Chapter8
Avelinelookedathim.“WhatifIdon’twanttodoit?”
Desmondsmiled.“Youcan’tturnthisdown.”
AvelinerolledhereyesandtookthefilestraighttoLucas’soffice.Desmondtriedtostopher,buthecouldn’t.
Shepushedthedooropenandwalkedrightin.
Lucas,tandimposing,stoodbythefloor–to–ceilingwindow,talkingonthephone.Hearingthedoorbeingpushedopen,heturnedandfrowned.
“Let’sleaveitatthat,”hesaid,endingthecall.
“Whoallowedyoutein?”heaskedcoldly,hiseyesicy.
Avelinemmedthefileonhisdesk.“Didyoudothisonpurpose?”
Lucasncedatthefileandrepliedcoolly,“Isn’tthispartofyourjob?What’s theproblem?Ifyoudon’twanttodoit,youcanquit.Plentyofpeoplewantthisjob.”
Avelinefumedsilently.Thisjerkwasdefinitelydoingthisonpurpose!
Hewasretaliatingbecauseshehadppedhistnight!
Thatwaswhyhepushedherto<b>the</b>limistnightandsenthertoaconstructionsitetoday.
Seeingherangrybut unabletoretort,Lucasfeltprettygoodsomehow.
“Getout.Andnexttime,remembertoknock,”he<b>said</b>,turning
hisattentionbacktohiswork.
Avelinestaredathim,thensuddenlyleanedforward.Shecedherhandsonthedeskandleanedherupperbodyclosetohis.Shewhispered,“Fine,butnexttime,youneedmypermissionbeforingin.”
Shethengrabbedthefileandleft.
Lucaswasstunned.
Whatnonsensewasshetalkingabout?
Ifshehadn’tseducedhistnight,hewouldn’thavetouchedher!
Hisbrieflyimprovedmooddarkenedagaininstantly.
Avelinewasinchargeofthmercialbuildingproject,whichwascurrently underconstruction.Shegotoutofhercarandlookedattheuneven,muddyroad,feelingdisheartened.
Asshewalkedforward,shesawanelderlywomansittingonthecementgroundnotfaraway,lookinglostandhelpless.
Peoplepassedbyherwithoutasking<b>if</b>sheneededhelp,afraidofgettingscammed.
Avelineexaminedthewoman’sclothing,notingthatshewaswell-dressed,evenwearingadiamond braceletonherwrist,whichdidn’tfittheprofileofsomeryingtoscamothers.
Aftersomethought,theapproachedandasked,“Madam,areyoualright?”
Theelderlywomanlookedather,andhereyessuddenlybrightened.“Granddaughter–inw!You’remygranddaughter-
+15BONUS
inw<b>!</b>I’mlost.Granddaughter–inw,canyoutakemehome?
Avelinewasstunned.Theoldwomanseemedconfused,possiblysufferingfromdementia.
Shequicklybentdownandasked,“Madam,doyourememberwhereyourhomeis?”
Theelderlywomanlookedbewildered.“Whereismyhome?Idon’tknow.Granddaughter–inw,helpmefindit.IforgotwhereIlive.”
Avelookoutherphone,intendingtocallthepolice.
Seeingthephone,theelderlywoman’seyeslitup.“Phone,phone,myphoneishere!”N?velDrama.Org ? content.
Shepulledoutasmallbagtiedwithastringfromherneckline.Insidethebagwasaphone.
Thebagalsocontainedapieceofpaperwithaphonenumberonit.Avelinesawitandfeltrelieved.
“Madam,howareyoufeeling?Canyouwalk?”Avelineasked
withconcern.
Theelderlywomanlookedupset.“Ican’twalk.Mylegshurt.Granddaughter–inw<b>,</b>mylegshurt.Canyoublowonthemfor
me?”
Avelinecouldn’thelpbuugh.“Let’stakeyoutothehospitalfirst.”
Tobesafe,shetookoutherphoneand recordedavideo.”Madam,Ididn’thityou,right?”
“That’sright,mygranddaughter–inwdidn’thitme.”The
+15<b>BONUS</b>
elderlywomancooperated,evenmakingaheartgestureatthe
camera.
D