The billionaire's sweet editor
Chapter 69: Lucas: Black on gold

Chapter 69: Lucas: Black on gold

EVERYTHING IS ready for the event tomorrow. The tables and chairs have been set, the people have been given their tasks, the invites have been completely sent, the program is ready, the food plan is laid out and so are the venue designs.

The only thing that’s out of place would be Iris and her rhinestones. I told her they would be available for her in time, but I’m not even sure if Bella has them too yet.

Calling her number, I place my hand on the cream wall in Dad’s kitchen. I’m making green tea for him. We’ve just finished discussing tomorrow evening’s agenda and execution of plans and I was now watching a movie with him.

But that was before he asked for tea and Iris called to tell me she needed rhinestones. Now I have something heavy on my plate before I can finally relax with Dad.

"Lucas baby!" Bella shrieks into the phone making me cringe. I’ll never get used to her calling me in a nasal tone.

"Hi, Bell."

"Getting impatient already? We’ll meet tomorrow, okay, so be on your best behavior and wear something sexy underneath your suit. I don’t want to cringe when I see your—"

"I have someone I like."

The phone goes silent. Only the sound of her breath is coming from the other side.

"W-wow, congrats. Who is she? Do I know her?"

"No, you don’t, but she’s coming to the event with me as her date tomorrow."

A cough escapes from Bella. "Is she beautiful? I can’t have you dumping me for some ugly freak living around town."

There she goes again. People think Bella is only a fashionista, that she only cares about her clothes and her looks, but she’s actually a beauty critic—the devilish ones who undermine people and tell them to get makeovers every chance they get.

I have no idea what made us start hooking up every time we met, but if I were to do it all over again, I’d have stopped right on our first encounter.

"She is too beautiful for you, and it’s all natural."

"Black or white?"

"Biracial."

"Oh," she lets out a huff. "That makes total sense. You got a bit of each race."

"Tell me about it."

Silence.

"Anyways, the reason I called is because she has fallen short of rhinestones for her dress and the malls downtown don’t have any. Could you lend me some of yours?"

"Why would I help my competitor?" Bella asks, before greeting someone in the background and coming back to her phone. "Tell me Andrews, shy would I help a girl who’s stealing my friend away from me?"

I can already tell it’s going to be a long night tomorrow from her tone. Rolling my eyes and leaning my back on the wall instead, I look at the ceiling, an annoyed expression on my face.

"If you don’t want to help just say so, I won’t kill you."

"Well, okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, so make sure you’re dressed nicely okay? And come in stealth mode, because we might have to disappear from your mistress. Goodbye then."

And the call ends there.

To think all of that hard work i put into making Iris comfortable around me might actually go to waste because of one selfish woman. Not to brag, but is it so wrong to be good in bed?

Fuck. This shit just got complicated.

Ruffling my hair, I turn to the now boiling jug of water next to the air fryer. Switching it off, I fill Dad’s mug with water and head over to the living room. Unlike how I like mine, Dad’s tea is always bland—with little to no sugar in it.

"Thank you," he accepts the mug from me.

"Dad, do you have any designer who might help me with rhinestones?" I waste no time. Iris might be waiting for them at her house as we speak.

"Yes, let me give you his contact details," he takes out his phone and puts on his glasses so he can rummage through his list. "What do you need them for anyway?"

"They’re for Iris, not me."

"Mhmm," Dad hums, " are you planning to propose with these cheap stones are you?"

"What, no! She wants to put them on her dress for tomorrow."

"Oh. Now I get it. Ah, here’s the number."

Taking the phone, I pat his back lightly. "Thanks, Dad."

Not wasting time, I immediately call the number and in mere seconds, secure the rhinestones for Iris.

"We got the rhinestones, Dad."

"Good for you," he replies in a tone I can only perceive as bitter, not taking his eyes off the TV.

"I’ll send Paul to collect them and forward them to Iris."

"Okay, but make sure you ask her if she got them, okay?"

"Yes, Dad. Now stop worrying and let’s watch movies."

It’s noon by the time Paul calls and tells me he got the rhinestones. Dad and I are still watching his favorite K-drama, and I’m a bit engrossed in it.

It’s rare for him and me to hang out and because of that, I sideline handing Iris the rhinestones by myself. I send Paul instead.

But even then, I still don’t manage to spend the evening with him. A message comes from Priyanka saying she’s done with the necklace and she wants my approval on it.

In the end, I have to say my goodbyes and leave him watching the drama alone whilst I drive to Priyankas, excitement flooding my veins when I arrive at the edifice.

"Welcome back, Lucas," Priyanka gives me her glassy smile, leading me to her quarters.

As one of her VIP clients, I get special treatment, which I really need at the moment because I’m nervous.

We enter the office, a minimalist piece with white and gold as its main colors. Plastered on the walls are the drawings of her masterpiece designs, cased in frames that look expensive to the touch.

"You may sit here," Priyanka gestures at the seat facing her desk, a lean shiny brown one half the size of mine with all the right accessories any business owner needs to have.

Turning around, she disappears out of my sight, bending so she can open a drawer and take out a high-quality black box tied with a ribbon with the name of her brand written in bold gold letters.

Slowly undoing the ribbon, Priyanka opens the box, tilting it so I can have a clear view of the contents inside. When I nod in satisfaction, she proceeds to take the necklace out.

Gold glimmers in the light of her office, and so does the diamond stuck between the heart-shaped middle piece. I stare at it in awe, hands getting sweaty from the prospect in my head of wanting to touch it.

"How is it?" Priyanka asks, a business smile playing on her lips.

"Before I answer, can you flip it around?" I question. It doesn’t take her long to know what I’m talking about before she turns the heart shape around, revealing the message engraved on its back in cursive.

Black on Gold. It’s a fucking masterpiece. I stare at it for what seems like an eternity, lost for words at its creation. I can see Iris blushing when she sees it, then I’ll flip it around and boom, I’ll confess to her.

"Beautiful...It’s beautiful Priyanka," I cut the silence, making her let out a breath she had been holding all this time.

"Thank goodness you like it. I was beginning to think I’d messed up somewhere down the crafting."

"Oh, no. It’s fucking beautiful. Forgive my cursing, but I’m just too excited. I know Iris is gonna love it."

"Iris is a lucky woman," Priyanka turns the necklace to show me the glimmering front. "Not many men come here to buy their women such perfectly designed jewelry with love affirmations behind it."

"Thank you," I smile at her. "I just hope she can see how much I love her every time she wears it."

"Trust me, she will. And don’t worry, even if her eyes are a bit blind, the weight of the necklace around her neck will serve as a fitting reminder instead. I made sure the words engraved on the back can be felt with hands just in case she wants to rub on it any time of the day."

My eyes grow wide. "You did not...can I touch it?"

Smiling, Priyanka hands me the necklace and I turn it around, placing my finger on the tiny words and closing my eyes. True to their creator’s words, the affirmations I had engraved on the back are just the right amount of friction to allow me to read them without opening my eyes.

"Wow, I can feel it."

"That’s not all," Priyanka makes me flip my eyes open.

"What else is there?"

"You see the little line right between the piece holding the rock and the rest of the gold? Place the tip of your nail in there."

I do as I’m told and in that moment, a small click comes from the necklace as it opens wide. Then my mouth drops. Between the necklace on each side of it is mine and Iris’ name written in black, with an artistic feature that looks like a heart cut in two separating them.

If I’m getting emotional looking at it, I can only guess how much my crybaby will react when she sees this.

"Please send me your bank account this instant. I feel like tipping you."

Priyanka claps her hands and in a few moments, someone comes in with a tablet and places it on the table in front of me. With a few swipes, I give her the tip and she personally wraps it for me before sending me out like some big shot the world has to bow to.

Then again, I am a fucking big shot.

When I leave her company, I feel like I’m on cloud nine. I already have a good feeling about how this event will turn out. If all goes well, I might be a taken man by the end of tomorrow.

My phone chimes and I take it out of my pocket, to see a message from Iris.

IRIS: Thank you. I got the stones.

Before I even reply to Iris’ message, another one comes from Bella. I roll my eyes when I see it, clenching my teeth at the unnecessary drama that’s about to unfold tomorrow.

Bella: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow *kiss emoji*.

★★★★★