CHAPTER 23
When Alice stepped out, I felt an immense relief from the jealousy that had taken over me while Alice had checked my brother out. Her scent lingered strongly behind, though. It hung in my study like a challenge I had not realized I had invited. My eyes stayed on the door a little longer than they should have. Alice had walked out with an aura less like a maid and more like a strategist.
"Damn, Alex," Sebastian's voice cut through my thoughts, dripping with the effortless mockery he had perfected since we were kids.
He smirked and continued talking, "I haven't seen you silenced and at a loss for words since your earlier days of rebellion against Dad. I think she dismantled you instead of convincing you. She did a thorough job, by the way; I think I'll commend her when I do see her."
My jaw tightened, and my blood simmered. I couldn't understand my reaction to my brother's statement. Was it a threat or bait? Why was I so shaken and disturbed by it? Either way, I wasn't going to find out.
I simply scoffed. He was leaning against the couch, sweaty and smug. He looked far too comfortable in my space. I ignored him and glanced at Lucy. She was silent. Her face was expressionless and unreadable.
"I'm leaving a day after tomorrow," my brother announced.
"Yeah, you've mentioned that before," I responded drily and opened the camera feed to the drawing room.
My heart did a funny dance when I spotted Alice in there. She was meant to pay attention to my kids and their respective tutors. She was on her phone with a different notepad since I had yet to give her the other one she used for her presentation last week. She was taking notes on some things I had to assume pertained to her search for the most suitable schools for my kids.
I had delegated my other work responsibilities to loyal, dedicated, and trusted staff ever since I learned Alice's surname. I was making her my temporary little project pending the time I could prove her innocence and she earned my trust. I had gone as far as to make more inquiries about her and paid professional detectives as well, not that Lucy and Doña Esperanza knew.
Lucy cleared her throat and stood up from the couch she had been sitting on.
"I'll go and check on Doña Esperanza," she said as she approached the door.
"Lucy," I called after her.
"Yes, Big Gun?" she replied and slowly turned to me.
"We're not done with our discussion,"
"Of course, Big Gun," Lucy replied with a small smile and walked out.
Before Alice had knocked earlier, Lucy and I had been debating Alice's chats and emails and whether or not Alice was some sort of spy. Then we revisited the contents of Alice's chats with the Leo guy. It was nothing like what I had been suspecting. No code words or names, no reports or deadlines, no assignments or instructions.
Just playful and teasing chats. Comfortable. Maybe a bit too comfortable. It was almost like they were dating.
Then, while we were on that topic, Lucy brought up her request to be my right hand.
"You like her, don't you?" Seb's question came across as a declaration.
"What? Lucy? No way, man. Why'd you say that? Lucy's your woman, remember?" I countered.
"I meant Alice," he said as he studied my schooled facial expression. I let silence reign for a bit before I spoke.
"Can you go straight to the important freaking thing that dragged your ass up here to discuss?"
"I'm taking Lucy," he dropped his news simply.
"Taking Lucy to where exactly? On a date? Even though I don't see Lucy being into such things, I can assure you that your weird love life isn't in any way my business. She's ridiculously younger than you, if I might add," I said and looked away from him back to my laptop screen.
It looked like the tutoring session was being brought to a close.
"Like Alice to you?" I heard him ask, and my head snapped up to look at him.
"What has Alice got to do with this?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing. In two days from now, my little retreat comes to an end, and when I go, I'm taking Lucy with me."
"No," I said sharply.
"Why not?" Sebastian asked and moved to my wine cabinet to pull out a tequila.
"Did she agree to go?" I asked.
"Care for a drink?" he asked.
I regarded him for a while. "Sure."
He pulled out two glasses and filled them. Then he came to hand me a glass. He took a huge gulp and poured himself another.
"No, she didn't agree to go, but she didn't disagree either. She did that because she's loyal to you. So, would you help her in making a decision?" he asked.
I twirled the heavy-looking and vicious liquid in the glass. As I gulped down the contents of the glass, its silky, almost oily feeling coated the inside of my mouth instead of splashing through it.
There was no frantic sting, only a deliberate, rolling heat that blossomed at the back of my throat and settled deep in my lungs. It was a controlled burn—one I could control, unlike the irritation currently simmering in my gut thanks to my brother's announcement.
I inhaled; the faint scent of vanilla and smoke ghosted over my lips as the liquid fire smoothed the jagged edges of my temper.
I didn't reply to him. I just stood up from my seat behind the desk and moved closer to where my brother stood. I slowly took the tequila bottle from him and poured another drink for myself. Then I walked back and picked up my phone to dial Lucy. She picked up on the second ring.
"Come to my study now."
I tried to keep the irritation from my voice and words. I cut the line there and walked to my bookshelf.
"So how's the replacement for Meteo coming along?" Sebastian asked. He hated extended silence.
"Not quite as I expected it to be," I answered and took a sip of my drink. Sebastian went on to discuss work-related matters for a while before a business-like knock on the door interrupted him.
"Come in," I said.
Lucy came in wearing a somber expression on her face. This wasn't the Lucy I knew. She had maintained her moody disposition ever since Sebastian visited. If I were to make a decision about whether or not to let Lucy go with him, I needed to tread carefully, irrespective of the fondness they had both forged for one another.
"Are you alright, Lucy?" Sebastian asked.
"I'm very fine, sir," she answered, and Sebastian looked hurt, but he didn't speak.
"Sebastian here was just telling me how he wished for you to accompany him back to his base," I began. "I called you here to find out your decision, since I hear you have not made one yet. What will it be? Or do you need some time to make a decision?"
Lucy looked from him to me.
"Oh, he's staying for this one," I replied to her unspoken question.
"Alright then. I wouldn't mind leaving. But I would be most grateful to stay if you would grant me my request. I want to be your right hand," Lucy declared.
"What? Hell no. That's dangerous work, baby," Sebastian looked utterly shocked.
"Don't tell me you're going to allow that," he directed his question to me.
"Dangerous? I've managed dangerous, sir, and I can say as a matter of fact this would only be a piece of cake," she stated.
"Lucy, we've talked about not calling me 'sir,' remember?" Sebastian's voice dropped to an intimate pleading tone as he ignored my presence in the room. Lucy stared at him quietly, and an expression I couldn't interpret passed over her features. Was it a look of desire? Love or lust? Pain? Craving?
"Okay. So this is what I suggest: think about your decision, Lucy. Use these two days to weigh your options. And remember, no turning back," I offered.
"No need for time to think about it, Big Gun. I'm staying once you give the job," Lucy declared.
"You sound so sure," Sebastian remarked sarcastically.
"Think about it, Lucy," I reiterated and walked back to my desk and took a seat behind it.
I opened the feed to Alice's room.
"This is just bullshit," Sebastian said and walked out of the study in a fit. Lucy followed him quietly.
I picked up my cell and dialed.
"Alice. My study."
She appeared five minutes later. She looked a bit tired and sleepy—cute even.
"Yes, sir," she answered.
"You wanted to ask for a favor earlier. Let's hear it, and make it short. I'm not interested in one of your long presentations," I said. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and cleared her throat.
"The favor, sir," she started. "My friend, Cynthia. May she visit?"
I studied her, the tequila heat still simmering.
"Why?" I asked.
"You said no long presentations, sir," she replied, and I stared at her for a long time.