Delilah

chapter 8

Lucas

It's been two days since Del told my father that she needs a mole in the Grey's company but I didn't bother asking him how he plans on doing that.

Most of you will think that am being less concerned about the whole Delilah's revenge plan, but am not. I just think they are playing around instead of going for the hit. What other pain is bigger than making the Grey's beg for food? Making them live like peasants. To make Juliana, Jake, Mrs. Katherine and Mr. Grey himself live like the low class is enough but the soft hearted Delilah rejected the plan. She believes her father is innocent in all these and that she doesn't want to close down the family business. I was snapped out of my thought by a finger flickering across my face

"Hell... Lucas I've been asking you the same question for over thirty minutes now with no response from you. Care to tell me what's bothering you?" My friend Ken asked

What is bothering me is a secret known by just four persons. Me, my father, Del and doctor Phillips. "Just work man... It have been on my neck"

"Talk to your sister then, I know she will be able to help. She gat the brains man"

If only he knows that she's the reason for my troubled state of mind "nah I can sort out myself, there's no need to bother her"

Ken leaned forward a little bit "I remember pleading with you to come with her the next time we meet but your stubborn self came out without her. Help me out man, I gat feelings for Delilah but you know how tough she can be"

I felt anger raising within me slowly and I swallowed hard to stop my possessiveness form raising its head "stay away from her Ken, she doesn't need your bullshit in her life right now"

"I know I can be a player sometimes, but am willing to stop for her sake. I want to settle down with her man"

Settle down? What the hell is he on about? Gosh...I feel like punching him across the jaw pretty hard "she not looking for any man to settle down with, leave her alone Ken am warning you"

He relaxed back into his seat and looked at me with his head slightly tilted "if she wasn't your sister, I'll say you have feelings for her"

I glared at him "Del is my sister, get your head out of the gutter"

"Thank God you still remember that she's your sister and that one day, she'll eventually get married to some guy"

I swallowed through the thickness forming in my throat "you just aren't the right guy for her"

Ken frowned in obvious annoyance "what do you mean by am not the right guy for her? Please pray tell who the right guy is? You? That guy who works for the company you guys are working with right now? Who?"

I blinked through my fury did he just ask me if Jake is the right guy for her? I stood up and dropped the dollar bills on the table "am done with this conversation, I have important matters to attend to at the office. But like I said earlier, stay away from her. I'd hate to disfigure that face of yours. Am warning you" having delivered my message loud and clear, I left the bar.

Walking into the office in the middle of the day had me praying that I won't run into my father. My father loves us but one thing he can't tolerate is joking with your duties at work. I entered the elevator and pressed the 7th floor. When it got to the fifth floor, it stopped and opened and in walked the reason for my foul mood. She looks pretty in her knee length gown and her very high heels. She walked in and the elevator continued its ascension.

"Where have you been wanker?"

Yeah of course she noticed my absence "I had something important to attend to"

She raised her brows "business?"

It's not as if she keeps a tab on my business meetings "yeah I had a business meeting with a cilent"

She eyed me skeptically but kept quiet. I exhaled at the narrow escape. For unknown reasons, I don't want Del to see me as a man who leaves his work place just to go have a drink. The door to the elevator pinged and opened immediately we got to the 7th floor. Del stepped out but stopped and turned to me

"You don't have to lie to me about your whereabouts. It your life so anything you decide to do with it is totally up to you"

I adjusted my tie "what are you saying?"

"Am saying that I can perceive the alcohol from your breath and I know you didn't attend any business meeting. I covered your ass when Dad asked about you, told him you had business meeting to attend outside the office. So if you are going to lie to him, you better take care of your breath because it reeks of alcohol"

I tried to apologize for lying but she was already half way down the hall. I guess lying to Del isn't as easy as I thought it will be.

I spent the right of my working hours in my office, ignoring Del's advice to go see Dad and find out why he asked for me earlier but honestly, am not in the mood for anything he has to say be it business or personal. Someone knocked on my door and before I could respond, the door opened and Del poked her head in

"Aren't leaving yet?"

"Nay, I have some papers that needs signing"

She checked the time "it's already past 9, if you stay any longer, you are going to miss dinner"

I shrugged "I'll order out"

"You know how dad hates us missing family dinner"

"Need I remind you how he also hates us slacking business wise?"

She titled her head as if thinking about it "why not bring the papers home, I'll help you sign them later"

"That's not necessary, I can handle it"

"Okay" she almost closed the door but stopped "Ken asked me out for dinner tomorrow, you know he's your friend so I just think it's appropriate for you to know"

I must have heard wrong so I stopped what I was doing and gave her my full attention "Ken did what?"

"He asked me out on a dinner date"

That asshole "when did he ask you out?"

"This afternoon"

The same afternoon that I warned him to stay away from her "and what did you tell him?"

"I told him that I'll check my schedule"

"That's what you told him, am asking you what you are really planning to do"

She walked fully into my office and sat down "am thinking of saying yes. You know they say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"

"So you're thinking of playing my friend?"

"No am not, am trying to form a relationship outside family and work"

Is she really thinking about this? "And you think Ken is the best guy for it?"

"He's your friend, shouldn't you vouch for him or something" she snapped

"He's my friend, and that's the main reason why you are going to reject that offer"

Her face scrunched up in anger "what's that supposed to mean? I should reject it because he's your friend?"

"How will you feel if I sleep with any of your friends?"

"Who said anything about having s*x with him?"

I pointed my finger towards her "if you get into a relationship with him, it will definitely happen"

"That's bullshit!!! Haven't you heard of s*x after marriage?"

I let out a humorless laughter "the same way you abstained from s*x with Jack and got pregnant?"

She recoiled back as if I slapped her or maybe I did "how dare you Lucas? How dare you involve my past into this!!!?

Shit!!! I keep f*****g things up with her "am sorry Del, I didn't mean to say that"

"That's the second time you are saying something you claim you don't mean" she stood up and picked up her bag "you know what? Am sorry for even bringing this up with you. But I want you to know one thing, am going out with Ken tomorrow and there's nothing you can do about it because it's my life not yours." With that she slammed the door on her way out.

I closed the file before me with much force than needed. I guess I'll have to go home earlier than anticipated if I want to clear the mess I just created.

I walked into the house and found my father eating dinner alone. "Good evening dad"

He ignored my greeting "you're late"

That was more of a statement than a question "I had a lot of papers to sign today. Where is Del?"

My father hates it when I shorten people's name, he says it's a sign of laziness "who?"

"Delilah, where is she?"

"She said something about attending a friend's bridal shower"

"Okay" Del doesn't have any friend outside family but I didn't bother pointing it out to my father. It seems like my statement earlier affected her more than I thought. I made a mental note to call her after dinner. I hope she's okay wherever she is.

"I'll freshen up and join you"

He hummed "let this be the last time you hang out with Ken outside the office during working hours. I didn't build my empire with drinking out with my friends when am meant to be working. And to think Delilah is even lying to me just to cover you up"

Damn, I guess nothing misses this old man "am sorry Dad, I promise it won't happen again." If he's aware of this, is he also aware that Del didn't go for any bridal shower? Damn she's in deep s**t when she gets back.