Chapter 12
Alison
"Leo, sweetie, this is Mr. Hawkins," I said, fighting to keep my voice steady despite the hammering of my heart.
"Hello there, Leo," Lucas said.
"Mr. Hawkins is a business associate who was just leaving."
I shot Lucas a meaningful look over Leo's head, but he merely smiled, making no move to depart.
"Hi, Mr. Hawkins," Leo said, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Why are you at our house so late?"
Before I could come up with an appropriate explanation, Lucas crouched down to Leo's level, his expression softening in a way I'd never seen before.
"I had some important business to discuss with your mother," he said, his voice gentle. "I apologize if we woke you."
Leo shook his head. "I was thirsty." He tilted his head, studying Lucas with that frank curiosity unique to children. "You have eyes like mine."
My stomach twisted with anxiety. Of course Leo would notice the most obvious connection between them—those distinctive amber eyes that set them both apart. Eyes that had haunted me for five years, a daily reminder of what I'd kept hidden.
"So I do," Lucas agreed, his gaze flickering briefly to me before returning to Leo. "That's quite unusual, isn't it?"
"My teacher says I have special eyes," Leo announced proudly. "No one else in my class has this color."
Lucas smiled, a genuine expression that transformed his usually stern features. "Your teacher is right. They are special."
I needed to end this interaction immediately. "Leo, let's get you that water and back to bed. It's very late, and you have school tomorrow."
"Can Mr. Hawkins come in?" Leo asked, ignoring my gentle attempt to shepherd him toward the kitchen. "I want to show him my dinosaur collection."
"Not tonight, buddy," Lucas answered before I could refuse. "It's past your bedtime, and good dinosaur hunters need their rest." He winked conspiratorially. "Maybe another time?"
Leo beamed at him. "Do you like dinosaurs too?"
"I had quite the collection when I was your age," Lucas replied. "T-Rex was my favorite."
"Mine too!" Leo exclaimed, his previous sleepiness evaporating in his excitement. "Mom got me a T-Rex model for my birthday that glows in the dark!"
"That sounds impressive," Lucas said, his voice warm with amusement. "I'd love to see it sometime."
"Mom, can Mr. Hawkins come over tomorrow?" Leo turned to me, eyes bright with hope. "Please?"
I found myself trapped between my son's innocent enthusiasm and the dangerous reality of Lucas's presence in our lives. "We'll see, sweetheart. Mr. Hawkins is very busy."
"Never too busy for dinosaurs," Lucas countered smoothly, rising to his full height but keeping his gaze on Leo. "But your mother's right—we should check schedules first."
Leo seemed satisfied with this diplomatic answer. "Okay. Goodnight, Mr. Hawkins."
"Goodnight, Leo," Lucas replied. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
I ushered Leo into the kitchen, feeling Lucas's gaze burning into my back. "Wait here while I say goodbye," I instructed my son, pouring him a small glass of water. "Then straight back to bed, okay?"
Leo nodded, sipping his water and watching with undisguised curiosity as I returned to the door where Lucas waited.
"You need to leave," I said quietly, stepping into the hallway and partially closing the door behind me. "Now."
"We need to talk, Alison," Lucas replied, his voice equally low but insistent. "About Leo. About us."
"There is no 'us,' and there's nothing to discuss about my son," I hissed, glancing anxiously back at the partially open door.
"You can't keep him from me, Alison. He is also mine. We should be together, the three of us."
"You don't even know if he's—" I started, but Lucas put a finger on my lips, stopping me.
"You don't need to lie to me. He's fine. Don't dig a hole for yourself you can't get out of."
"You need to go. Whatever happened in the elevator was all your fault.
You get so close to me, intoxicating me with your presence.
How I respond to it is just a normal physiological response.
Don't think too much into it because it was a momentary lapse in judgment that won't be repeated.
It's no reason for you to think we can be together. "
Lucas stepped closer, his presence overwhelming in the narrow hallway. "A lapse in judgment? Is that what you call it when your body responds to mine like it was made for me? When you admitted you've always thought of me?"
"Mom?" Leo's voice called from inside. "Are you coming?"
"One minute, sweetie," I called back, then turned to Lucas with renewed determination. "Listen to me carefully. You lost any right to question me about anything five years ago when you humiliated me and threw me out of your company. My life, my choices—including my son—are none of your business."
Something dangerous flickered in Lucas's eyes. "Victoria sabotaged you five years ago, not me. I discovered the truth too late—after you'd already fled to Germany with Victor."
"And that excuses your behavior?" I challenged. "You believed the worst of me without a second thought. You didn't even give me a chance to explain. You did it twice!"
"A mistake I've regretted every day since," he admitted, surprising me with his candor.
"Goodnight, Lucas," I said firmly, stepping back toward my door. "Don't come here again."
His hand shot out, catching my wrist. "Don't do this, Alison?" he said, his voice a low rumble that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. "He is my son."
"You lost the privilege to call him that when you humiliated me five years ago.
"So you're punishing him to spite me," Lucas growled, his fingers flexing around my wrist. "And Leo? What does he know about his father?"
"Only that he's not in the picture," I said, pulling against his grip. "Which is true."
Lucas released me abruptly. "But I want to be there now, and you won't let me!"
"Because you don't deserve it."
"You don't have to make this so hard, Alison."
"You left me no choice, Lucas. You have given me a reason not to put my faith in you."
Lucas took a step back, his expression resolute. "Victoria and I are hosting our engagement party next weekend at the Black estate. You should come."
The abrupt shift in conversation, coupled with the invitation, left me momentarily speechless. "You can't be serious."
"Perfectly serious," he replied. "It's the social event of the season. All the major players will be there."
"You're inviting me to your engagement party?" I repeated incredulously. "After what just happened in the elevator? At the café and even now? Besides, haven't you two been engaged for over five years now? What's an engagement party for?"
A sardonic smile curved his lips. "Call my invitation professional courtesy," he said, and then with a suspicious glint in his eyes, he added. "Victoria wants us to show our love to the world, to tell them it waxes strong still."
I shook my head, not wanting to be part of any games Lucas was playing now.
"Leave me alone," I said, patience finally exhausted. "Leave and don't come back. I don't want your invitations or 'professional courtesy.' I don't want to be at your engagement party or hear about you and Victoria. I don't want anything from you, Lucas."
He reached out, his fingers grazing my cheek in a feather-light touch that sent unwanted heat coursing through me. "You can lie to me about Leo. You can lie to yourself about what's between us. But eventually, Alison, the truth comes out. Always."
With that ominous prediction, he turned and walked toward the elevator, his posture relaxed despite the tension crackling between us.
"I'll never love you," I called after him, the words tearing from my throat before I could stop them. "Not after everything you've done."
Lucas paused, glancing back over his shoulder with that infuriating confidence. "Another lie to add to the collection," he observed mildly. "Good night, Alison. Give Leo my regards."
The elevator doors opened immediately, as if they'd been waiting for his command. As they closed behind him, I sagged against my doorframe, trembling with a toxic mix of anger, fear, and something far more dangerous—desire.
.