Chapter 289

Tessa’s POV

Esmeralda got out of the car and started to walk toward me. I, discreetly as possible, shook my head and waved my hands behind Morgana’s back, trying to get Esme to stop walking toward me as she knew me.

She frowned when she saw my gestures and then she looked at Morgana with a questioning look.

“Hi there,” Esme said to her and then her eyes flickered to me. “Everything okay?”

Morgana stared at her as if she had just killed her firstborn baby; she folded her arms across her chest and glared at her.

“And who wants to know?” Morgana nearly spats. She was reminding me a lot about Ashley, and I shuddered; I guess they weren’t so different after all.

Esme stared at her for a moment before looking at me, clearly confused.

“I’m a friend,” Esme said, but there was uncertainty in her voice as she said those words. I felt awful because I knew how confused she was, but I couldn’t exactly explain to her in front of Morgana that I didn’t want her to know I was living in this house with Joseph. There was no way for me to actually tell her this information though, so I remained silent, praying that Esme didn’t say anything.

“A friend?” Morgana asked, sizing Esme up from head to toe. “Of Joseph Evergreens?”

Esme’s eyes narrowed and I could tell she really hated Morgana, at this point, I wasn’t blaming her. I would have hated Morgana too if I was in Esme’s position.

“Yes,” she finally answered, folding her arms across her chest and leaning on her hip as she took in Morgana.

“No offense, but I doubt you are his type,” Morgana said, rolling her eyes. I had to stifle a gasp from her words; suddenly things were falling into place.

Morgana wasn’t here to help me, she wanted to meet Joseph and try to woo her way into his life. She was trying to get into his bed; well joke on her because his bed was also my bed. I had to bite my lip to keep from saying something I would regret.

Esme’s brows shot upward to her hairline as she looked between Morgana and me. I knew my face was probably as red as a cherry.

“Besides, you aren’t close enough to him to know that he’s not even home,” Morgana continued to huff. “So, it looks like it was a wasted trip.”

Esmeralda opened her mouth to say something, but I interrupted before she could.

“We should get back to the office so I can continue my research,” I said quickly, hoping I didn’t sound too breathless.

Esme’s eyes narrowed and I knew there was something she needed to say. She even opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. It was like she was realizing exactly what was going on and she sighed and nodded.

“Yeah. I guess I got the day wrong. I’ll check in with him later,” Esme said as she reached into her pocket to grab her phone.

She glanced at me one last time and gave me a knowing look. I patted my pocket, telling her I had my phone on me, and she nodded in response.

“Whatever,” Morgana muttered turning toward her car and pulling the driver’s door open.

Esme watched me curiously as I gave her a weak smile and slid into the passenger’s seat. Within seconds we were driving down the road; Morgana was quiet and the air around us had tension. I knew she was aggravated, I just hoped she wasn’t mad at me. I didn’t need another enemy at this job; Ashley was enough.

I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket, and I quickly reached into my pocket to retrieve it. I was glad to see Esme’s name appear on the screen; now I’d be able to tell her the truth about what had happened and apologize profusely.

I swiped my phone screen and tapped on her message.

Esme: What the hell was that?”

Me: I’m so sorry. She doesn’t know Joseph is my fiancé and that I live with him. I was assigned a project to investigate him, and she insisted on going with me.

Esme: She obviously wants in his pants. Are you okay with that?

Me: I didn’t know that was her motive until she said that thing about you not being his type. I’m sorry I had to put you through that.

Esme: I’ve known my share of mean girls. It doesn’t bother me. I was just worried because you were acting weird. But now it makes sense. I’m sorry for showing up randomly, but there’s a serious problem.

There was a knot in my stomach as I read her words. I took a deep breath and pressed “reply.”

Me: What’s going on?”

Esme: Joseph called and wanted me to keep an eye on you. He’s on his way too. But apparently, your friend, Ruby, had another vision and this time it was about you. I’m heading toward your work as we speak.

Me: What was the vision?

Esme: Lucias is coming for you.

I reread her words repeatedly.

Lucias was coming here?

A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I felt as if I was about to pass out.

“Everything okay?” Morgana asked; I completely forgot she was there.

I blocked a few times, trying to grasp my surroundings. She was currently trying to find a new parking spot that looked a little way from the building.

“Yeah,” I murmured. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine. Boyfriend problems?”

I gasped at her question.

“What? No, everything is great,” I said quickly.

“Mmhhmm,” she hummed. “I’m sure. I hope to meet him someday.”

My cheeks flushed, I wasn’t sure what to say in response, so I said nothing. She finally parked the car and we had to walk a little while before we reached the office. I felt like I had to constantly look over my shoulder like I was waiting for Lucias to just appear out of nowhere.

Who knows, maybe he would.

I didn’t realize how late it had gotten until we returned to the office and Ashley was packing up her things while talking to Megan.

“Any luck?” Megan asked after we returned.

“He wasn’t home,” Morgana pouted.

“Well, you can try again tomorrow,” Megan said, giving me a reassuring smile.

“Actually, I won't be. She wants to do this on her own and without my help,” Morgana muttered, folding her arms across her chest. “But whatever.”

“It is her project,” Megan agreed. “She has a lot to prove so it’s only right that she does this on her own. You have your own projects anyway.”

“I’m leaving,” Ashley said as she shouldered her purse and brushed past me.

“See you tomorrow, Ash,” Megan said, waving at her retreating back.

Moments later Morgana was gone too.

“Don’t let her bother you; she’s been obsessed with Joseph for a long time. She swears she’s going to snag him one of these days. She’s pretty, I don’t doubt it,” Megan chuckled, shaking her head.

I wanted to say that no way in hell was happening, but I refrained from doing so.

“Go home and get some rest. I will see you tomorrow,” Megan said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I nodded and forced a smile as I grabbed my things from my office. I knew Tony would be waiting for me outside by now and maybe Esme too. I at least hoped she would be there too; I didn’t want to face Lucias alone.

I wasn’t prepared.

With a racing heart, I left the building and was relieved to see Lucias’s car sitting out front. Without hesitation, I ran toward the car and pulled open the backseat, sliding in.

“Hey, Tony. Let’s get out of here,” I said quickly, looking down at my phone to text Esme that I was safe in Tony’s car and that I’d meet her at home.

But just before I brought up the message thread, I felt a cold metal clasp around my wrist, and I froze as it tightened and pinched my flesh.

“I’ll be taking that,” a very familiar and cold voice said as he grabbed my phone from my hands.

“Lucias…” I said but it came out as barely a whisper.

Lucias sat in the back seat with me, and he had a gun pressed against Tony’s head who sat in the driver’s seat, stiff as a board.

“What….” I tried to say, but with a quick motion, he grabbed my other hand and positioned it around the front seat, cuffing it and locking me in place. My face was pressed against the back of the passenger seat, and I felt fear consuming me.

“Get out,” Lucias said to Tony in a cold and deadly tone.

Tony looked at me through the little rear-view mirror and I saw the complete terror on his face. The gun clicked into place and Lucias pressed it even firmly against Tony’s temple.

“I said get out,” Lucias repeated through his teeth.

“I’m sorry…” Tony whispered as he opened the car door and got out of the car.

Lucias got out after him and I thought he was going to get into the driver’s seat right away; I thought he was going to let Tony go because he had done what he had asked.

But when I heard the gunshot, my entire heart shattered, and I broke down in a cry of hysteria.

Esme wasn’t here yet and there was no doubt she was stuck in traffic. I heard screaming from outside and knew that others saw Lucias kill Tony in cold blood. I winced at the very thought as I sent a small prayer out to him.

Lucias got into the driver’s seat and threw the gun in the passenger seat. Then, he was peeling away and weaving through traffic at a deadly rate.