The billionaire's sweet editor
Chapter 76: Lucas: Event 6

Chapter 76: Lucas: Event 6

"WHY DID you leave when I asked you to wait for me," I ask Iris, hugging her tightly as if I just had a near-death experience.

To be fair, a mini-breakup does feel like one.

"What about Bella? I thought you two were together."

I roll my eyes in exasperation. Bella that annoying woman. I had a tough time dealing with her. When we left the tent a while ago, she immediately took over once we were out of sight, heading us straight towards the back office used by the maintenance team—where we used to you know what.

It was sheer intuition that assisted me in realizing what she thought this was, and I stopped us in an instant, gripping her hand as we turned the other way. Once we were away from earshot, she tugged her hand away from mine, glaring daggers at me as she glanced behind us.

"What the fuck was that, Lucas? The office is that way."

"I think I told you last time that I want to stop."

"Because of her?" She asked pointing at the tent. "No offense but I think I’m prettier than her."

A sharp pain coursed from within me at her little taunt, grasping at my throat and leaving me a little breathless with anger. "That’s figures considering all the Botox and makeup you have on. Iris’ everything came from genetics though."

"Ha!" Bella closed the distance between us, her eyes burning with a fire like never before—a murderous kind. "You fuck her once and suddenly you’re taking her side. What? All those times we did it in those ugly offices don’t count because you found a new plaything?"

"She is not a plaything! She’s the woman I love and because of that I’m trying to clear all loose ends lest they confuse the near future."

Letting out a sharp breath, Bella pointed at her chest. "And I’m the loose end? The useless past you want to forget that’ll get in the way of your booming romance?"

I have to admit, I was a little too harsh there. If someone said that to me, I think I’d have gone nuts. But it’s true, we are nothing more than just fuck buddies who didn’t want relationships, nothing more nothing less. So it was a little bit surprising to see her go wild because I found someone I like now.

Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I shut my eyes for a second before looking at her. She still looked angry from what I could see, angry enough to have her hands balled into fists and her teeth clenched at me.

"Look. We can do this the way we agreed and just go our separate ways in peace. No need to hurt each other’s feelings when we have a project to work on together for the following weeks."

I could see her relaxing a little, but she still looked stiff.

"And I’m sorry for what I just said, I was mad at you for challenging Iris back there even though I warned you not to do that."

"Ugh, sorry for being horny okay? It’s not like I have anyone else to fuck after you. Isn’t getting a little jealous in that situation more normal than anything?"

I was a little surprised by her sudden confession that I couldn’t stop my mouth from dropping, but that didn’t stop me from taking the golden opportunity to end this before it escalated any further.

Shrugging I let go of my nose. "Well it is, but we agreed to let the other person go freely once one of us found a lover didn’t we?" I said in a small voice, all thanks to her sudden confession.

Bella nodded angrily at me, turning on her heel in the tent’s direction as she swerved her dress in front of me as if to stop me from advancing towards her. "Never look my way again, and apologize to your little missy on my behalf. See you tomorrow."

Having said her last words, Bella stormed off from me, heels clicking on the pavement in the dead of the night until the sound of crickets overtook it. A subtle ease settled in my heart at the prospect of not having her fight with Iris at our table, but it was soon short-lived when I arrived there only to learn that Iris had disappeared the moment Bella and I left the tent.

Of course, I went into a rampage, running around the tent, towards the offices, the toilets, and the kitchen, I even looked under some tables and behind the trees and flower pots. Desperation ate me up so much that I looked like a gremlin by the time I went back to Mary.

It was then that I saw the uneasiness in her as if she knew something I didn’t, and that’s why I requested she follow me outside. After pressuring her a little and explaining my point of view to her, I got a few good smacks in the head from her because of my stupidity before she finally spilled the tea.

"Iris is in my car, but I doubt she’d open the door for you. You’re the last person she wants to see right now. She literally begged me to not tell especially you where she is right now. Your chances at winning her over are low to none this time, so you better put all your pride aside because the nut you’re about to crack just turned into a diamond."

That was all she needed to say before I thanked her and rushed toward the car park. True to her word, I did hear someone sniffling in the car as if they were crying, but no matter how much I tried to peek inside, the windows just wouldn’t let me see who it was.

Thank goodness I used my mind quickly and threatened to smash the window, or should I be thanking Iris that she was scared I’d smash the windows? Either way, I now have her in my arms.

The flower pot I was carrying a while ago was smashed next to my feet after I dropped it in a hurry when Iris opened the car door, eyes dark from the smeared mascara running down her face along with tears. I can’t believe I caused her to cry like this.

To think I was supposed to be confessing today. Now I ruined all the likely chances of me winning her over.

True to my thoughts, Iris shakes herself away from my hug, pushing me a bit further away with her hands as she hides her face from me. Her bottom lip has teeth marks on it, and it’s trembling.

"Why are you here alone? Where’s Bella?"

"Why would I be with her? I told you I’m coming back for you after—"

"After you’re done fucking her?" Iris tilts her head to the side, my heart thudding on my chest like a sledgehammer the moment we make eye contact.

Unlike the glimmering eyes, I’m used to receiving from her, she’s looking at me with the same glare she makes when she talks about her mother. What’s more, her asking me this must only mean one thing—she knows about Bella and me. She knows our history.

"Cat got your tongue? Did you think I didn’t know that you and Bella sleep together every time you meet?"

"Iris it’s not what you’re thinking."

"Ah yes, what right do I have asking you all this? I’m no different from Bella either way. Sorry for bothering you—"

"Don’t you dare compare yourself to her!" I grit my teeth, veins protruding on my neck when I lean on the car to block her from leaving. "You and Bella are different in so many ways than you can imagine."

Iris lets out a depressing chuckle, grabbing my hand so she can remove it out of her way. "I know. I saw her in the tent. She’s so beautiful I’m not even close to being that gorgeous, not even my dreams."

Placing her elbows on my hand, she hits it and I stumble on the door, giving her just enough space to squeeze past me and walk away from the car.

"Iris," I call her, but she doesn’t stop. Instead, she picks her pace up, rushing toward the corner that leads to the front office.

Why the fuck did it have to end this way?

Bringing myself back up, I close the car door and follow in her direction, increasing my pace to match hers. The wind blows past my ears as Iris comes into view with each inch I close between us.

Her hair is swerving in the wind, leaving behind a trail of my favorite rose scent in the world and her dress is but a slick cloth on her body that’s glimmering in the bits of lantern light as she tries to escape from me.

I shouldn’t have left with Bella. I fucked everything up with just one move, but I can’t let Iris go now. Something is telling me if I do, we will never be the same again. Ever.

Right as she’s about to take a sharp turn towards the walkway I manage to grab Iris’ hand and pull her to me. She lets out a sharp scream, turning around in a swift hexing motion that looks like we’re dancing to samba music before she’s breathing on my chest with her palm lying flat on it.

Her hand feels warm. I like it on my body. That’s where she belongs.

Inspiration hits me in an instant and I suddenly decide to confess.

"The necklace. Open it," I command.

"Lucas I’m not in a mood to play games," Iris replies trying to wriggle herself out of my grasp.

"Neither am I, baby. Open the necklace."

★★★★★