Lucia's Worry

Lucia settled into her luxurious car, not letting her eyes fall back on her bodyguard. Hugh was like a breath of fresh air, for her, even though she had been very sad, minutes ago, he alleviated her sadness. She turned around when she heard Hugh, settle into the driver's seat.

"Do you want to go back home?" Hugh asked her. He treated Lucia like a little sister, acting oblivious to her feelings. Lucia pouted her lips, and Hugh chuckled, seeing that she looked nothing like the decisive woman, she was. Hugh waited patiently, for her answer, not starting the car.

She sighed seeing that Hugh, was waiting for her reply. She composed herself, the sad emotions, and embarrassment she had gone through, gone from her face. "Let's go back, to the ancestral home, I need to see grandpa," Lucia said, in a steady voice. Hugh nodded and started the car.

Lucia looked out the window, as Hugh drove out of Veteris street. She knew, that she wouldn't be coming here until everything settled until she had caught her mother's killers. She always wondered why her neighbor was so gullible, to think the little girl she was, could kill her mother.

Lucia sighed, hoping to bury herself, in her grandpa's embrace. Staying in her dark apartment will only worsen her sad emotions. "Lucia, we are here," Hugh said, bringing her, out of her thoughts. Lucia nodded, not even looking at Hugh, as he drove on the driveway, to the front door.

She didn't wait for Hugh, to open the door for her, she hurriedly stepped out of the car. She hoped her grandpa wouldn't be asleep yet, it was only 7 pm, but grandpa James liked to retire early to his bedroom. Lucia rushed into the house, which was antique-looking and wide.

Lucia could see the silhouette of grandpa James, sitting on a reclining chair, in the dark. She was initially surprised, that he wasn't in his room yet, but she brushed off the thought, thinking it was just her luck, to see grandpa there, at that time. "Grandpa." She called out.

Lucia didn't want to startle him, since it was dark. But grandpa James, already knew when Hugh drove in, with her. "Brat, I'm right here." Grandpa James, said in a croaky voice, giving out his old age. Grandpa James, took a remote, by his side, and put on the lights.

Lucia walked to stand before Grandpa James, she wanted to dive into his embrace, but stopped, seeing his weary and tired face, after he put on the lights. Lucia planted a fake smile on her face, not wanting to worry about the old man. "Grandpa, why aren't asleep yet?" 

Grandpa James observed Lucia, no matter how Lucia tried to hide her gloominess, she couldn't hide from grandpa James, who took care of her, for ten years. "Brat, come here." Grandpa James, said, ignoring Lucia's question, as he didn't want to tell her, that he knew where she had visited.

Grandpa James, opened his arms, silently telling Lucia, to dive into his embrace. Lucia immediately dived into her grandpa's embrace, dropping her feigned smile. Her shoulders shook as if she was crying, but Lucia fought the tears, back. Grandpa James, only patted Lucia's back, continuously, giving her his silent company.

After a few minutes, Lucia unwillingly withdrew from her grandpa's embrace, because she knew grandpa needed to rest. Lucia hadn't forgotten the question she asked earlier, "Grandpa, why aren't you asleep yet?" Lucia asked, her face morphing into a worried frown. Lucia chose not to talk about why she was sad.

Grandpa James sighed, hearing Lucia's question. He didn't know what to tell her, he respected Lucia's silent decision, not to tell him what was wrong. Though he knew why he couldn't bring it up. "I got back from the company, a little late today." Grandpa James wound up a lie.

Grandpa James, couldn't tell her, that he was waiting for her. Lucia frowned, knowing Grandpa James, never got back from the company late, because he liked to retire early. Grandpa James also didn't attend late-night dinners, even if they are important. Alix Enterprise could afford to skip important meetings.

"I think you should sleep now, grandpa," Lucia said, standing up, as she was kneeling beside her grandpa. Lucia took grandpa James' left hand, helping him stand. Grandpa James, patted Lucia's hand, telling her that he was okay, to go back to his room, himself. Lucia nodded and stepped back.

Lucia looked at grandpa James, lonely and frail back, as he moved away from her. From what she knew, grandpa James, used to live alone, before he adopted her, as his family all perished in a crash. Lucia knew it was time, to take grandpa James' burden, off his shoulders. 

Lucia sighed, and sat on the couch, just beside grandpa James' reclining chair. Lucia closed her eyes, as the silence in the big ancestral house, enveloped her. Lucia opened her eyes, when she felt a light tap, on her shoulder. She opened her eyes, dazedly, to see Hugh, before her. 

Lucia's lips parted, as she took in Hugh's handsome appearance. Hugh's eyebrows, furrowed, "Do you want to stay here or go back home?" Hugh asked and Lucia snapped out of her daze. She nodded her head, knowing that she was okay, and could be by herself. Lucia stood up, steadily.

Hugh who was initially confused, about whether Lucia wanted to stay or not, followed Lucia out of the house. Lucia got into the car, and Hugh settled into the driver's seat. As Hugh drove out of the house, on the driveway, Lucia thought about how she was talking to Grandpa James.

Lucia decided to take over Alix, she could not continue to run away, seeing her grandpa was suffering. She had been given the necessary education, for taking over a huge enterprise, like Alix. Lucia turned to look at Hugh, who was driving with a serious look, on his face.

Lucia noticed how the muscles on his arms, ripped, slightly, as he turned the steering wheel. She couldn't help, but ask, "What do you think about taking over Alix?" Lucia asked, even though she had feigned a nonchalant front, at him, a while ago, Lucia couldn't help but talk to him.

Hugh turned, to Lucia, while keeping his other sharp senses open, because his eyes weren't on the road anymore. Hugh was thankful, that he was driving on a straight path, with a small number of cars, in sight. "It's a good idea," Hugh said, keeping his reply, short and precise. 

Lucia nodded her head, with pursed lips. She wasn't satisfied, with Hugh's answer, to her question. But she would not pester him, to talk to her. She noticed he tried to keep his distance from her, and she had her pride to protect. Lucia stopped talking and looked out the window.

Thirty minutes later, they got to Lucia's apartment. It was an apartment complex, with eighteen floors, with Lucia's apartment, being the only penthouse, in the entire apartment complex. Hugh drove into the underground parking lot, it was a bit dark, but Hugh could see clearly, due to his inhumane vision. 

Lucia got out of the car, not bothering to wait for her bodyguard, as he would always find his way up. Lucia walked to the elevator, pressed the elevator button, and got in, tapping on the 18th floor. Lucia let out a sigh, as she got to her penthouse.

The penthouse, had a view, of the city. Lucia fell in love with it, at first sight, when she was here, at first. She stopped to admit the lights, from the city, which formed a beautiful view, for Lucia. Lucia could hear, her bodyguard's subtle footsteps, as he walked in.

"Good night," Lucia said, she walked towards her bedroom, not bothering to get a reply from Hugh. She opened the door to her bedroom, with her fingerprint. Lucia got in and slammed the door shut. Walking into her walk-in closet, she changed into comfortable pajamas, deciding to sleep, early.

Hugh was still standing, at the same spot. He looked towards where, Lucia had disappeared, with his narrowed eyes. Lucia's decision, to take over Alix, bothered him, knowing it could spell danger for her, not because she would become the CEO, but because of her identity, as Isabelle's daughter.

Hugh tried to think of how to keep Lucia safe, as he had promised Lucia, when she was five years old, that he would protect her. Lucia was just a little, naive girl, then, and didn't take his words of promise, as important. Lucia did not even remember, that she met Hugh.

But Hugh didn't take it as a flimsy promise, as soon as he had the chance, to leave his pack. He came back, just to fulfill his promise, just like a big brother, to her. Hugh turned around and walked towards his bedroom. He had to stay, wherever Lucia was.