Chapter 129

Chapter 129 “Alden was here?” Thalassa asked, her brows raised. “When?”

“Just a few minutes ago. I saw him stepping out of the elevator,” Clark replied, fixing his gaze on Luisa. “Did he come to see you?”

Luisa resisted the urge to snap at him, to tell him it was none of his business, but she bit her tongue and held back her retort.

Thalassa smiled, her eyes lighting up as she turned to Luisa. “Did he finally ask you out? Are you two together now?”

Both of them were staring at her expectantly, but Clark’s gaze was much more intent on her, making Luísa feel uneasy.

“Yes,” she lied, feeling trapped.

She couldn’t give any other answer, especially with Clark watching her so closely. If she denied it, it would mean having to explain what Alden actually came to do.

Thalassa beamed. “That’s great! I’m happy for you, Sis.”

“Thanks,” Luisa replied, forcing a smile. “Thalassa, I need to talk to you-”

Clark cut her off with a smooth chuckle. “You said you had something to discuss with Thalassa, but we’re kind of running late for lunch.”

Thalassa stepped closer to Luisa, her smile fading into concern. “You sounded serious. Is it about the company?”

Luisa opened her mouth to tell her it wasn’t about work, that they needed to speak privately. But when her eyes met Clark’s, she froze. He still had a smile on his face, but now she could see just how fake it looked. His eyes were staring at her intently, as if daring her to speak.

Her heart raced. “Yes, it’s about the company,” she lied again, her voice faltering slightly. She couldn’t risk Clark getting suspicious now. She’d talk to Thalassa later, when they were alone.

Thalassa nodded. “Okay. Is it urgent, or can it wait until after lunch?”

Before Luisa could answer, Clark chimed in, his tone cheerful. “Why don’t you join us for lunch, Luisa? That way you and Thalassa could talk about it. I wouldn’t mind. I can even pitch in with my advice if needed. What do you say?”

Gritting her teeth, Luisa knew exactly what he was doing. By inviting her to come along, he was trying to see whether she was really telling the truth about what she wanted to discuss with Thalassa. If she refused, then he was going to get suspicious.

Thalassa smiled encouragingly. “What do you say, Luisa? Come with us?”

Luisa forced a smile. “Sure, I’d love to.”

“Great!” Clark said, gesturing toward the elevator. “Shall we?”

Luisa remained tensed from the ride down and the drive to he restaurant. Clark cracked joke after joke something she’d once liked so much about him, but now it only made Luisa more cautious. Because she understood now–it was all an act.

At the restaurant, they were seated with Thalassa beside Clark and Luisa directly across from him. A waitress approached their table with a bright smile. “Good afternoon! What would you like to order?”

“You first,” Clark said, nodding at Thalassa.

+25 BONUS *I’ll have the Italian chopped salad and a glass of lemonade No dessert,” Thalassa said, handing back the menu.

Clark grinned. “Salad? Normally, I’d get the same as you, but I’m starving today.” He laughed, and Thalassa smiled, but Luisa barely heard them.

She couldn’t stop thinking about how she hadn’t seen through Clark’s fakeness before.

Clark turned to her, his voice pulling her back to the present. “What about you, Luisa? What would you like?”

She hadn’t been paying attention. Thalassa nudged her arm gently. “Luisa?”

“Oh, sorry,” she mumbled. “I’ll have the same as you.‘

Clark nodded at the waitress. “Two salads and a Scotch steak. Three lemonades.”

After the waitress left, Clark’s gaze fixed on Luisa again. “You seem distracted, Luisa. Is everything alright?”

Her stomach churned as she forced another smile. “I’m fine.”

Clark’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept smiling. “So, about what you wanted to talk to Thalassa about... Feel free to discuss it here. I don’t mind.“.

Seeing that Thalassa was also waiting for her to speak, Luisa’s mind raced to come up with something. “Oh, it’s nothing major.

Just a minor issue with our shipments to Europe. Logistics is having a few delays.” Thalassa frowned. “But I thought that problem was already sorted out?”

Luisa’s pulse quickened. Clark’s eyes were still on her, watching closely. “Uh, yes, but not all of it. It’s just a small thing. Nothing to worry about.” 1 Clark leaned back in his chair, his smile still firmly in place. “Oh, I’m glad to hear that it isn’t anything major, but I know a few shipping companies I trust, so if those minor issues aren’t resolved soon, just let me know.”

“I’ll let you know if we need your help.” Luisa said, her voice caming out sharper than she intended.

Clark’s smile dropped.

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