Chapter 159

"I don't know what you're planning, but please, leave Lucas out of it," I pleaded again, hoping Edwin would listen to me for once. "Trust me, he's been through enough already, and I don't want to see him get hurt."

Edwin's laughter was cold and hollow as he responded, "You don't need to worry about Lucas, Shana. He's an alpha male. He's perfectly capable of taking care of himself... Just remember to watch your own back. Wolfless need the most help."

With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing back toward the parking lot as if he were never there in the first place.

I was left standing alone in the dimly lit alley, my thoughts in a wild turmoil.

I didn't want to admit it, but Edwin's comments had let doubt and uncertainty fester within me. I couldn't help but question what it all meant.

I was a firm believer in things happening for a reason. So, why would Edwin's warning benefit me? Did I really need to be wary of Lucas and his family?

But speculating things wasn't going to get me more. It seemed like the questions I had for Lucas were continuing to pile up.

What I needed to do, was find him. I needed to understand what was happening and to make sure that he was safe.

As I started to walk away from my unsettling encounter with Lucas's cousin, the fear that he would appear again swept me. I was on high alert as I looked around the parking lot, wondering where he had gone.

He must have already left because I couldn't see him anywhere.

Unless he was lurking somewhere in the shadows...

I pushed thoughts of Edwin aside as I entered the grand lobby of the Busch family business building, focusing on why I was really there.

However, as I walked further, it seemed like corporate chaos as workers hustled all over the place. There were so many men and women in professional attire, scrambling to get off to their next meeting.

I had never seen it like this before. The last time I was here with Lucas, things seemed much more tame.

It made me think about what Edwin said earlier about Kendrick having a lot of meetings lately. It also made me feel like an intruder in an unfamiliar world.

Is that what Lucas's life would always be like?

I started to wonder if it was a mistake to come here. What if I accidentally ran into Kendrick and got Lucas in trouble? I didn't want him to face any consequences for my actions.

But at the same time, I wanted to speak with Lucas.

I promised myself that this wouldn't take long. I would be in and out before Kendrick ever noticed I was here. I just needed to move fast.

I approached the sleek, modern reception desk where a young woman sat. Her hair was pulled back in a tight, blond ponytail and her expression was composed. She looked like she could've been on the cover of a magazine.

Damn, was everyone in this world perfect?

My nerves were all over the place and I hesitated for a moment before I spoke.

"Hi. I'm looking for Lucas Busch," I said to the receptionist.

She turned her head towards me but remained silent as if waiting for me to explain myself further.

I cleared my throat, tapping my finger nervously on the marble. "Is there any way I can see him?"

The receptionist glanced at me with a hint of curiosity before responding, "I'm sorry. Do you have a scheduled meeting, miss?"

A scheduled meeting? I had no idea that even existed...

"No." I shook my head, my anxiety growing. "I don't have a... scheduled meeting, but it's very important. I need to talk to him as soon as possible."

"Is there a message you would like me to pass along?" she asked, going to grab a pen from her cup holder.

"No," I said, stopping her in her tracks. "I would just like to speak to him, if possible."

"I'm sorry," the receptionist repeated as she regarded me with a polite but firm demeanor, "but I can't grant access to Mr. Busch's office without an appointment. He's very busy, as you must know."

Desperation welled up within me. Was all of this for nothing? I didn't want to leave without getting the chance to see or speak to Lucas.

Just when I thought the receptionist was about to give me the boot, she picked up the phone and began dialing a number.

Oh no. Was she calling security?

"What's your name?" she asked, her face not giving anything away.

"Uh," I paused, contemplating if it was a good idea to give it to her or not. I didn't want to say my real name in fear that Kendrick had me on some sort of blacklist. "I'm Lucas's girlfriend."

If the receptionist was surprised by that, she didn't show it as she waiting for someone to answer the phone.

"Let me see what I can do," she said before speaking into the phone. "Hello, Mr. Busch. There's someone here who says she's your girlfriend. She'd like to see you as soon as possible."

I waited anxiously and my heart pounded while I wondered if Lucas would agree to see me.

The seconds stretched on, and I began to wonder why it was taking him so long to give her a reply.

Did he not want me to come up to his office? Was he upset that I was here? Should I have not said that I was his girlfriend?

A few moments later, the receptionist hung up the phone and turned to me with a nod. "Mr. Busch said that he is on his way down. You can wait here."

My confusion grew, and I wondered what had made Lucas agree to meet me in the lobby instead of his office.

That couldn't be a good sign, right?

But I needed to talk to him, and I supposed talking in the lobby would be the fastest and safest way to do that. Kendrick was probably in his office on the top floor.

He wouldn't be caught lurking around the lobby.

As I waited for Lucas, my mind raced with all the questions I wanted to ask him. I also hoped that he wouldn't be annoyed by my arrival.

I just wanted to see him. Could he really blame me for that?

Within seconds of that thought, a door near the elevator opened, and Lucas emerged.

He was dressed in a navy suit that accentuated his tall, rugged features and made his eyes shine even more. As much as I didn't like the way this corporate world functioned, I couldn't deny that he looked incredible.

As my eyes traveled to his face, I noticed that his expression held a mix of surprise and concern as he stared back at me.

I swallowed nervously as I waited for him to reach me.

He glanced around the lobby as if expecting someone to appear, or rather, wishing that someone didn't appear.

"Shana," Lucas asked in a hushed tone as he finally stood in front of me. His eyes darted around again nervously. "What are you doing here?"