Chapter 285
Over the next week, Kingsley showed up like clockwork every time Seven finished his lessons. In the little boy’s own words, they had already become the best of friends.
That evening, Lucy accompanied Jules Holt to a high-end corporate gala.
She kept Seven’s stern little voice memo playing in her head-Mommy, don’t drink too much—so after making her mandatory rounds with a few project partners, she gathered her skirts and slipped away to find a quiet corner.
The evening breeze on the terrace was delightfully crisp. Leaning against the stone balustrade, she watched a video of Seven playing with his toy cars that the nanny had sent, a soft, loving smile gracing her features.
She hadn’t been standing there long when a couple strolled onto the terrace.
Lucy didn’t pay them any mind, until the unmistakable, heavy sounds of making out echoed right next to her. Annoyed, she grabbed her skirt and marched over to the opposite side of the sprawling balcony.
Kingsley and Peter were already standing in the shadows of that corner. Kingsley spotted her first, his gaze flickering from her to the oblivious couple grinding against the railing behind her. A deeply amused smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Running away from something?”
Lucy shot him a scathing glare, her patience entirely shot. “Are you blind?”
Peter chuckled and stepped forward with a charming grin. “Hi, Lucy! You look beautiful tonight.”
“I know,” Lucy replied curtly. She turned to leave, but a strong, warm hand clamped firmly around her wrist.
“Stay here.” Kingsley met her furious glare evenly. He slowly released her wrist, his voice leaving absolutely no room for negotiation.
“Unless you’d rather go back inside and deal with endless, fake small talk?”
He paused, then added, “You fly back to the States tomorrow. The day after, Shane will escort you into The Lynwood Group headquarters.”
Lucy froze in her tracks. She knew damn well that walking into that boardroom meant brutal negotiations and high-stakes maneuvering.
Yet, she kept her chin high and replied coldly, “I don’t need him. I am perfectly capable of handling it myself.”
“Having Shane with you is the only way I’ll have peace of mind.” Kingsley leaned back against the railing, his intense posture softening slightly.
“I’ll take good care of Seven while you’re gone.”
“You? Take care of him?”
Lucy scoffed, remembering how aggressively Seven had roasted his utter incompetence just a few days ago.
“Are you absolutely sure it won’t be him teaching you how to take care of him?”
The tips of Kingsley’s ears burned
hotly, but he didn’t try to the
the
himself. He simply said, “I don’t have experience but I can learn job.”
“Don’t bother.” Lucy turned her head away dismissively.
“He has a professional nanny. Save your energy.”
Sensing the heavy tension, Peter had quietly slipped away the second they started arguing, disappearing entirely into the night.
Lucy scanned the empty space where Peter had just been, then leveled an icy stare
at Kingsley. “Your friend left. You can get the hell out, too.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Kingsley’s tone was infuriatingly calm, his dark gaze locked intensely onto hers.
“Have you ever thought about starting your own firm or company?”
The words barely left his mouth
before Jules Holt sauntered over his long legs eating up the distance
between them. Well well. Is I Sherwood trying to poach my talent and convince my girl to go solo?”
Kingsley’s expression darkened, his voice dropping to a frigid, icy tone. “Your girl? She doesn’t belong to anyone but herself.”
Jules ignored the hostile reaction, turning to Lucy with a much warmer tone. “Come on. There’s a VIP client I need to introduce you to.”
Lucy gave a curt nod. She turned on her heel and walked away alongside Jules, not giving Kingsley a single backward glance.
Kingsley stood frozen, dark jealousy smoldering in his eyes as his gaze pierced Jules’s retreating back. After a long, tense moment his fingers. flew across his phone to fire off a rapid text, and then he spun around, stalking off the terrace.
Back inside the crowded ballroom, Peter strolled over with two glasses of red wine,
offering one to Kingsley. “Missed your shot again, didn’t you?”
Kingsley took the glass, a heavy shadow of defeat flickering across his eyes. “She wouldn’t give me the chance.”