Chapter 7

A few hours later, we arrived at my doorstep. "Goodnight, Mr. Lucas," I said as I stepped out of my boss's car.

To my surprise, he responded, "Really? Goodnight? I'd like to meet your family and introduce myself, Olivia."

Feeling reluctant but unable to refuse, I agreed. "Very well, please come in, sir," I said, leading Lucas into my home.

Upon entering, I greeted my uncle, "Good evening, uncle. I didn't expect you back from your trip so soon." My uncle warmly replied, "Welcome home, Olivia."

Lucas casually addressed my uncle with a simple, "Hey," as if they were old friends. I couldn't help but feel a bit taken aback by his informal greeting.

The commotion in the sitting room caught the attention of Isabella and her mother, who promptly joined us. "Olivia, you've brought another handsome man home this time," Isabella said playfully, causing Lucas to glance at her with a puzzled expression.

Seizing the opportunity, Isabella's mother chimed in, "Welcome, handsome. This is my daughter, Isabella," she said, eager to introduce her daughter to Lucas, who she perceived to be a man of wealth and influence.

As the introductions continued, I couldn't help but feel a mix of embarrassment and amusement. It was evident that Isabella's mother was intent on impressing Lucas, and Isabella herself seemed more than happy to play along.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Lucas replied, shaking their hands.

"So, Olivia, how do you know this charming gentleman?" my uncle inquired, his gaze shifting between Lucas and me.

"Mr. Lucas is my boss," I explained, hoping to put an end to any misconceptions about the nature of our relationship. "He was kind enough to give me a ride home."

"Ah, I see," my uncle said, nodding in understanding. "Well, it's very kind of you to look out for our Olivia. Please, make yourself at home."

As Lucas settled into a chair in the sitting room, Isabella and her mother asked him questions about his work. I stood by, watching the scene unfold with a strange sense of detachment. It felt strange to see my wealthy, powerful boss sitting in my family's sitting room, engaging in conversations with Isabella and her mother.

After what seemed like an eternity, Lucas finally stood up to leave. "Thank you all for your warm hospitality," he said, addressing the room with a charming smile. "Olivia, I'll see you at the office tomorrow."

I walked Lucas to the door, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as he stepped out into the night. As much as I appreciated his interest in my personal life, I couldn't help but wonder what motives lay beneath his friendly behavior. With a polite nod, I closed the door, leaning against it with a heavy sigh. It had been an eventful evening, and I knew that Isabella and her mother would have plenty to discuss once I returned to the sitting room.

"So, Olivia, you're now in the habit of bringing rich men home? First, it was that tall, handsome, and wealthy gentleman, and now it's your affluent boss. How do you manage to know all these people?" Isabella's mother inquired hastily.

Feeling the need to defend myself, I interjected, "Please, this is my boss we're talking about, and the other man is just a friend. My personal life is none of your business."

My uncle, who had been away and was unaware of my previous guest, looked at me with curiosity. "You've been bringing men home, Olivia?" he asked.

Isabella chimed in immediately, "Yes dad, she's been bringing men home."

I moved closer to my uncle and explained, "It's not serious, sir. They're just my boss and a friend, nothing more."

Isabella's mother seemed to accept my explanation. "Well, if you're not interested in either of them, I'm sure my daughter would be more than happy to get to know them," she said, glancing proudly at Isabella.

Isabella eagerly agreed, "Yes, I'm very interested!"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their eagerness and desperation.

As I turned to retreat to my room, a stinging slap landed on my face. "You dare not look at me that way," Isabella's mother snapped, her hand still raised.

My uncle, witnessing the confrontation, quickly stood up and questioned her actions. "What did you do that for?"

Isabella's mother, bristling at his intervention, responded, "Are you questioning me because of her?"

I stood motionless, my hand pressed against my stinging cheek. My uncle, seeing the tension escalating, pleaded with me, "Olivia, just go to your room and avoid them.” Unresponsively, I followed his advice, eager to escape the conflict.

As I made my way to my room, Isabella's mother called out, "Olivia, you have one month to repay the money we've spent on you since you moved in here. If you fail to do so, your uncle will pay the price."

Her threat hung heavy in the air as I tried to process the meaning behind her words.

My uncle, visibly shaken, attempted to reason with his wife. "Please, don't do this," he begged, his concern for both his niece and his wife evident in his voice.

I entered my room, shut the door, and leaned against it, trying to make sense of the shocking events that had just transpired. It was clear that Isabella's mother was determined to exert control over our lives, and her ultimatum left me with little choice but to find a way to pay back the debt I hadn't even known I'd gathered.

The sound of my phone ringing cut through the silence of my room. With a mix of irritation and curiosity, I wondered who could be calling me at this hour. I retrieved my phone from my bag and glanced at the screen, surprised to see my boss's name displayed.

Confused as to why he would be calling me at this time, I answered the call. "Sir, did you forget anything at my place?" I asked, assuming that must be the reason for his call.

Instead of addressing my question, he responded with an unexpected reproach. "Miss Olivia, weren't you trained to check if someone arrived home safely after leaving your place?" His tone was arrogant, immediately putting me on the defensive.

"I'm sorry, sir, I would..." I began to apologize, but he cut me off.

"Never mind, we'll discuss it at work tomorrow," he said abruptly, ending the call before I could finish my sentence.

I stared at my phone in disbelief, trying to make sense of the unusual interaction with my boss. His tone had been arrogant, and his reason for calling me remained unclear. All I could do was wait until the next day to find out what he wanted to discuss.

***** *****

In the confines of his private room at his mansion, Lucas forcefully threw a vase to the floor, shattering it into pieces. The loud crash prompted his mother to rush into his room, concern evident on her face.

"What's wrong, son? Who made you upset? Please, talk to me," she asked, hoping to offer some comfort.

As Lucas tended to a small injury on his hand, he dismissed her worries. "It's nothing, Mum. You shouldn't be here; you should be resting in your room."

Understanding her son's need for space, his mother reluctantly left the room, sensing the frustration coming from him.

Alone once more, Lucas muttered to himself, "Who does she think she is? I can't fall in love with her!" His anger was directed at me, his emotions were in chaos. "I'll have to be strict with her to put an end to this dilemma called love," he resolved, determined to regain control over his feelings. With that, he made his way to the bathroom, seeking comfort in the routine of freshening up.

The following day at work, I approached Lucas's office with anxiety, uncertain of what to expect after our unusual phone conversation the night before. I knocked gently on his door, waiting for permission to enter.

"Come in!” he called, his voice firm and authoritative.

As I stepped into the room, I could feel the tension in the air. Lucas sat at his desk, his expression stony and unreadable. "Take a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.

I complied, swallowing my nerves as I awaited his explanation.

"Miss Olivia," he began, "I'm sure you're wondering about our discussion yesterday. I've realized that our professional relationship needs more structure, and I believe that imposing stricter boundaries will benefit us both."

I listened intently, confused as to how this related to our previous conversation.

"From now on," he continued, "we will maintain a strictly professional relationship. Our interactions will be limited to work-related matters, and I expect you to adhere to a higher standard of conduct."

I nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment.

"Sir, what about the project we've been working on?" I asked, eager to know its status despite the sudden shift in our dynamics.

Lucas looked at me, his expression unyielding. "Forget about it, Miss Olivia. I've assigned someone else to handle it," he replied, his tone sounded cold.

I was stunned by the abrupt change in both his attitude and the course of our professional relationship. The project had been a significant part of my responsibilities, and his decision to remove me from it felt like a displacement. As I struggled to process this unexpected turn of events, I couldn't help but wonder if Lucas's personal feelings had influenced his decision.