Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 107: Job

Chapter 107: Job

ELIANA

I’m not sure how to describe the situation because I’m still unclear about her motives.

But I don’t sense malice or possessiveness. The feeling I’m getting is similar to that of longing.

Could it be that she doesn’t have any friends?

Hmm...

Come to think of it, the intel that we’ve gathered only showed her family and no friends.

"Lara, I’d much prefer you approach us directly than hide in the shadows. I believe that would be more comfortable."

"Really?" Asked Lara, who sounded hopeful.

Only for her shoulders to droop when she added, "But sometimes, you’re too bright."

Eh?

"Do I light up or something?" Her words made me feel like a lightbulb.

"Sometimes."

"Eli, this is pointless. She’s too out of it."

Lucian’s been impatient since this morning. If not for making him promise only to intervene once something goes wrong, this guy would’ve hauled me out like a sack of potatoes by now.

*Hisss...*

Lara gnashed her teeth at Lucian, who gave her a side-eye.

This meeting was to request for Lara’s services. An investigator is one thing, but an insane fan is on a totally different level. When desperate, such people may even uncover answers to unresolved murder cases.

But I also recognize the fragility of this possible working relationship. Anything too emotional and too sudden may be a little too fragile for a solid foundation.

After all, how you gain it is how you lose it.

Similar to how likely it is for mistresses to be left for a fourth or even fifth party, it is entirely possible for admirers to jump ship at any time.

Lucian tells me she’s after me now, and the switch barely took a day. So, how likely was it for her to be Alexa’s fan by the following day?

If anything, the most straightforward course of action is to just use her. But that won’t sit well with me, especially now that I had an opportunity to appease my concerns.

"I was hoping to ask a few personal questions. Is that alright with you?"

Lara nodded like a kindergartener, which was a bit funny.

"Why exactly have you been following us around?"

Lara visibly flinched, and her eyes widened in panic, "Please don’t get me wrong! I’m only following you around! I couldn’t care less about Lucian!"

Her hands were up in surrender like she’d committed a crime for caring about my husband.

"While that is a relief, I guess? I’d like to know why you’re following me around."

Not that it changes many things, but she is similar to Lucian when fixating on specific issues.

"About that... I’m just a fan who’s fangirling by following you around."

"In short, a stalker." Lucian promptly added with a sneer.

"Aren’t you the stalker? An incompetent one at that!" Lara growled indignantly.

"You have her followed around even in restrooms, yet that snake still got into your headquarters! Explain that?!"

"To the restrooms?" I raised an eyebrow at Lucian, who casually replied, "Female security in civilian clothes."

"Why to that extent?"

"Jasper followed you to the restrooms."

Ah. He’s worried about that.

"Don’t worry, that was because I wasn’t feeling too well that day." I shrugged because that was the truth. Jasper was pretty much a paper tiger, so it shouldn’t have been difficult had I been in my normal state.

"Semantics. There cannot be a second time."

"And BCI’s hiring isn’t under my control," Lucian added, though he sounded annoyed at that.

"You could’ve bought it out." Lara insisted.

"On what grounds? That’s a conflict of interest. That’s precisely why third-party consultant groups are hired, so they are unrelated to the contractors."

"Because they’re endangering your wife, doofus! Who needs fucking grounds for anything when that is what’s at stake?!" Lara screamed at Lucian.

Woah.

I gotta say, that’s one point for her.

Albeit too idealistic. Lucian’s not one to make losing deals, so that wouldn’t be an ideal solution for him.

"Or is it because you care too much about your gains and losses? I guess money matters more." Lara slumped back in her seat, squinting at Lucian as she crossed her arms across her chest.

"Shut up when you don’t even know what you’re talking about. Don’t you think I tried?" He looks like a vein would pop at any time.

"You tried, what now?"

"Buying out that shitty company."

"It’s a one-man corporation owned by Nicholas. You think he’d sell?"

Lara was gearing up for a rebuttal when my phone’s alarm sounded.

"Uh, guys, sorry to break your argument, but we don’t have much time." Lucian’s got a meeting and only agreed to let me meet with Lara for as long as he was with me.

We can’t afford to get sidetracked if I want to have hope of finishing this on time. Looking at the timeline, Alexa would likely call for a gathering tomorrow. So, I need everyone in place for when she does that.

"Did you need me for something?" Lara gave me a puppy dog look; for a moment, she looked like Chester.

"I was hoping to hire you for a job."

Lara’s eyes nearly glazed over as I told her about my offer.

"A job? What kind?"

"Yeah, it’s hopefully a short one. I was hoping to plant someone from my camp. It’s not exactly a good feeling to be attacked from out of no—."

"Okay. I accept!" She raised her hand before I could even finish.

"Huh? Shouldn’t you ask about the details first? What if I was asking for something very dangerous."

"It’s fine! I can handle it!"

"What do I do? When do I start?!"

At least someone’s excited about this.

"That would be tomorrow. If you can, could you please disguise yourself like this?"

I handed her a document for an intern we’d added to the system earlier.

"Great, I can do this! What am I allowed to do?"

"For one, no physical violence. We’re civilized people here. We’re only going for psychological and emotional damages here. Financial would also be alright."

If I had a choice, I would’ve long dealt with my enemies with the law of the jungle, but alas, I was born in the wrong era.

So, we’re just going to have to do it this way.

We used the remaining time to discuss the logistics of our plan, which was rather flexible depending on what kind of bombshell Alexa planned to drop.