MARIANNA

The first thing that alerts my system to a different environment the moment I feel it awaken is the nice perfume that wafts through my nostrils. Now, unlike most men, Lucas is a neatness freak and that is one thing I have always adored in him.

Yesterday was scary as hell and a solution has to be found ASAP. Stretching before I finally open my eyes, the first thing I notice is sleeves on my hands. It just signifies one thing; he gave me a change of clothes. I know nothing else happened because if there's one thing I can vouch for when it comes to him, it's the fact that he doesn't take sexual advantage of people. Well, he doesn't have to. For a man who has woman ready to worship them, it's a no-brainer the amount of feminine attention he gets.

Ah! My gender.

Look who is talking. My inner thought attacks me.

Then my eyes move to the digital clock. Shit! shit! shit! It's way past work commencement and I haven't even sent the work leave memo to the staff.

Hurriedly, I stand up, searching for my phone. No signs. So, I leave the room and quickly head downstairs.

The second wave hits my nostrils. Coffee and pot roast. Weird combo but it dances through my respiratory organ, making me excited. I skip down and hop on my feet like a giddy little child and move all the way to the kitchen.

"Hi." He immediately turns, as if sensing my presence.

"Hey." The right corner of my lip twitches up a little.

"Do you have my phone, please?"

"Yes." He says, not sparing me another glance as his attention is once more focused on what he's cooking.

"Please serve yourself some coffee while I finish up with this." He says.

"Alright. But my phone." I insist.

"You're not having it today."

"And you're telling me that because you have a right to or what?" My tone is already going to a high-pitched one. This man knows just the right buttons to poke to get a reaction from me.

"Lucas, I need my phone, please. I need to send out the memos."

"Already did that. Lucy called. It was easier to get her to get through your assistant. Already did the financials. I  told Lucy about the attack but not in details. You're welcome." He turns off the gas stove and turns to me, smiling and does a mock salute. Instinctively, I walk towards him and wrap my arms around him.

"Thank you." I say in a low voice. He just nods at me, locking our gazes.

Someone's clearing of throat is what distracts us from our trance.

"Marianna? I can't believe my eyes. Holy!"

"Mom." Lucas hisses, rolls his eyes and groans at the same time.

"What? You both were cute to watch." She shrugs, gracing her face with a wide grin.

"Hi, Stella. " I greet her.

"There was nothing cute to see. We were just talking." Here he goes. One step forward, two steps backward. This was the reality check I needed to keep my emotions in place. Besides, I already have a fiancee. Speaking of which, I haven't called him yet to at least offer an explanation.

"Lucas." I call out.

"Yeah?" He answers, plating the food.

"Did Marvin call?" I could swear I saw his hand stop for a split second and then he continues like nothing happened.

"Oh, Yes. He did." He answers shortly.

"Why did you leave that out?"

"I guess it skipped my head." He plays it off coolly. I won't give him the satisfaction of an outburst this time.

"Please give the phone to me." I feign niceness, hoping that would persuade this annoying man to hand my phone to me since I clearly don't know where he kept it.

"This place feels so so hot, though. It's like you both have to be reminded of my presence here." His mom pretends to blow some air on her body using her hand. I did not miss out the amused look on her face.

"It's in my pants pocket. The only way you'll get it is if you take it by yourself." Bullcrap! I let out a low hiss and stalk towards him to dip my hand in his pocket. Lucas' hand immediately meets mine, holding it in place before staring at me hard.

"Urghh. You both should just kiss already." His mom butts in. I bury my face in my free hand, clearly embarrassed. Why did I admit my feelings to her three years ago? His grip on my hand loosens and I take it off his pocket, alongside my phone. I could see his gaze burn through me but I don't care.

"Hello, Marvin." I say over the phone.

"Hello, love. You made me worried." The obviously deep sigh he lets out immediately makes me feel bad.

"Yesterday was hell for me. I'm sorry I couldn't make our date." One thing about Marvin, he understands.

"You could have informed me. I even visited to check on you. Your apartment was locked. Did you sleep in? Because I came quite late."

"I went to Lucy's." I immediately blurt out and then I hear glass shatter.

"Let me call you back, please."

"Hope nothing is wrong." He says.

"It's nothing I can't handle, love." The call ends and I glare daggers at Lucas.

"I'll just excuse you both." Stella says and takes her leave, carrying her breakfast with her.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Lucas?" I say atop my voice the moment I notice a cut on his palm. Annoyed, I drag him towards the sink and start running water from the tap on his hand. It takes a tear drop to fall on my hand to make me realize that I was crying. Not full blown tears but still, damn these water works. Why am I evening reacting this way? It's just a cut. I have chosen to assume that the water works are as a result of all the pent up tension that has been building in me from recent occurrences.

His hand comes in contact with my jaw to lift my face up for better access.

"I'm sorry." He says calmly but I'm still too angry to listen. I just keep washing the cut. After that, I walk to where he keeps the first aid box, retrieve it and apply some menthylated spirit on the cotton wool before I begin using it to clean the cut.

"I like you." He says out of the blue.

"What? You're joking, right?" I ask him.

"No. I am serious." I hiss a little, still applying the treatment to properly clean the affected area.

"You're delusional." I state before dropping the cotton wool once I am done. Then I turn to take my leave. Lucas holds my hand and I feel him turn my body to face him before his lips collides with mine in a hot kiss.

Instantly, I feel the chemistry. But I need to be smart. Plus, the wise thing to do is keep my relationship and not destroy it for a probability. For all I know, Lucas might be using me again. Also, it could be a spur of the moment thing.

So, I push him away but I'm met with am unexpected reaction. Hurt? He looks hurt? Are my eyes playing games with me at this moment?

"I can't do this again, Lucas. I just can't."

The next day, He accompanies me to my office, alongside his security team to comb through the entire building. To my surprise, the whole building was bugged as they discover cameras and voice recorders safely installed without our knowledge.

He also asks me for the body description of all my employees and I provide it.

He then requests for me to place a hold on any important discussions for security purposes. In the conference room, there were even video recorders installed. How the hell did this happen? Whoever did this must have had or has complete access to the company. But how?

To help with the security breach in my office, both of us are currently in his lab as he tries to change the access card and also have an eye scanner installed. That way, the office is only accessible by me.

"It's appropriate that I apologize for my actions yesterday." He finally breaks the ice about yesterday when we take a break.

"It's okay, Lucas. I just don't want to go through that whole phase again."

"I understand. I'm sorry for putting you through whatever you went through. I'll respect boundaries henceforth." His smile didn't reach his eyes. It's obvious that he has more to say but he keeps them to himself.

I nod "Alright." He gives me a brief hug before resuming what he was doing.

Right now, he looks in his element. And the sight of him doing this is refreshing, I won't lie. I let out a deep breath and rub the goosebumps on my arms.