Page 69 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EMILY’S POV.

I brought my laughter to a stop slowly, and Lucas’ laughter also subsided. As he focused on the meat he was grilling, John walked towards us, with his hands in his pockets.

Gosh, Jealousy made him look like an insane psychiatric patient who escaped from the hospital.

“What’s the occasion?” He asked, as he approached us.

“Burning hot beef against the chilly cold weather.” Lucas said, picking up a slice of beef, and offering it to him.

John opened his mouth, and Lucas dropped the meat in. John juggled the meat in his mouth, and sat on the chair in front of us. Why the maids had placed three chairs there in the first place, I had no idea.

“Mind if I join?” He asked, with mouth dancing to the rhythm of the hot beef.

“Sure. There’s enough to eat.” Lucas replied, and I took a long drink from my orange juice. It was refreshing, but unfortunately, I couldn’t feel it.

John stared at me.

“Why were you laughing?” He asked, and I got to my feet.

“Have a nice night, Mr. Granger.” I said, then turned to Lucas.

“Thanks for the meat. You’re good at grilling, but I’m feeling a little tired. I think I’ll sleep first.” I said, and he nodded, understanding that John was the last person I wanted to dine with at the moment.

“Emily.” John called, but I didn’t reply. I dug my hands into my pockets deeper. “Emily! Can’t you hear me?”

“I’m off work, Mr. Granger.” I said, strongly, and went through the sliding door into the little hall leading to the foyer.

Why did he have to spoil the mood?

At the corridor leading to my room, I happened to see some maids cleaning the portraits there, while talking.

“Gosh, pride swelled in my heart.” One of them said.

“What is wrong with that man? After cheating on his sweet fiancée, he still has the guts to ask his secretary to sleep with him again?” The other asked, and I raised a brow.

“He’s trash compared to Alpha Lucas. You should have seen how flat Miss Katie rejected him. She was firm on her word, and told him to employ her for sexual activities before he harassed her.”

“What if he does hire her for sexual activities?” Another asked.

“Of course that will never happen. How can you hire someone who never applied for a job, and isn’t interested in it?” The other said, and they continued to speak.

I smiled to myself. It must have hit John hard. His ego, pride, and oh-so-precious self-esteem must have suffered a huge hit. Maybe that was why he brought Mandy in. She was staying in exchange for sexual activities.

“She also told him she’d quit before she’d let him touch her.”

“Then he told her to stay away from Alpha Lucas. He was enraged!”

I walked into the hall casually, and they all shut their mouths abruptly.

“I heard it all already.” I said, with a satisfied smile. Then I picked the napkin which had fallen from a maid’s hands, and handed it to her. “We’re on the same side.” I said, smiling, and walked towards my room, whistling like the worst amateur on earth.

I opened my door, and when I closed it, I got such a shock that I screamed. Sadie was at my dressing mirror in her pajamas.

“You’re just getting in?” She asked, with a smile.

“Gosh, you’re creepy. Go to sleep. Don’t think I’m telling you stuff tonight.” I said, but half an hour later, I was rambling on and on about the movie, and the date itself.

She listened to it all like I was narrating a cartoon I’d watched, and it was weird talking to someone apart from Dahlia. Her facial expressions were alive, ranging from surprise, excitement, and anticipation.

I blamed John though. He had reduced me to talking with an eight-year-old.

“Admit you like him! You’ve been blushing the whole time.”

“You’re too young to know the difference between friendliness and romance. Go to sleep!” I snapped, dragging her off my bed, and pushing her to the door.

“It would be better for you if you just admitted it though.” She said.

“Goodnight.” I whispered, pushing her out, but I hadn’t walked away five steps when my door burst open, and she ran to jump on my bed.

“I’m sleeping here tonight!” She said, rolling herself in my covers, and disarranging the bed.

~

The next evening, everyone prepared for a family dinner to celebrate the completion of Lady Mira’s new company. The house was buzzing, with all the maids being really busy.

They were given the permission to dine in the garden as Lady Mira was in a really festive mood.

While the food was being set, Sadie dragged me to a sofa in the living room.

“Where are the maids? I need something cold.” She said.

“There’s no one in here. They’re all outside. What do you want from me?” I asked, tiredly, laying back in my chair.

“I came up with a plan for you to kiss Lucas.”

“What?” I asked, sitting upright.

“Wait, wait, don’t say a thing yet. Listen to me. I watched a movie from Derella’s phone. The lady was wet, cold, shivering, and they were in a treehouse on a date. I’m going to check the weather, and wait for the day it’s going to rain hard. I’ll tell Lucas I want a treehouse date with him. I’ll get you with me under the rain, wet and soaking, and then stay for a while. After that, I’ll leave saying I need to sleep for half an hour, and there’s your cue. It will be cozy!” She squealed, and I hit my forehead with my palm.

“Just do what eight-year-olds do!” I snapped.

“Why do you keep telling me that?” She asked, throwing the books in which she had drawn her plan on me.

“Because it’s good advice. That was a movie. It was scripted, and why would I kiss Lucas? You’re out of your mind.”

“Why’s it such a big deal?” She asked, and I couldn’t believe her.

“Okay, you’re being too extreme here. Maybe I should just tell Lucas about this whole uncomfortable issue.”

“Why would you tell him?” She asked, raising her voice.

“Because you’re being ridiculous. Maybe he’ll be able to talk some sense into you.”

“He’ll knock some sense into me? Dream on. Turns out I have another secret of yours, Emily.”

“You promised not to bother me for a full week.”

“You made me go back on my words!”

“If you’re going to act like an adult, then act like a real one, and stop confusing me with your insane childishness.”

“Are you going to do it or not?”

“I’m going to tell Lucas.”

“Why would kissing him matter when your pregnancy for him is a much bigger deal?” She asked vehemently, and my jaw fell.

“How… how did you know that? You… I… how did you…?”

Just then, the door from the foyer opened, and we both turned sharply.

Coming in was Mandy.