Page 101 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

LUCAS’ POV.

“This tastes good.” Derel said, savoring his latte.

“Don’t try to change the topic, Derel. I brought you here to this fancy café, so you can feel comfortable and talk to me.” I said, spooning cake into my mouth.

“Well, it’s not much. We just dated briefly.”

“When was that?” I asked, leaning backwards.

“Maybe a year ago?”

“So? How did you meet her?”

“She was in her senior year back then, about to graduate. So we dated briefly.”

“Anything sketchy about her?”

“Sketchy?”

“Does she take drugs, do things that students shouldn’t?”

“No.”

“Then, what’s the red flag about her?”

“Why are you so interested in her?”

“Because I get a bad feeling whenever I see my influencers, but I can’t pick out who is giving off the evil vibe.”

“Well, she was possessive, toxic, and sometimes, she tried to hit me. I don’t know if she was a druggie, but she drank and smoked a lot.” He said, and I raised a brow.

“Did your sense of reason not have a role to play in you not dating such a girl?”

“Well, it had a role to play in me breaking up with her.” He replied, sipping his latte.

“I see.” I said, looking out at the snow falling lightly again.

“At the time, I didn’t really have friends, so maybe my thinking was clouded.”

“You? Without friends? I can’t imagine that.” I said, laughing.

“They all decided to cut me off. Definitely out of jealousy though. I was alone, then I met her. We both shared a love for fashion, so I liked her then.”

“Oh, I see that. She’s always putting on something flashy. I can spot her in the rush hour crowd.” I said, and he laughed.

“That’s definitely true. But, hey, don’t you have to go to work?”

“I don’t have to.”

“Well, I have to go to school.” He said, getting to his feet.

“That’s right. Don’t you worry about a thing. Tenor would have been sorted out the next time you come to my company.” I said, picking up my mug.

“Wait, what?” He asked, sitting again. “No, no, don’t fire her.”

“She could have been a drunk, who graduated into a druggie. Do you think I’d let my organization sink? Also, she had the guts to say stuff like that to you. It’s ridiculous. She wants to date you again? I can’t have that.”

“No, no, don’t do that. She might be audacious, but she’s definitely not dangerous.”

“A year ago, she was definitely not dangerous.” I said, stressing on the ‘year’.

“Finding out if she’s a druggie is your problem.

You can kick her out if you want to, but I want this to have nothing to do with me.

What if this ruins her life? What we had in the past, doesn’t matter anymore.

I don’t care if she tries to chase me down, but don’t just cut her off like that.

She could have turned a new leaf too. Just leave her, and fire her only on evidence of bad conduct. ” He said, and I nodded.

“You want my hands off? Just go to school.” I said, and he smiled.

“Thank you.”

I left the café after him, and joined the train of cars stuck in the traffic. As I drove closer to work, I happened to see Emily in front of a bus station, waiting for the bus. It was beginning to snow, and even with her padded jacket, she would still be cold. I smiled to myself.

What a pleasant coincidence.

“Emily.” I said, as soon as she picked my call.

“Hi. I’m guessing you’re already within the cozy walls of your office.” She said, bending forward to see if the bus was already coming.

“You?”

“Me? I’m under…”

“A bus station, waiting for the next bus.” I completed her statement, and she began to look around. I rolled down my window, and waved.

She saw me, and smiled.

“Come in.” I said, with my hands, and she walked amidst the busy cars to get to me.

“Thank you.” She said, fixing her seatbelt. She rubbed her pink fingers together, and breathed hot air into them.

“Why didn’t you wear mittens?”

“I forgot them.”

“Didn’t John have the courtesy to take you in his car?”

“He did, but he began to spill some bullshit, and I told him, I’ll push open the door of the car, and step out, whether he was driving or not.”

“Wow, that’s fierce.”

“He completely ruined my day.” She said, then looked at some kids skating on the pavement. “That’s dangerous. What if they slip and fall, and unfortunately keep sliding onto the road?” She asked, her eyes following them, as they went.

“Sledding would be fun.” I said, absentmindedly, thinking about me and her in a sled, sliding down a snowy slope.

“Oh, that’s quite right. Sledding reminds me of Santa.” She said, giggling, and I smiled because I didn’t think I could think of sledding again, without imagining her with me.

Later that morning, when I got to my office, I called for Tenor, and waited impatiently for her to arrive. Her lateness probably had to do with the traffic.

She arrived about half an hour later, dressed in a cream winter dress, and a bright pink shawl.

“I’m so sorry. I had to run when all the cars stopped moving.” She said.

“How do you know Derel?” I asked, and she froze.

“Did you… did you see us that night? Did he… say anything about me?”

“He didn’t say anything about you.” I said, getting up from my seat. I walked to her, and studied her face. Of course, she was exceptionally beautiful. No one would think she was abusive in a relationship.

“Oh, I…” Fear set into her face, and her breath began to increase its pace.

“Do you know he’s my Nephew?”

“Your… he’s your Nephew… oh my God. Granger… Why didn’t I see it? I…”

“Well, now that you know, you should hand in your resignation letter.” I said, walking past her, but she suddenly fell to her knees, and held my leg. “What is wrong with you?” I asked, trying to shake her off, but she held onto me desperately.

“Please! Please!! Don’t throw me out this way! I have nowhere to go!”

“That is none of my business. Let go!”

“No! Wait, wait, I… I can be your informant.” She said, desperately. “I can tell you things! I know things!”

“I said let go.”

“I’ll make a pretty good informant. I can pretend, I can deceive… I can get closer to anyone.”

“Listen up, real good…”

“I was wrong! That night, I only acted out of mere childishness. Because I felt I was the only one who could protect him…”

“Spare me this shit.” I said, trying to free my leg, without having to cause her injuries.

“Some people are planning to bring the Granger family down through Derel!” She shouted, looking terrified, and I stopped.