Chapter Twelve
She opened his door and entered apprehensively. Closing the door after her, she turned around and bumped into Tyler's hard chest. "Oww," she said, rubbing her nose.
His arms came around her and held her in his arms."What do you think you were doing with Lucas?" He demanded, his face inches away from hers.
"Lucas was just talking to me," she started innocently.
"I don't want to hear what you were talking about. Just stay away from him," he warned looking at her with fire in his eyes.
"Tyler, you know I love only you," she tried to pacify him and succeeded a little as his face softened at her declaration.
"But why was he telling you he loves you?" He asked, his hand on her cheek. "You're mine."
"Oh, you're impossible. He wasn't telling me he loved me," she corrected him but was he listening at all? No, he was busy staring at her lips. He groaned and leaned towards her and smashed his lips to hers.
He kissed her slowly and lingeringly, delving his tongue even deeper into her mouth, tasting her sweetness. River's hands went round his neck to support her wobbly legs. She kissed him back and he was lost more into her.
"I missed you," he said, checking her neck for the love bites he'd given her and then kissing her more there. "I think I'll move in with you. " he said with a sigh.
"Noo Tyler please. My brothers and their families might visit me. How would I answer their queries?" She asked in panic. Tyler didn't understand at all. He had become almost impossible.
Tyler frowned at her and sighed. "Ok," he said, going back to his seat. "You sit here and work till Lucas leaves the office building."
She rolled her eyes and sat down in front of him. He gave her folders of the company's internal audit papers that she had to arrange date wise and department wise. Then there was a folder on the updates of financial audits of the Parker Suites all over the world. She had to arrange them under different folders, regionally, state wise and country wise. It was sheer hard work and she was occupied the whole morning.
Tyler had a conference at 12:45 and he left for the conference room in the next tower. At 1 o'clock, she decided to go down to Corner Cafe for lunch and talk to Lucas as well.
She went downstairs and found the small cosy cafe tucked away in the corner at the backside of the podium platform. She opened the door and the small bell above it jingled to announce her presence. She scanned the entire cafe. Did Lucas forget that he had asked her to come here?
She sat down at one table and ordered a coffee. Sipping it, she checked her own emails. Carmella had sent her a copy of the wedding invitation card that they had agreed upon yesterday.
They had decided to go on Saturday to a seamstress to get their wedding dresses stitched.
"Hey Ann, thanks for coming, " said Lucas as he dragged a chair and sat down in front of her.
"Have you ordered?" He asked her.
"No, I was waiting for you. Let's order," she said, summoning a waitress who checked out Lucas as she approached them. Lucas ordered a burger and fries and she ordered grilled chicken sandwiches.
"So, what did you wish to tell me," she asked after the waitress had left, frustrated that Lucas didn't pay her any attention.
"I'm in deep love with this girl who's just 19 and works as a house keeping staff at one of our hotels in LA. She's scared of me and won't even look me in the eye. For months, she'd been cleaning my penthouse leaving a fresh fragrance of violets in my home everyday. I stayed back one day and didn't leave the penthouse to see her and what she did to my home. I've been love with her after that one encounter. She's elusive and doesn't even come anywhere near me. What do I do, Ann. I'll die of heartbreak," he confessed with a deep sigh, holding his heavy head in his hands.
Their food arrived and they started eating. Lucas popped fries into his mouth absent mindedly. "Why is she scared of you? Have you tried anything with her?" She asked in between eating.
"No, I have a bad reputation that I play with women. I really don't. I didn't have any relationship for the last two years and my last hook up was a casual one night stand six months back, before I met her," he wailed.
"Hold on. Tell me how serious are you about her?" She asked him.
"Very. It could marry her right now and be with her forever," he said and River nodded, deep in thought.
"You need to meet her regularly. Once she sees you everyday, she'd be convinced that you're not a monster. Then you can start talking to her. When she opens up, you could get to know her. It's a gradual process Lucas. You can't expect her to jump into your arms overnight," she advised him.
"So what are you suggesting?" He asked, nodding his head in understanding.
"See how you can get to see her everyday. Maybe fix a different time for her cleaning when you're at home. Ask her to make you breakfast too. She could join in and you can make her open up that way. Whatever suits you," she suggested and Lucas's eyes brightened up.
"She's very young Lucas, you have to remember that. Maybe she's totally inexperienced with men. So be careful. One slip of tongue might ruin everything for you, " she said as she finished her sandwich.
Lucas too had finished his burger and fries. They paid and Lucas hugged her. "You're the best sister-in-law ever." He said and she grinned.
"Thanks and update me about what happened. I should get back before Tyler misses me," she said and they grinned at each other.
"He's very possessive about you. He doesn't trust me around you. He thinks I am after you, " he said, unhappily.
"Don't worry, I'll clear the misunderstanding," she said, patting his arm.
"Meredith used to hound me to sleep with her. I never did. But she created this misconception in Tyler's mind, telling him lies and stories about how I slept with her. I swear I didn't but he doesn't trust me anymore, " he told her with a feeling of dismay.
"Everything will be alright, Lucas. You should come to Vegas and stay longer. That way you can get more time to talk to Tyler and clear your misunderstandings," said River.
"I'm scared to come here. There's a psycho-maniac who's been hounding me forever since my school days. I get anxiety attacks in her presence. It's because of her that I fled Vegas," said he.
"Running away isn't a solution, Lucas. Think what you can do about it. By the way what's that b*tches name?" Asked River.
"Leilani," sighed Lucas.
"Don't worry. I'll clear all misunderstandings with Tyler when I get the chance," she comforted him.
"Thanks Ann. I love you, you're a dear," he said, giving her a casual hug.
"How dare you?" Boomed Tyler's angry voice as he punched Lucas on the face.
"Tyler it's not what you're thinking. I," she started as Tyler picked her up on his shoulder and walked away towards the door leaving Lucas with a busted lip staring at them in confusion.
"Tyler let me down. I just came here for lunch and to have a talk," she started and saw all eyes upon her, staring at all the drama.
Lucas came running after them. "Bro, listen to me. I was just talking about my own…," he started but Tyler simply dumped her in his car and sped off, leaving an astounded Lucas standing on the pavement.
