Loving Diane

15

"So Diane tell me how was New York?" Papa asked

"It's mostly noisy. Not my kind of place but I'm starting to like it" I replied back

He nodded, "And what are you doing nowadays?"

Smiling I said, "I own my own architecting company. We design houses and different company buildings..."

"Now that's a successful lady!" He said

I smiled looking at Lucas who was busy looking at something on his phone

"How is the firm going?" I asked papa

But he didn't reply and looked at Lucas

Realising the attention was on him he cleared his throat before he spoke, "it's going well"

I looked down at my plate not feeling like eating anything else

Why was he being so cold towards me?

I didn't expect an apology but at least he could've been nicer

I could feel tears at the corner of my eyes threatening to escape

But I had to stay stronger. I had to show it didn't affect me

"Babe I'm going to go now.. you know I have a meeting in an hour" Juliet said

Lucas smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, "you want me to drop you?"

"Oh no, I came on my own so I'll go myself but thanks" she said placing a kiss on his cheek

"Is everything alright?" Mrs Sullivan asked

"Oh yes! Remember I told you guys I had a meeting, I'm afraid I have to leave" she said "loved the lunch and thank you for having me"

She walked towards Mrs Sullivan and hugged her a goodbye before she left

Wow no goodbye to Ella? Or Mr. Sullivan?

"She wasn't invited" Papa said

Lucas laughed, "She was actually. I invited her"

Papa looked angrily at Lucas, "You don't understand do you? This lunch was for our family to apologise to Diane!"

Lucas looked at me, anger in his eyes "You have the wrong expectations from the wrong person"

Lucas got up angrily and left the room

I swallowed hard

"I'm sorry for that" papa said

I nodded, "I think is time for me to leave.. mom probably has to go to her clinic aswell and she might need the jeep"

I lied. Mom didn't need her jeep but staying here another minute in Lucas presence was going to suffocate me

It was pretty clear he wasn't going to apologise

Everyone nodded

"I'll drop you outside" Ella said

Nodding I got up and went outside

"I'm sorry for Lucas's behaviour! Now you understand what I mean by he's changed?" Ella said

"I don't want to talk about him Ella, I don't care if he's changed our not! I was a fool to think he'd apologise" I said

"Oh Di I'm sorry" Ella said

"Please convey my message to your parents the lunch was great" I said sitting down in the jeep as I closed the door

I tried to ignite the engine but every time I pressed the button the engine wouldn't turn on

"Fuck" I cursed

Ella opened the car door "what's wrong?"

"It's not starting" I said confused

"Let me call the chauffeur" Ella said

I watched her going inside as Lucas was coming out. She stopped and they both had a quick chat before they looked at me

Thank god the jeep had black tinted windows

Lucas nodded and started walking towards my jeep

"Please don't come here!" I said to myself

But within seconds the car door was opened and once again I was facing Lucas

"Get down" He ordered

Taking a deep breath "No" I said

Lucas raised his brow

"I'll handle this myself. I don't need your help" I replied strongly

"Says the New Yorker! You don't know anything about jeeps. Get down and let me have a look" He said, his patience wearing off

"I'd rather have the chauffeur have a look" I said

Lucas passed a sarcastic smile, "Too bad he's not home"

Getting out of the jeep, I stayed at font of the door blocking him from entering.

Our heights were almost the same with my heels on

"I'm not in the mood to talk or argue with you right now. Go do whatever you were supposed to do. Don't waste your time on a CHEATER like me" I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice

Lucas pulled me by the arm closer to him

My heart suddenly picked its beat again

Coming even closer, his breath fanning my face "Don't you ever dare to outsmart me with that mouth of yours! I won't hesitate a minute before I put you in place" he said angrily

Pushing me aside he got inside the jeep to inspect what was wrong

For a moment I was left stunned

What. Just. Happened?

And where the hell was Ella?

I watched Lucas as he got down and opened the bonnet of the car.

It took him ten minutes before he closed the bonnet and walked towards me

"The battery is too weak, it needs to be changed and has to have new wirings. The hot weather isn't doing much good" Lucas said "give me your keys"

I nodded "they're in my bag"

We both were going to reach for the bag inside the jeep and bumped our heads

"Ouch! Why were you even trying to get the keys from my bag?" I said, annoyed

Lucas rubbed his forehead, "Because I don't want to waste any time than I already have!"

Getting my bag from the car I looked for the keys and handed it to him

"I'd already told you not to waste your time but you insisted. Suits you well" I said, triumphantly

Lucas rolled his eyes and got into the diver seat

The engine finally roared to life

Rolling the window down he screamed at me, "Get in what are you waiting for?"

"No way in hell are you going to drive me home!" I said stubbornly

"I'd gladly get down and let you drive this jeep but I'm considerate enough to think about the consequences" he said

"What consequences?" I asked, even more annoyed

"What if the jeep stops in the middle? What are you going to do then? Don't argue just get in" he said

"Like you care" I replied back

But he chose to stay silent

I got into the other side of the jeep and put on my seatbelt

"I'd rather die then go with this man" I mumbled

In my peripheral vision I could see Lucas smile
But it was gone as soon as it came.

Did he even smile?