Edward''s aura was.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Are you serious with Luke?" Edward asked as he leaned back in the chair. He looked quite rxed when he locked his fingers behind his head and then stared at Michelle. Though he was smiling, Michelle couldn''t help but shiver as she could feel how dangerous "I don''t know what you are talking about, Mr. Mu." Michelle refused to answer his question and bit her lips.


    "You know what I''m talking about. I think you''d better be honest with me if you want my help," said Edward. Michelle might have helped him once but he didn''t think that he had to pay for that by helping her back.


    "I..." stammered Michelle. A part of her wanted to admit her feelings for Luke but she shook her head and chose to say nothing. If Luke didn''t have a thing for her, he might be pissed off once Edward forced him to ept her. This would be thest she wanted. Although she hadn''t spent a lot of time with Luke, she could tell that he was a confident and proud man who wouldn''t be forced to do anything he didn''t want to do.


    "Don''t you need my help?" Edward asked again upon not getting any response from Michelle. Her reaction was really surprising him as he had anticipated her to happily ept his offer.


    "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Mu, but I don''t need that." A forced smile cracked Michelle''s lips. It was ironic how she had been persuading Patricia not to give up a forest for just one tree. However, she never expected herself to fall for a man who didn''t love her as well. Unlike Patricia, Michelle didn''t even have the courage to express her true feelings for Luke.


    "Okay. Remember this though, this is yourst chance to ept my offer. I won''t help you with this same issue next time. Do you get me?" Edward gave her an indifferent smile and tapped his fingers on the table. He wasn''t used to getting his offers rejected. He could just hope for Michelle not to regret her decision in the future.


    "I understand, Mr. Mu. However, I believe that nothing forcibly done should be considered agreeable. Thank you for your kindness anyway." Michelle tossed her short hair back as if doing so could shake all her troubles away.


    "Okay. But let me remind you, no one can hurt Luke. Not even you. Even though you helped me, I won''t spare you if you hurt him," said Edward in a serious tone. To him, Luke was more than just his subordinate or friend. Luke was a part of his family. He wouldn''t forgive anyone who dared to hurt Luke.


    Michelle''s lips trembled but she said nothing. Her grin even became wider as she thought that Edward was just cracking a joke with her. She didn''t think that she was capable of hurting Luke. Instead, she was the one who was usually getting hurt by him. If Luke had known that Michelle would attend the lunch as well, he would have declined the invitation. However, it was toote now for him to leave.


    Meanwhile, Leena had no clue about the reason behind this lunch, thus, she thought that it was just a simple gathering with friends. It was only after she noticed that Michelle was peeking on Luke from time to time that she realized Michelle had a thing for Luke. An awkward kind of silence was developing in the room. Interest was written across Rain''s face as he looked back and forth between Michelle and Luke. He had a weird smile on his face as his fingers tapped on his ss. He wasn''t saying anything though, since he didn''t intend to break the ice.


    "Hey, why aren''t you guys talking?" Edward was the first one to talk as he really wanted to know why everyone was speechless. Luke was a man of few words and Edward was already used to it. However, the others were not. He couldn''t help but wonder why they said nothing.


    "No one dares to speak first before you," teased Rain with a taunting smile. He was wearing a ruby earring this time. Other men would look sissy with the earring but Rain was an exception. It didn''t even lessen his manly aura, instead, it entuated his yboy personality.


    "Since when have you regarded me as the head? I really want to know," Edward taunted back. He cast a nce at Luke and then immediately looked away. He was really curious about Luke''s feeling for Michelle.


    "Oh, Edward! You got me wrong. I''ve always regarded you as my boss." Rain was good at licking his boss'' boots. In fact, he was not even ashamed of it at all.


    "Stop talking nonsense!" Edward sneered and then turned to Luke. "Luke, Michelle saved us once. Don''t just eat the dishes but take good care of her for me." Though Edward decided not to intervene between Luke and Michelle, he still nned to create an opportunity for them.


    Luke''s lips jerked at Edward''s request. He didn''t understand why his aloof boss began to y Cupid. Thus, he felt extremely ufortable.


    Meanwhile, Michelle felt really embarrassed. She could clearly see the dislike on Luke''s face when she discretely nced at him. Was Luke thinking that she arranged all these? She could bet her bottom dor that he hated her more now.


    "Michelle, please eat some more. The dishes here are really delicious," Leena butted in to make things lighter. It was the longest lunch Michelle had ever eaten. Everyone there had their own thoughts as they smiled wickedly. They were all acting as if they were gate crashers that shouldn''t be there and as if she and Luke were the only ones who were supposed to meet.


    "Thanks, Leena." Michelle peeked sideways at Luke. However, thetter just ignored her as if he didn''t notice what she did.0000