- When He Became A Sly, Sly Man -

Nina

"That's right, baby... I'm gonna spread you apart. Mmh. Just like that. Then I'm gonna lick your cream... Fuck! That's sweet. I could eat you for hours." Lucien husky voice reaches my ears.

I groan out loud.

Not this again.

"Luke!" I scream, trying to calm my face which was as red as a fire brigade.

"Stop talking like that! For God sake, you're eating an Oreo. An Oreo! Why do you have to make everything sound so dirty?" I grumble.

He looks up at me from his sprawled up position on my couch.

He smirks innocently, "What did I say?" He blinks his eyes up at me adorably.

Taking a bite from an Oreo, he mumbles, "I was just talking to little Oreo here... about how I'm gonna open it up and lick its cream. It's not my fault if you're the one who's dirty minded."

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I throw a pillow at him in annoyance and stomp into my kitchen, wondering how I got into this mess.

Oh yeah, I remember...

Waking up today was like any other day, except today was THE day.

You know how sometimes a girl needs a day when she wants to feel cute and pretty about herself?

In my case, it was today.

Of all the three hundred sixty five days in the year, I chose today! Today!

So, as always I was woken up by Prince licking my cheek.

As if the stupid alarm blaring on my night stand wasn't enough...

Anyhoo...

I quickly brushed my teeth, took a shower and did other blah blah things of my normal morning routine.

My favourite part of the day arrived as I walked into my closet and picked up the clothes I was gonna be wearing today.

Yes, I'm a girly girl. Sue me!

Throwing on some clean black lacy undergarments beneath a black off-shoulder, long sleeved knitted sweater that came up to my mid-thighs and a pair of black socks, I left my hair all wavy and messy.

Cute, right?

Walking towards the living room, I barely stifled a gasp when I saw the man of my dreams sitting on the couch staring stupidly at Prince, who was staring stupidly back at him.

Hmm... they do make a good couple.

Lucien turned around at the sound of my gasp, and immediately his relaxed posture became firm and he ran his eyes all over me, which starts to darken by the second.

Suddenly aware of my lack of pants or any other clothing over my legs, I cleared my throat, trying to distract him from looking at me with those hunger filled eyes.

His eyes snapped back at my face and his lips curved into a smirk seeing my cheeks flush.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I looked at him confused, "Wha... How... Why?" Groaning and rubbing my face with my hands, I asked, "What the hell are you doing here?"

He just shrugged and leaned his back against the armrest and murmured, "Got bored. Came to see you."

I crossed my arms over my chest, looking at him annoyed and mumbled, "How did you get in?"

He looked at me innocently, his eyes dancing with mischief as he pointed to Prince and shrugged, "Your dog let me in."

I looked at him and raised my eyebrows.

Do you really think I'm that stupid?

He turned towards Prince and asked, "You let me in, didn't ya?"

Prince groaned and wiggled his tail twice.

I immediately bit back a chuckle.

Lucien looked at me and asked, "What did he say?"

I giggled and mumbled, "He said, 'Not in a million years, buddy!'"

He narrowed his eyes at me, "How did you know that?"

I rolled my eyes and shrugged, "I speak dog."

I placed my hands over my knees, bending and clapped twice. "Come on, boy!"

Prince wiggled his tail and ran towards me. In full speed.

"No! Prince... not too fast!" Too bad he didn't heard it and jumped onto me making me fall on my butt. Again.

I swear, if this keeps happening every day, I'm gonna have to have a butt surgery in a few years.

"Fuck! Sweetness!" Lucien jumped off the couch and ran at me.

I rolled my eyes and scratched under Prince's ear making him groan. "I'm fine. It happens every day. I'm used to it."

He lifted -actually lifted- Prince up as if he weighs nothing and placed him beside me.

Then he turned to me. Instead of holding his hand out for me, he lifted me up bridal style in his arms and turned towards the couch.

I quickly placed my arms around his neck, trying to maintain my balance.

"Luke! Put me down!" I squeaked.

He turned his head and looked at me concerned and shook his head.

I sighed. "Luke, I'm fine!"

He didn't listen, just kept walking me to the couch.

Placing my hands on his stubbled cheeks, I turned his face to look at me.

His eyes softened at the contact and he stared at me, waiting.

I whispered softly, "Honey... I'm fine."

He blinked at me adorably and smiled softly at the term of endearment.

Finally he sighed. Placing me down on the couch, he knelt down on the floor in front of me. "You sure?" He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, looking at me all warm and concerned.

Trying to clear his sad mood, I mumbled sassily, "Pshaw! My arse is much stronger than you think!"

His lip twitched and he smirked, "It's an ass, sweetheart."

I rolled my eyes, "Tomato Tomahto."

He checks out my body, his eyes lingering much longer than necessary at my naked legs then back up at me.

He leaned forward and whispered huskily, "Want me to kiss your boo-boos?"

I sucked in a breath and looked at him, wide-eyed, all sassiness disappearing into thin air.

I blushed and shook my head, shyly.

He chuckled, making his breath fan my face. Leaning closer, he kissed my cheek and pulled away.

Sitting next to me, he propped his legs over the coffee table.

I looked at him and murmured, dryly, "Make yourself at home, will ya?"

His green eyes twinkled and he chuckled. He lifted the pack of Oreo from the coffee table and started munching on it.

I looked at the Oreo and back at him, again at the Oreo and narrowed my eyes at him.

He mumbled around the Oreo, "Got hungry," and shrugged.

He munched on the Oreo like a five year old, dropping crumbs and cream everywhere around his lips.

I rolled my eyes and placed my hand on his chin making him look at me and cleaned off the crumb from his chin. "A monkey has better eating manners than you do."

He chuckled and mumbled, "It's Oreo!" In a duh tone as if it explained everything.

I sighed and shifted closer to him. Taking a napkin from the coffee table, I turned towards him.

I placed my hand on his cheek and turned him towards me and started wiping the remains of the delicious Oreos.

Somehow, the dirty part of my brain thought that his cheeks may be more delicious than the Oreo itself.

No offence, Mr. Oreo.

I sighed and place the napkin back on the table when it does no good to the slouch of cream on the side of his lips.

Using my thumb to wipe it out, I slowly ran my finger in a circular motion, trying to wash it off.

I feel him suck in a breath when my thumb brushed against his lips.

Trying not to blush, I smiled inwardly knowing I affected him as much as he affects me.

Yay me!

Finally as I cleaned off the last crumb, I looked back and smiled being able to see his full, soft lips clearly.

Engrossed in my girly, 'Oh look how sexy Luke is' thoughts, I acutely felt his hand on my outer thigh while his thumb softly caressed it.

I looked down at my thigh to see my legs thrown over his lap as I sat beside him not an inch between us.

When the hell did this happen?

Shaking off my thoughts, I quickly looked up at Lucien to see him already staring down at me with a warm but firm expression on his face, his forest green eyes shining with possessiveness.

I gasped and quickly pulled away from him, "Sorry." I apologized cringing. 

Gesturing to the napkin and his lips, I replied, "Force of habit."

His posture stiffens immediately and he narrowed his eyes at me, "Who's the fucker who has used the whole 'Eat messily so she wipes your lips for you' trick on you? Who the fuck is he?"

I rolled my eyes at his curses and opened my mouth to answer his question when Prince wobbled towards me, wiggling his tail and licked my hand trying to get my attention.

I turned towards him and giggled softly when I see the area around his mouth covered in droplets of milk and some crumbs of his dog food.

I looked back at Lucien and raised my eyebrow as if telling, 'You were saying?'

He relaxed, his shoulder slumping down in relief.

After wiping Prince's lips, I kissed the top of his head and he wiggled his tail and swayed back to the bedroom.

I looked back at Lucien and narrowed my eyes.

"What?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.

I looked at him suspiciously and mimicked his voice and repeated his words, "Who's the fricker who has used the whole 'Eat messily so she wipes your lips for you' trick on you? Who the frick is he?"

His lip twitched in amusement at the non-cursed way of saying the F-word and he raised his eyebrow further.

I rolled my eyes and made air quotes with my fingers, "'Eat messily so she wipes your lips for you' trick?"

He chuckled and relaxed back on the couch, looking at me with his eyes dancing with mischief. "You know how sometimes someone really wants to do something but they hesitate and hence try to find a single reason so that they can do that thing."

I nodded along at his words.

But I'm pretty sure I didn't understand the whole thing.

I kept my expression neutral trying to show him I'm not an idiot.

He chuckled at my obvious attempt but didn't say a thing, and quickly explained, "I just gave you a reason to feel my lips." He shrugged cockily.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Who said I wanted to touch your lips?"

"Sweetheart." He stretched out each syllable with a tone that clearly said, 'Who're you kidding?'

I crossed my arms over my chest, looking at him offended. "I so did not want to touch or feel your lips."

He smirked, "So why didn't you just hand me the napkin so that I could clean it up myself?"

I blink. Once. Twice. And thought.

I could've done that...

I looked back at Luke to see a smirk intact in his lips.

I huffed and picked up the magazine from the coffee table, annoyed and shoot him a look and proclaimed, frustrated, "I hate you!"

He chuckled cockily, as if celebrating his win in the argument and said, mockingly, "No you don't, sweetheart!"

No I don't.

I tried my best to concentrate on the magazine and to ignore him.

Too bad it never works when I'm around him...

"That's right, baby... I'm gonna spread you apart. Mmh. Just like that. Then I'm gonna lick your cream... Fuck! That's sweet. I could eat you for hours." Lucien husky voice reached my ears.

And that's how find myself in this mess.

Stomping around in the kitchen, I stiffen when I hear him call out, "Sweetness?"

"Yeah?" I mumble, turning around.

He looks at me, from the couch and rubs his flat, tight stomach and pouts, "I'm hungry!"

I narrow my eyes at him and look at the now empty packet of Oreo in his hands.

I murmur dryly, "What do you want me to cook, m'lord?"

He smiles, amused and replies, "Scrambled eggs would be fine."

I blink and take in his expression and sigh, "You really want me to make you scrambled eggs, don't you?"

He nods and smiles excitedly.

I sigh again and turn back around, taking out the ingredients and dropping them on the counter.

Frying the eggs in the pan, I mentally smirk when an evil plan enters my mind.

Who does he think he is giving me orders and making me cook breakfast?

He is a jerk! Jerk, I say!

Taking the salt and pepper shaker in my hands, I quickly start sprinkling them over the eggs, all the while grinning.

When it felt like I have had sprinkled enough to make him shudder from the thought of ever telling me to cook for him again, I stop and transfer the eggs into a plate.

Keeping my face neutral so that he won't suspect a thing, I quickly head towards the living room with the plate in my hands and stop dead at the sight of Lucien:

Shirtless...

With his black pyjamas hanging low on his hips...

With the waistband of his underwear slightly peeking out of his pyjamas...

But then thing that made my body all riled up wasn't his clothes...

But Lucien, himself.

His dark blonde hair tousled and messy just screaming for my attention. His green eyes fixated on me while his delicious, gorgeous lips curve into a smirk.

His muscular arm covered in black tattoos in contrast to his blond hair.

My eyes travel down to his perfect neck, to his broad shoulders and his lean body, muscled chest and those delicious, lust worthy abs and a trail of V shaped muscle that points towards his... well, his thing.

"You know what would make this whole staring thing more interesting?" Lucien voice makes me look back at his face.

My cheeks flush when I see a knowing smirk curved in his lips.

"What?" I answer, softly waiting for the reply of his own question.

"That you could touch me any time you want to. I'm all yours, mio amore..." His sentence trails off with a husky tone in his voice.

I stare at him wide-eyed and squeak and turn around, facing away from him and ask, in a high pitched voice, "Where are you clothes?" I say, referring to the jeans and a white T-shirt he was wearing before.

I gasp softly when I feel him behind me, his arms snaking around my waist pulling me into him.

"What are you-" I get cut off when he nuzzles my neck, making me go all mush against him and let out a sigh.

"I thought you wanted to see me like this. Mmh. Didn't you say, you fantasized about me wearing these? I thought you found this sexy." Lucien whispers against my neck.

I immediately slap my hand over his hair and grumble, "Stop distracting me!"

He just pulls away and smirks.

"I do not fantasize about you!" I murmur.

'Liar liar, pants on fire!' My subconscious grins.

Not now, subconscious!

"And I do not find you sexy!" I grumble crossing my arms over my chest.

'Seriously, sugar pop! Who're you kidding?' My subconscious murmurs with a tsking sound.

Lucien chuckles as if reading my mind, "That's not what you said last night."

He puts his tattooed arm inside his pocket and pulls out his cell phone.

Clicking a few buttons, he hold put his phone forward and my voice comes through the speakers, "Oh God! Please tell me you're shirtless and one could see your delicious abs and you're wearing a pair of pyjamas that hangs low on your hips so that you could see the waistband of your underwear. God! That'll be so sexy!"

That's what I said to him last might over the phone.

I literally growl at him, making him chuckle.

I suddenly have the urge to throw the plate of scrambled eggs in my hand at him.

Instead I take a deep breath and calm myself and walk back to the dining table and place the plate on it and sit down on a chair and spit out frustrated, "The eggs will get cold. You better eat it."

I feel him walk towards me and sit down on the chair beside me.

I turn to see him looking down at the scrambled eggs with a weird expression. "Thanks, I guess."

He picks up a piece with the fork and eats it. Immediately, he scrunches up his nose and shudders.

That'll teach him to mess with me.

I look at him, innocently and whisper, "How's it?"

He narrows his eyes at me, suspiciously and smirks, "It's delicious."

Delicious?

How's that possible?

I keep my expression calm and try not showing him that I'm freaked out that my supposed evil plan didn't work.

He swallows another bite and another and another and all I could do is stare at him wide-eyed, wondering how could he eat it?

I swear even Prince would walk away from it... and it says a lot, because Prince eats everything!

I watch closely his reaction to every bite and I swear he swallows each bite much slower than the preceding one as if he's forcing himself to finish the whole plate.

Why are you eating it, you fool?

Why can't you just back down?

Finally as he swallows the last bite, I clench my hands over the arms of the chair trying to control the tears threatening my eyes.

Why are you doing this?

He immediately pours himself and glass of water and gulps the whole thing.

Placing the glass back on the table, he sighs out loud and relaxes against the back of the chair.

"You know... over-adding salt and pepper in my food isn't gonna make me go away." He whispers.

I stare at him wide-eyed, "You... you knew I did it deliberately?"

He smiles softly, "Of course I knew, sweetheart!"

He wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead.

"Then why?" I whisper in a low voice, "Why'd you eat it?"

He just shrugs and looks at me, his green eyes warm and soft, "I had to."

Before I could reply, he continues, "It was a first time you cooked something for me. I had to finish it, didn't I?"

I stare at him wide-eyed.

I open my mouth to reply but nothing comes out of it.

Only thing that made sense was my reaction to this as I leap out of my chair and jump on his lap hugging him tightly, burying my face into his neck.

I run my fingers through the back of his hair and mumble into his neck, "You're really stupid, you know that?"

I feel him smile over the top of my head and whisper, "I know."

Blinking back the tears, I whisper, "And I really hate you."

He laughs and I feel my insides quiver at the sound.

Tightening his arms around my waist, he whispers, "Somehow I doubt that."

"Hmph." I make a noise in annoyance but don't argue knowing it wouldn't affect anything.

He sighs and kisses the top of my head.

I relax in his embrace and sigh, loving the feel of his hard muscles against my curvy body.

"What do you wanna do now?" He whispers softly.

Keep hugging you.

I pull back and whisper, "Movie?"

"Sure." He stands up with me in his arms and puts me down slowly.

"The DVD's are in the cabinet next to the television. Pick any one. I'll wash the plate till then." I say, pulling away from him and picking the plate.

"You don't want my help?" He asks, looking concerned.

I shake my head and whisper, "I'm fine, honey. Just select a movie."

His eyes warms at the term of endearment and he smiles softly.

Will I always have this effect on him when I call him 'Honey'?

I quickly wash the plate and head back to the living room and pick up remote and head towards Lucien, who was standing in the middle of the room, with a DVD in each hand, thinking really hard.

"You decided on the movie?" I ask.

He turns and murmurs, "21st Jump Street okay with you?"

Who wouldn't wanna watch Channing Tatum, in his handsome and sexy self?

I smile widely and clap my hands, excitedly, "I love that movie!"

Realizing I dropped the remote from my hands in excitement, I whisper, "Noo..."

I quickly pick it up and walk towards Lucien looking down at the remote in my hands and crash directly into his massive chest.

Oh, dear Lord!

I whip my head up when he chuckles at my clumsiness, hitting him in his jaw.

He flinches back but looks down at me with humour filled eyes.

"Oh, dear God! This is embarrassing!" I wince.

He rubs his hand over his jaw.

"I'm so sorry!" I whisper and lean my hand up and start caressing softly over his chin.

He immediately tries pulling back, "Sweetheart, I'm fine."

I shake my head and continue rubbing his chin.

"Nina. Leave it be." He grits out as I feel his jaw clench.

I look up at him, to see him looking at me, his eyes darkening. "But-"

He pulls my hand away from his face and looks at me dead in the eyes and whispers slowly like I'm an idiot, "Don't make me repeat again. Stop touching me."

I flinch slightly at the sound of his voice which was raw and hard as if he's angry or something else.

And seriously, it hurt like hell.

Frowning at the change in his mood, I pull away, trying not to cry at his harsh tone. "Sorry. Won't happen again." I whisper in a low voice.

I walk away from him while he turns his tall self towards the television and puts the DVD in.

I try to stand straight and keep my face calm while he returns back to the couch sitting on one end and looks at me.

Well, he certainly knows a way to blow a girl's ego.

I feel him looking at me, watching my reaction.

I quickly walk myself to the couch and sit on the other end far away from him.

I quickly cover my body with a quilt lying beside me, because I suddenly feel an urge to protect myself from him.

He doesn't want me touching him?

I stare at the television and play the movie, pressing the button on the remote in my hands.

I will myself to sit through the whole movie, when all I wanna do is run to my bedroom and wail like a child.

"Nina." I turn at the sound of his voice. He pats his hand over the couch next to him gesturing me to sit over there.

Does he really think I will?

I look away and whisper, "It's okay. I'm fine here."

Before I could stop myself, I blurt out, "It's not like you want me to touch you anyway."

I wince, hearing the whimper in my voice.

I hear him sigh and rub his face.

He stands up and walks right in front of me.

"Stand up." He orders.

I look up at him to see his body firm, his eyes full of control.

And trust me... he feels a little like Christian Grey.

I stand up slowly watching his eyes, as he stares back at me, noticing my every move.

I look up at him, once I stood in front of him.

He looks at me, his expression warm and whispers, "Brush your fingers against my jaw like you wanted to."

I look at him and blink twice. "Wh-What? You just... just said that you didn't want me to tou-"

I gasp when he places his hands over my chin making me look up at him. "Do it, sweetheart." He whispers with his voice firm leaving no room for argument.

I nod and reach my hand up to his face and place my hand over his slightly stubbled cheek.

He immediately closes his eyes and lets out a shaky breath.

Before I could do anything else, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me tightly into him, crushing our chests together.

I open my mouth to yell at him when I feel something long and thick poking my lower belly.

I gasp and look at him wide-eyed and whisper hoarsely, "Is that... is that your-"

He cuts me off by laying his forehead against mine and whispering back, "Yes it is."

He opens his eyes slowly and murmurs huskily, "That's what happens every time you touch me. Hell - every time I see you. Now, unless you want me to go home and take a really, really long cold shower, you'll behave."

I let out a shaky breath and feel my cheeks flush.

"That's why you didn't want me touching you." I whisper softly.

He nods, "As you can see... you make it really hard for me." He smirks, humour dancing in his eyes.

I blush at the innuendo, making him chuckle.

He loosens his hold on my waist, trying to pull away but stiffens when I don't remove my hold on his neck.

"Sweetheart?" He whispers.

Keeping my eyes closed, my forehead against his, I whisper, "Just hug me for a minute."

I feel his face move upwards and kiss my forehead as his arms move around my waist, tightening over it again.

I hear him sigh and tuck my head under his chin.

Jeez, he really is tall...

Finally calming myself, I pull away from him and whisper, "Thanks."

He smiles and holds my hands making me sit down on the couch with him next to me.

I look at the television and finally start enjoying the movie.

"You know..." He begins, pausing the movie, "I liked that look on your face."

At my confused expression, he continues, "When I said not to touch me, you looked that you've lost something precious." He grins.

I huff, "Don't flatter yourself!"

I play the movie and lean my head on his shoulder.

He chuckles, "Whatever you say, bella... now I know that you care about me very very much."

I grumble, "Don't make me hurt you, Cooper!"

He snorts, "Yeah! You scare me!"

***

Halfway through the movie, I yawn and rub my eyes, tiredly.

Lucien wraps his arms around my shoulder and pulls me into him, cradling me against his chest, "Sleepy?"

I yawn again and whisper, "Didn't sleep well last night."

I feel him looking down at him, concerned.

I snicker and look up at him, "Don't look at me like that! You're the one who kept me up last night!"

I look at him to see him, grinning wolfishly like he does when he has some dirty thoughts.

I think back at the words I spoke and gasp out loud.

I look at him blushing and whisper yell, "I didn't mean you kept me up all night that way! I was talking about our phone conversation."

He chuckles and murmurs, "God! It's so fun to see you all riled up!"

I punch his arm and huff, annoyed, crossing my arms over my chest.

He quiets down and pulls out his phone and grimaces. "Fuck! I better leave. I'm supposed to meet Levi and JT in an hour."

"JT?" I ask, confused.

He shrugs casually and murmurs, "Old friend."

Is this JT a girl?

What if he already has a girlfriend?

No, he couldn't have.

Maybe I should just ask him.

No! It's none of my business!

Dammit, am I getting jealous?

"Guy, sweetheart." I look up at Lucien's voice.

"What?" I scrunch my nose, confused.

He grins at me, knowingly, "JT is a guy."

I blink twice and stare back at him, to see him grinning widely at the obvious look of jealousy in my face.

I shrug casually and murmur, "I didn't ask!"

He just chuckles knowingly and wanders off to the bedroom, to change his clothes.

Not a minute later, he returns back in his jeans, white T-shirt under a black leather jacket and matching boots.

Damn! He really is a Sexy Beast!

He smiles at me and whispers, "Walk me to the door?"

I nod and walk in front of him, opening the door wide open for him.

I immediately gasp when I turn around to be lifted up in his arms, his hands around my waist as he hugged me tightly, pressing my back against the door.

He nuzzles the left side of my neck and murmurs, "I really had a great time today."

An involuntary giggle escape me and I blush, mortified.

He pulls his face away and raises his eyebrow.

I wince and murmur, explaining, "My left side of the neck is ticklish."

He grins and buries his face on the other side of my neck, inhaling my green apple scent deeply.

"Be safe." I whisper in a low voice.

Hearing my voice, I feel the front of his jeans poking into my belly.

I chuckle when I feel him smile into my neck.

My chuckle dies when I feel his lips brushing over the sensitive skin under my ear down to my neck.

I shiver inwardly and clutch my hand tightly over his shoulders.

Catching me by surprise, he sucks the sensitive skin softly and rolls his tongue over it.

Unable to stop myself, I moan out loud, digging my nails into his shoulders.

I quickly stiffen at my reaction and my cheeks flush in embarrassment.

I clench my eyes shut and duck my chin.

I feel his hand cup my cheeks as he tilts my face upwards to look at him.

Opening my eyes, I quickly explain, "The right side of my neck has always been weird!"

He narrows his eyes over my neck as if thinking something and leans down again and brushes his lips over it, placing soft kisses on my neck.

And I moan out loud. Again.

This couldn't get more embarrassing!

He pulls away and looks at me, grinning, "Your neck's not weird, babe."

At my confused expression, he continues, "It's one of your erogenous spots."

I blink and take in the new information, "Oh." I whisper, thinking out loud, "I guess that makes sense."

He chuckles making me blush profusely.

"You never cease to amaze me, tesoro." He whispers, kissing my forehead.

He slowly places me back onto my feet and heads out of the door.

Turning around, he asks, "Did your boss call you yet?"

I take in his eyes to see some hidden knowledge within it.

I shake my head no.

He nods to himself, solemnly.

"See you tomorrow." He smiles.

Tomorrow? I'm working tomorrow.

Before I could ask, what did he mean by that, he walks into the elevator.

Looking at me through it, he grins, "And sweetheart, calling me Sexy Beast is much better that Mr. Sex On A Stick." He winks just as the door closes shut.

I stare at the closed doors wide-eyed.

Frick! I said my thoughts out loud again.

'Well...' My subconscious drawls out, 'That went well.'

I growl back at her, quieting her down.

I walk back into the apartment, lock the door and sigh out loud, plopping down on the sofa, hugging my favourite violet pillow.

I quickly straighten up when I hear my phone ring.

I hold the phone in my hand and look at the caller ID which said Ash-hole.

Hmm... It's Asher calling.

How did Lucien know that Asher was gonna call?

Shaking off my thoughts, I quickly pick up my phone.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Hey, Nina... We need to talk." Asher replies sounding quiet and calm.

"Oo-kay. So talk." I whisper.

"Ifound someone who's interested in investing in our company." He states.

I jump on the couch and smile, "You did! That's amazing! Congrats!"

"I'm not finished, Nina." He whispers, softly.

Quieting down, I murmur, "Okay. What's wrong?"

There's something really fishy going on here...

"The thing is... the investors represent a very big firm. Like billion dollar rich firm." He states.

I clutch the phone in my hands and ask, suspiciously, "Why would a billion dollar firm invest in a small company like ours?" 

My mind starts running miles.

What would they want from us?

I feel Asher hesitate before he answers, "Because they want you."

"Wh-what!?" I ask, shocked.

He sighs, "They want you to work for them, Nina. Or else..."

I complete the line for him, "Or else, they won't invest, right?"

"Right." He replies.

Running my hands over my hair, I ask, "How much are they investing anyway?"  

He chuckles, humourlessly, "Fifty Millions."

I gape at the phone, "No shit!"

He chuckles, "I know, right?"

I sigh and ask, wincing, "So... what did you say to them?"

He hesitates but answers truthfully, "I said yes. That you'll work for them."

"I understand." I whisper in a low voice.

Well, that's one way to say 'You're fired!'

"I'm so sorry, Nee. But you have to understand an opportunity like this doesn't come every day." He explains himself, his voice begging me to understand.

"I understand, Ashie. You did what you had to do." I reply, quietly.

"So... we're good?" He asks in a nervous tone.

"We're good." I say, smiling. "Anyway... what's the name of my new boss?"

I feel him get silent. Finally after a moment of hesitation, he replies:

"Lucien Cooper."

***