ALINA’S POV.

    “Who is Jacobi?” He asked in a dangerously low tone.

    Shit.

    “Uhm… he is nobody.” I rushed out, shooting a small re at Mia.

    From the guilty look on her face, I could tell she’d realized she just messed up. Then again, I couldn’t really me her.

    “Well, it doesn’t seem like he’s ‘nobody,’ judging from how urgent your assistant says your friend sounded.” Lucian pushed, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned back in his chair.

    “Trust me, Lucian, Talia can be very dramatic when she wants to be.” I chuckled nervously, forcing a small smile. !--

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    He wasn’t buying it.

    “Fine. Jacobi is a client I linked her up with for business.” I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.

    It wasn’t totally a lie… but it was far from the whole truth. I couldn’t exactly tell him who Cobi really was, because then I’d have to exin how I met him and what I was doing downtown in the first ce.

    “Then why are you being all nervous and secretive?” He asked, still regarding me with quiet suspicion.

    “Because he’s a confidential client of hers.” I exined, trying to keep my voice calm and level.

    “Are you guys doing something dangerous, Doll?” Lucian asked, his tone dipped in disapproval now.

    “Of course not,” I told him quickly. “He’s just a really important client.”

    He stared at me in silence, his gaze sharp and focused, scrutinizing every twitch of my expression.

    I held my breath, praying he’d buy the lie.

    After what felt like hours, though in reality, it was only a few minutes, he finally spoke.

    “You should go attend to your friend, since it’s important.” He said, returning his attention to his food, his voice dismissive

    and cool.

    “But-”

    “No but, doll,” He cut me off without even sparing me a nce. “I’ll just catch up with work.”

    I spared a nce at Ace, who wore a pleased expression on his face.

    Of course he would be pleased.

    The rest of breakfast passed in strained silence, with me asionally ncing at Lucian, who remained quiet and unreadable.

    Back in the room, Lucian was getting dressed for work.

    “Are you mad at me?” I asked, watching him as he buttoned his shirt.

    “Of course not, Doll. Why would you think that?” He replied, pausing mid-button to look at me.

    “I don’t know,” I shrugged, fiddling with my fingers. “You’ve been cold… I mean more cold than usual since breakfast.”

    He sighed, then stepped closer, cupping my face with both hands gently.

    “I’m not mad at you. Just frustrated I can’t spend time with you as originally nned.” He said softly, brushing his thumb across my cheek.

    “Well, you don’t have to go to work, you know. I can always cancel with Talia too.” I offered, cing my hand over his.

    “I’m sure your friend wouldn’t like that.” He replied with a faint smile.

    “Talia would be fine. Besides, she’s scared of you. I’m sure if I told her you’re the reason I can’t make it, she wouldn’t mind.” I batted myshes at him.

    He chuckled, finally.

    “Since when did you be a bully?” He asked, clearly amused.

    “I’m not. I just want to spend time with you.” I whined yfully.

    “How about this, you go spend time with your friend, I’ll go get some work done, and then we can do whatever you want when we both get back.” He suggested, tilting his head slightly as he waited for my response.

    “Movie nights and cuddles?” I asked, perking up.

    “Whatever you want, doll.” He smiled.

    Not his faint smile, or smirk of chuckle, I mean a full blown smile.

    Lucian rarely smiled, and when he did… It was breathtaking, he really should smile often.

    “Even if I want us to braid our hair and paint our nails?” I teased, fighting back a grin.

    His face twisted into one of disgust and I couldn’t help theugh that burst from my lips.

    “Just kidding,” I said through myughter. “You should’ve seen your face.”

    “Not funny.” He said tly, but the slight twitch in his lips betrayed his serious expression.

    Myughter doubled.

    “Are you asking to be spanked?” He asked, serious.

    That shut me up real quick.

    Now it was his turn to look amused.

    “I didn’t think so,” he mused, then let go of my face. “Now why don’t you be a good girl and go prepare? You don’t want to keep your friend waiting now, do you?” He added, giving my bum a light smack as he nudged me toward the closet.

    Two hourster, Talia and I were sitting at the mall, finally taking a break from the marathon shopping spree she’d dragged

    me on.

    The moment I met her at the entrance, she’d practically yanked me inside, and I hadn’t been off my feet until now.

    I curse my decision to wear heels today.

    “I should have gone with the boots.” I groaned, massaging my aching feet as we sat at an open booth.

    “Well, I did say we were meeting at the mall.” She defended with a shrug, sipping her smoothie.

    “How was I supposed to know shopping is what we’d be doing?” I red at her.

    “What else do people do at the mall?” She asked, twirling her straw in her cup.

    “Fun stuff.” I deadpanned.

    “Shopping is fun.” She shrugged again.

    “For you, maybe.” I fired back.

    “Well, sorry, Your Highness, we don’t all have rich fiancés that bring an entire boutique to our doorsteps,” she teased with an exaggerated eye roll. “Speaking of fiancé… how didst night go?”

    My face flushed instantly.

    Talia’s eyes widened in excitement. “You fucking slut! You fucked him!” She squealed loud enough that a few heads turned.

    “Maybe I should get you a megaphone because I don’t think they heard you all the way in fucking Venus.” I gritted out, shooting her a re and throwing an apologetic look to a mother in the booth next to ours who was covering her daughter’s

    ears.

    “Sorry,” Talia said sheepishly. “But tell me everything!”

    “Well… we had sex. And that’s about it.” I muttered, staring down into my smoothie, avoiding her eager gaze.

    Now it was my turn to swirl my drink with a straw.

    “Don’t give me that crap, Alina. I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life. You will not take this pleasure away from me, I. Forbid. You!” With each word, she rose from her seat, leaning dramatically over the table with a fierce look on her face.

    Dramatic much?

    “Okay, calm down Godzi, geez.” I said, a little scared.

    “Start talking.” She growled.

    “I will, as soon as you stop invading my personal bubble.” I retorted with an eye roll.

    “Oh. Sorry.” She smiled sweetly and sat back down.

    Her expression doing aplete 360.

    “Damn, you’re scary when you want to have your way.” I pointed out.

    “I’m listening.” She urged,pletely ignoring thement.

    “Well… I was sober by the time we got home…”

    $255 vouchers

    And so I went into full-blown narration, recounting everything that happened fromst night to this morning. Talia didn’t interrupt once at any point. Her eyes remained fixed on mine, her expressions changing with every twist of the story.

    It wasn’t until I finished that she finally reacted.

    “Wow.” She breathed, clearly awestruck. “I didn’t know you had it in you. Damn, girl.”

    “Well… I only discovered how horny I get when I have alcohol in my system yesterday,” I shrugged. “Besides, I was sexually frustrated, okay? Try living with that gorgeous specimen of a man and see if you’d be able to hold back for as long as I did.” I added a little defensive.

    “Rx,” Taliaughed. “Nobody’s judging you. I’m just shocked. You really have changed, baby. Where’s that shy and reserved girl I used to know?”

    “Burned to the ground,” I said, my voice hard. If only she knew how true that was. “In her ce is a confident woman who goes for what she wants.”

    “Well, I’ll drink to that.” She raised her cup.

    I clinked mine against hers, and we both burst intoughter.

    “Anyway, about this Jacobi guy—”

    She began, but we were interrupted by thest person I wanted to see.

    Chapter