Page 29 of Scarlet Embrace

I looked at him, noticing his hesitation. I could hear warning bells going off in my head. Something told me I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say, and I was right.

“My father really thinks we are together,” Lucas started slowly.

“Yes, I noticed that.”

“Which is why I need your help. Just for a couple of weeks,” he told me.

I placed my hands on my shoulder, wondering exactly what Lucas might be up to. He told me that it’s not something we can discuss out there since he doesn’t want anyone else hearing what we are talking about.

“Don’t worry, Thomas. I’ll drive her home,” Lucas told his driver, who was surprised.

“Are you sure about that?” Thomas asked.

Lucas told him he wanted to drop me off himself. He asked me to get into the car, and we drove off. For the first few minutes, we both sat in comfortable silence.

“What exactly do you need my help with?” I finally break the silence.

Lucas paused for a moment as if trying to select his words carefully. “My father wants me to have kids. It seems he’s interested in having grandkids.”

I stared at him as I felt my cheeks start to burn.

Is he suggesting what I think he is?

“I... don’t think I can help...” I trailed off.

“Why?” He asked as if he had not just dropped a bomb on my lap.

“Because I’m not interested in having children with a man, I know nothing about,” I answered as a matter of fact.

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow as if I had just said something ridiculous. “Is that what you got from what I just said?”

“Yes. That’s basically what you said,” I replied in a high voice.

“Oh my God,” Lucas said right before he burst into laughter. I felt a little bit embarrassed hearing him laugh. “I was going to ask if you would like to be my fiancée just for a few weeks.”

I felt stupid, and I turned away from him. How was I supposed to know that was exactly what he meant by that? Also, why would he even ask that from me?

“It’s just for a few weeks. Just enough to get my father to turn things in my direction. I’ll compensate you for your time, that I can promise you.”

Don’t need your money, Lucas.

“No.”

“What?” Lucas asked as he made a turn.

“Not interested in your offer.”

“May I know the reason?”

No, you can’t. There’s no way I will tell you that I want to destroy your entire family because you took away the man, I loved the most.

“I have a boyfriend,” I answered.

“Yeah, and I’m the President of the US,” Lucas snorted.

“Hey, what do you mean by that?” I asked, my anger starting to rise.

He sighed and told me that he knew well enough that I was single. I told him I wasn’t, to which he replied that there was no need for me to lie to him.