Neptune

Chapter 23 | The Show

Jamie, Jude and I talk about the script before we start the car ride. Although Luke isn't joining us and is now watching us from the corner of the studio, I can feel his piercing stare.

My poor heart clenches as I watch the innocent Jamie talking animatedly, briefing us about how he's going to pick us up on the street before starting the karaoke session.

Jamie looks so enthusiastic, his eyes wide and sparkling with happiness as he keeps talking, just like a kid who just met Santa Claus.

Anger builds up inside me as I remember Luke's words about how he wouldn't hesitate to make the guy lose his job.

As if all of this is Jamie's idea.

I hate that Luke wouldn't mind using his power in the media industry and television channel to get rid of people he doesn't like.

Poor, poor Jamie. I hope that Luke didn't mean what he said—he's being unreasonable. Guilt now attacks me.

Had I told Luke about this car ride karaoke beforehand, maybe he wouldn't have made such a threat.

Maybe he's mad at me and not Jamie. Maybe he said those words to make me realize how I fucked up by hiding things from him.

But I have to be careful. There are many staff members here in the studio, and if Luke and I fight here while Jude is around, it will be the next trending topic.

"Alright, guys, we have to move now," Jamie says in a cheerful tone. "Cassie, you might want to tell Luke before we go. Is he going to wait here in the studio while we drive around the town?"

I flash a forced smile. "Of course." Fuming, I stomp toward Luke.

As he watches me coming to him, a mischievous smile forms on his lips. "Gotta go now?"

"Absolutely," I mutter, glaring at him. "But before I do that, you can't be serious about making Jamie lose his job. He has nothing to do with this. It's not his idea. It's Jude's," I hiss.

Silence falls for a while. I said that to save Jamie, but the moment I see Luke's eyes darken, I gulp. His expression turns even colder and more bitter, as if I just enraged him with that information.

"I see," he whispers, his voice low, making me shudder.

I glance at Jude and Jamie, who are now approaching us.

No, don't come here!

When I snap my head back toward Luke, a devilish smirk creeps onto his face. He suddenly pulls me closer to him.

Circling his arms around my waist, he whispers in my ear, "Put your arms around my neck." Although soft, his voice sounds like a threat. "Darlin', you don't want Jamie to lose his job, do you?" he speaks with clear amusement.

My blood boils. Is he joking? This isn't the time for it.

My nostrils flare when I do as he told. Jamie and Jude arrive at our sides, probably to tell us that we're running out of time. I can feel the tension between Luke and Jude even though my eyes are now piercing Luke's, silently telling him how much I hate him.

Luke shoots Jamie a glance.

"Sorry for making you wait, Jamie, but my wife seems a bit clingy these days," he lies beautifully, making me want to murder him.

Clingy? He said that I'm clingy?

"Darlin', isn't it enough for you that I rushed here from work just to see you again?" he asks, his eyes forcing me to play along. "Jamie and Jude here are waiting. Couldn't you wait until you get off from the car?" He smiles. "And we'll still have plenty of time after I get home later."

A howl of laughter, filled with frustration, escapes from my mouth. I feel like the most unfortunate woman in the world for having this man as my legally wedded husband.

"What can I say? You always get home late." But I have to fucking play along. God, help me.

"I promise you I won't today." His fake loving voice makes me want to throw up. "Now, go and kick ass, darlin'."

He smirks again, and I feel like ripping off that smart mouth of his. To my horror, he leans closer to give me a peck on the lips, but I turn my head so his kiss lands on my cheek instead.

Again, another laugh of frustration echoes from me. I tighten my hold on Luke to make it less suspicious, but they don't know that I'm sinking my nails into his back.

It's too bad that he's wearing a suit, because if it were his bare skin, I would gladly draw his blood.

I glance at Jamie and Jude, who are watching our fake displayed affection. Jamie sighs dreamily, while Jude just stares at us in silence, expressionless.

*

Things have been going pretty well now that the three of us are in the car, far away from my crazy husband. I sit in the front beside Jamie, who's driving. Jude sits in the back.

Jamie started the conversation by making small talk, asking me and Jude how things have been going lately with our lives. So far, we're on a good track. We just have to wait for Jamie to cue the music to start the karaoke. But before he can do that, and as the car turns around the corner of the street, I see something scarier than a horror movie.

There at the sidewalk, Luke is standing. He stops the car with his hand, and Jamie jerks in shock, abruptly pressing the brake so we are all thrown backward.

"Jesus!" Jamie shouts, still trying to recover from the shock.

The three of us in the car watch with mouth agape as Luke strides toward us, heading to the passenger seat at the back.

Jamie looks dumbfounded—he must be confused as hell. This is definitely not in the script, but on the other hand, it's not like he has the heart to kick my husband out of his car.

Luke opens the car door and hops in to sit next to Jude. When he shuts the door, I'm still trying to tell myself that I'm hallucinating.

What the hell is he doing here? Does he think that he can just barge in here and ruin my job?

His signature smirk is back again. That annoyingly handsome face of his is ready to surprise the world again. "Mind if I join you guys?"

No one is sane enough yet to utter an immediate answer.

One thing for sure: I'm officially doomed.