SAMANTHA’S POV

"I don't want to see him again," I said to Valerie. "If I want to stay alive, I need to stay as far away from him as possible."

Valerie looked at me with concern. "Do you think he's dangerous?"

"I don't know," I replied. "But I can't take that chance. The worst could happen if I meet up with him again."

Valerie nodded, understanding the fear in my voice. "I agree, we need to be cautious. Maybe we should go to the police and report what happened."

I shook my head. "No, I don't want to involve the police. I just want to forget this ever happened and move on with my life."

"But what if he really is a bad guy?" Valerie asked.

"I know what I saw," I said firmly. "He might have claimed self-defense, but I don't believe it. I think he's a bad guy and I don't want to be associated with him in any way."

Valerie placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. I'm here for you, Samantha. We'll get through this together."

I knew I could count on Valerie to support me, but the fear and uncertainty of what happened with Lucas lingered in the back of my mind. I didn't know what to do or how to move forward, but I knew one thing for certain: I never wanted to see Lucas again.

I could have sworn Valerie thought the same way as me until she said."Sam, think about it. He invited you to his office, not a restaurant or a private lounge. It's a public place with security cameras and guards. It's safer to meet him there," she reasoned.

My eyes widened in shock, was she even listening? I just told her and I'm sure I did that in detail how that man gunned two men with ease… maybe not with so much ease but he did the job, I wasn't convinced. "Valerie, did you not hear what I said? He shot two men in cold blood," I replied, my voice shaking.

"I know but you can at least give him a listening ear and then decide for yourself," Valerie suggested.

I refused. "I'm not going anywhere near him. I don't want to end up like those men," I said firmly.

But Valerie persisted. "I understand how you feel, but if you don't go, you'll always wonder what could have happened. And besides, I'll be with you the whole time. We'll be safe," she said, trying to reassure me.

I gave it some thought. She had a point. And Valerie is not the type of person who beats around the bush. If she believed it was safe, maybe it was worth considering. "Okay, I'll go, but only if you come with me," I finally agreed.

Valerie smiled. "Of course, Sam. I wouldn't let you go alone," she said.

I took a deep breath and prepared myself mentally for what was to come. The fear of what I had witnessed still lingered, but I knew I couldn't let fear control my life. We set a date and time, and Valerie made all the necessary arrangements.

The next morning, we made our way into the magnificent building that housed Java, Lucas's father's company. My nerves kicked in with every step I took. I didn't even realize that my hands had started shaking until Valerie squeezed them reassuringly, and I couldn't help but let out a small sigh of relief.

"It's okay, Sam," she said, looking at me with kind eyes. "We're in this together, and Lucas wouldn't act stupid in his office."

I took a deep breath and tried to steady my nerves. "I know, Val. It's just that...he's a man with a gun, and a hot one at that," I said, trying to make light of the situation.

Valerie chuckled. "Heck, I wouldn't want to fight a man with a gun either, I mean I'm not even that brave," she said, and we both laughed, the tension easing a little.

The building was by far an amazing work of art, I was mesmerized by its grandeur. It was clear that the company had spared no expense in making a statement, with every detail carefully thought out and executed to perfection.

A young man in his late twenties whom I presume was Lucas' secretary, received us with a warm smile and guided us to a comfortable seating area. My heart was pounding so hard, and my palms were still sweaty. I was trying my best to remain calm, but my nerves were getting the best of me.

"Good morning, how may I assist you?" He asked in a deep voice.

"We're here to see Lucas," Valerie replied.

The secretary gave us a curious look and asked. "Do you have an appointment with him?"

"Yes, we do," Valerie responded confidently. I couldn't help but notice how the young man looked at us intently, as if trying to read something from our faces. It was a bit weird, but I didn't say a word… everything about Lucas was weird.

"Please give me a moment to check his schedule," the secretary said, turning to his computer. "Ah, here it is. Lucas is currently in a meeting, but he should be done soon. You can wait for him here."

Valerie and I nodded in agreement, and the secretary offered us some comfortable seats to wait in. As we sat down, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. Heck! I just need my purse and maybe some perfectly brewed coffee to relax my nerves.

Valerie, always the more confident of the two of us, tried to ease the tension. "This office is pretty impressive," she said, looking around the room. "I wonder how Lucas gets any work done with such a great view."

I agree with her. The office was indeed impressive, with large windows overlooking the city skyline. But I was too nervous to appreciate it fully.

We waited for what seemed like an eternity, my anxiety growing with each passing minute. Just then, my stomach grumbled, and I realized that I was starving. Valerie must have noticed because she said, "I'll get us some snacks while we wait for Lucas. You stay here in case he arrives before I come back."

I hesitated for a moment, but then I nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Okay, thanks, Val. I'll wait here," I said, forcing a smile.

"Alright then, don't miss me too much.." Valerie winked as she reached for her purse in her bag.

"Oh please, everyone knows you love me more," I teased.

She chuckled almost under her breath, "I'm not denying," she got up and started making her way out of the waiting room,

"Don't take too long please," I cried after her she replied with laughter and a "thumbs up" gesture… truth be told I was happy she offered to come along.

The waiting room was spacious and well-furnished, with large windows that let in natural light. I couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in this grand setting. My mind kept racing with questions and doubts? What if he was involved in something illegal? What if I was putting myself in danger by coming here?

I sat there waiting for Lucas, I felt a little bored and started fiddling with my phone. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice when the secretary walked up to me with a cup of coffee.

"Here's your coffee, Miss," he said, extending the cup towards me.

"Thank you," I replied, taking the cup from him. I was grateful for the coffee and took a sip, savoring its warmth.

But just as I was about to settle back into my thoughts, the secretary started to berate me.

"You should know better than to be sitting here all alone, Miss. You could be putting yourself in danger," he said, his tone accusatory.

I was taken aback by his words. "Excuse me?" I replied, my voice quivering slightly.

"You heard me. It's not safe for a young woman like you to be out here all by yourself. You could be taken advantage of," he continued, his tone harsh.

I felt my anger start to rise, but I tried to keep my composure.

"I appreciate your concern, but I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, besides I'm not alone. I came here with a friend" I replied, trying to sound as confident as possible.

But he didn't seem to believe me. "I don't think so. You look like a vulnerable little thing," he said, smirking at me.

I felt my blood run cold at his words. "I think you're mistaken," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

But he wasn't done. "Oh, I don't think so. I know the type of woman Lucas likes, and you fit the bill perfectly. I bet you're just another notch on his bedpost," he said, his tone laced with malice.

I was horrified by his words,"I think it's best if you just leave me alone," I said, my voice shaking with anger and frustration.

But he just laughed. "Oh, I'll leave you alone for now. But just remember, I've got my eye on you," he said, smirking at me before not budging… at this point my blood was boiling, I clenched my fist in anger, it would be of great pleasure to punch him in the face.

The secretary continued his verbal assault on me, I felt the anger within me rising. I couldn't believe that someone could be so rude and disrespectful.

"What's going on here?" A familiar voice questioned in a cold tone.