her despite the uncertainty that plagues my heart.I knew that before the big day arrived, I had to tell Erin that we were not returning home to Greg and our mansion.“How would you like to live in a new place?” I asked, testing the waters.“Is Daddy Greg going to be there?”I can&rsq
Katherine POVI was so dead.I thought to myself as I looked into the angry slits that were Lucas’ eyes.Nervously, I licked my lips.“I, uh..” My mind went blank and my grip on Oliver’s phone tightened. I looked at it inanely before an idea popped into my head.“Oliver left his phone,” I said, waving the phone in my hand.Lucas seemed to have recovered and his facial expression took on a more neutral mask.“I wanted to catch him to give his phone back, but he&rs
Lucas POVF*ck it!I wanted to punch the wall after hurriedly leaving Erin's room. My chest heaves as I try to fill my lungs with air. How can a sweet little thing be a product of betrayal? My eyes misted, and I hated this feeling of weakness. Still, I can't help the tenderness that burgeoned in my chest for a certain four-year-old girl - with her cute face and black glossy hair. I hated the man who fathered her. I hate Greg Combs. If Erin was mine, she would never be deprived of a father's love. I will treat her as a princess and her mother as a queen. And then, I stopped short when I realized my thoughts were going into uncharted territory.I already decided to let the past go, but Katherine’s daughter makes it difficult. She keeps drawing me in. Between her and her mother, I don’t know how I will find the strength to stay back just as I promised myself. I hurriedly walked out of the hospital to my waiting car as if putting distance between us would make me think less of th
Katherine POVI woke up alone in bed and felt slightly disappointed when I realized Lucas was gone. I turned to the side to hug the pillow he used on my chest, wishing it was him. It would have been nice to wake up and see him first thing in the morning. I was jolted from my daydreaming when the door to my room opened. Lucas entered the room with Erin in his arms. “Mommy!” Erin called out in a singsong voice. I watched her wiggle from Lucas’s arms. When her feet reached the floor, she began to run toward me. She climbed the bed and sat next to me. “You and Daddy sleep without me.” She complained.My eyes met Lucas above Erin’s head. Then, I turned to my daughter to mumble an apology. Erin shrugged. “It’s okay. Daddy promised we would sleep together tonight. You, me and Daddy.” Erin reported.The idea excited me. I began to caress Erin’s head to hide the pleasure the news brought. “Have you eaten?” I asked She bobbed her head. “Me and Daddy.” Then, she stood on the bed to tu
Katherine POV“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have stooped down to her level,” I told Lucas stiffly as we walked back to the bus.Until now, I could still hear Agatha’s rants and the expected whispers from our onlookers.If truth be known, hitting her and putting her in her place gave me immense satisfaction. Agatha shouldn't have insulted my daughter because that is where I draw the line.I felt a tug on my hand, prompting me to stop.“Agatha had it coming. You shouldn’t feel any regret.” Lucas told me.He held my chin and stared deep into
Katherine POV“Well. Well. Well. The sarcasm in Agatha Richards' tone was keenly comprehensible, especially if one cared enough to listen. Agatha was walking out of the function room at the same time we did. And because all doors lead to the lobby, we sort of ended up meeting in the middle. There is no way I could have avoided her, even if I wanted to. Then, she dropped the bomb that put me in the spotlight. “If it isn’t the fiance stealer.” She looked at me up and down, and her nose wrinkled in distaste as if she did not like what she saw. I know I am not as sophisticated or glamorous as her. I looked down the denim overalls I wore at the tree planting project and knew that compared to Agatha, I looked very ordinary. But Lucas’s hand, when it searched for mine, felt very comforting. I knew Agathaa saw how he held my hand and squeezed it. The action sent a signal that he was trying to silently assure me. This seemed to ignite Agatha’s anger. “How does it feel to be taking my
Katherine POV“Put me down, Daddy!” Erin said, and Lucas swung her in his arms before he placed her feet firmly on the ground. “Thank you, Daddy.” She said sweetly before latching onto his hand. She gripped his thumb before she turned around to search the crowd. When she spotted me, she beckoned to me and said, “Come on, Mommy. Let’s go.” There were still some employees in the area, and as much as I would like to clamp a hand on Erin’s mouth, I couldn’t. I have to take everything in stride, just as Lucas had. No flaunting, and certainly no keeping secrets. I was just making things as natural as is. We can not hide forever. And from the looks of it, Lucas had no intention of hiding us either, especially Erin’s existence. I walked up to them. My breath hitched when Lucas snaked his arm around my waist and started gearing me toward the bus. At some point, Erin dropped his hand and ran toward Oliver. “Uncle Ollie. Wait up!” Oliver, who was walking with Veronica, stopped t
Katherine POVI turned around to face Veronica, but she was already walking away. Then, my eyes squinted when Oliver blocked her path. I saw the tension in her body and thought I was not the only one who needed some explanation. Veronica also has to explain the tension with Oliver. From the looks of it, something is brewing between them. “Stare at him longer, and I was an inch from getting jealous, sweetheart.” Lucas' breath fanned my cheeks when he leaned close to murmur in my ears. I stepped to the side to allow distance between us, consciously aware of the people around us. I don’t want to add fuel to our grand entrance. Lucas’ employees already had something to talk about.But my action sent the wrong signal to Lucas. “Why are you avoiding me?” His eyes squinted in suspicion. I rolled my eyes. Here he goes again. “Shh,” I said, trying to hold him back from further incriminating the two of us.“What?” Lucas demanded when he saw me looking from left to right. Then, he sh
Katherine POVWhen we left the apartment building, I was surprised to see a bus with an SF conglomerate logo waiting for us.“Whoa! What’s this?” I asked, not fully comprehending what was happening.Dan Burns got out of the bus to assist us.“Hi, Uncle Dan!” Erin greeted, seemingly unaffected by the sight of the bus.In contrast, Erin looked excited. She was clapping her hands, and her legs danced owing to her undisguised eagerness to jump on the bus.I adjusted the strap of her sun visor before allowing her to hop on the bus. Her laughter rang like a peal of bell as Dan held her hand to help her up.The sounds of her laughter were music to my ears. For the past two years, our lives have been filled with sadness due to Erin’s sickness. I used to ask God why he allowed such a misfortune to come to us, but now, seeing the joy on Erin’s fa
Katherine POVWhen we got tired of our game, Sara called us for dinner. Lucas snagged Erin from the bed, and she climbed on her father’s shoulders.He held her hand, crisscrossing like a plane on their way out. I followed them with my eyes, my lips tugging into a smile when I heard Erin’s giggles. Seeing how happy my Erin had been since Lucas came into our lives made me feel contentment in my heart. Looking at her, you wouldn’t see any trace of a sick child. She was recovering and adjusting to our set-up faster than expected. “Thank you,” I whispered to Lucas’ ear after we put Erin to bed. She was now snoring softly when I tucked the covers below her armpits. I placed bolster pillows on her side. We had a hard time convincing her to lie down. Erin insisted on Lucas reading her a story before bedtime, and he indulged her.I sat on her side, listening to their interaction. She cuddled close to Lucas’ chest, listening intently, and from time to time, she would interrupt him to p
Katherine POVJust like the other previous kisses we shared, it was explosive.I do not know how he does it - arousing my passion.“Lucas!” I gasped when his hands began exploring, touching places he shouldn’t.“You are taking advantage of the situation,” I complained when he pulled his lips away, but not his hands, which were gently stroking my br*sts from under my shirt.“You started it.” He groaned.I looked at him sharply before pulling his hands away from my bre*sts.“You were angry, and I don’t know how to reach you. I felt like I was losing you.”He chuckled. “I may feel disgruntled and dismayed over certain issues, but I will not leave you, alright? I already lost you and our daughter once. I do not want you to slip through my fingers again.”I bit my lip, feeling a tightness in my chest a
Katherine POVAt first, he was resistant, but I refused to let the lukewarm response discourage me. I closed my eyes and kept pushing, nibbling, and sucking on his lips while my hands caressed his face. While I was a newbie to this, I persisted, knowing I needed to make amends. Lucas needed my assurance, and I intended to give him that. Today, I felt the need to be bolder. To take charge and not just become an unwilling participant. A wave of shyness threatened to overtake me, but the need to prove to him that I was here weighed more.I kept pushing until desperation fueled my action. And then, it happened. Lucas began to respond. He kissed me back, sending a surge of triumph. At last, he reacted positively to my advances. But before I could savor and rejoice the moment, he pulled back.Confusion clouded my senses, and I raised hurtful eyes at him. Am I being rejected?Did he already give up on me?Lucas must have sensed my confusion and rubbed my lips with the pad of his thu