My heart races inside my chest while my mind tries to find a way to escape Luke’s anger. I can feel Luke clenching his jaw as he presses a hard kiss on my temple, making it clear to everyone in thestudio that I belong to him.
And the next words coming out of his mouth make me hold my breath.
"I see that you prefer Jamie Cohento lose his job."
16
________
CASSIE
Jamie, Jude and I talk about the script before we start the car ride. Although Luke isn't joining us and is now watching us from the corner of the studio, I can feel his piercing stare.
My poor heart clenches as I watch the innocent Jamie talking animatedly, briefing us about how he's going to pick us up on the street before starting the karaoke session.
Jamie looks so enthusiastic, his eyes wide and sparkling with happiness as he keeps talking, just like a kid who just met Santa Claus.
Anger builds up inside me as I remember Luke's words about how he wouldn't hesitate to make the guy lose his job.
As if all of this is Jamie's idea.
I hate that Luke wouldn't mind using his power in the media industry and television channel to get rid of people he doesn't like.
Poor, poor Jamie. I hope that Luke didn't mean what he said—he's being unreasonable. Guilt now attacks me.
Had I told Luke about this car ride beforehand, maybe he wouldn't have made such a threat.
Maybe he's mad at me and not Jamie. Maybe he said those words to make me realize how I fucked up by hiding things from him.
But I have to be careful. There are many staff members here in the studio, and if Luke and I fight here while Jude is around, it will be the next trending topic.
"Alright, guys, we have to move now," Jamie says in a cheerfultone. "Cassie, you might want to tell Luke before we go. Is he going to wait here in the studio while we drive around the town?"
I flash a forced smile. "Of course." Fuming, I stomp toward Luke.
As he watches me coming to him, a mischievous smile forms on his lips. "Gotta go now?"
"Absolutely," I mutter, glaring at him. "But before I do that, you can't be serious about making Jamie lose his job. He has nothing to do with this. It's not his idea. It's Jude's," I hiss.
Silence falls for a while. I said that to save Jamie, but the moment I see Luke's eyes darken, I gulp. His expression turns even colder and more bitter, as if I just enraged him with that information.
"I see," he whispers, his voice low, making me shudder.
I glance at Jude and Jamie, who are now approaching us.
No, don't come here!
When I snap my head back toward Luke, a devilish smirk creeps onto his face. He suddenly pulls me closer to him.
Circling his arms around my waist, he whispers in my ear, "Put your arms around my neck." Although soft, his voice sounds like a threat. "Darlin', you don't want Jamie to lose his job, do you?" he speaks with clear amusement.
My blood boils. Is he joking? This isn’t the time for it.
My nostrils flare when I do as he told. Jamie and Jude arrive at our sides, probably to tell us that we're running out of time. I can feel the tension between Luke and Jude even though my eyes are now piercing Luke's, silently telling him how much I hate him.
Luke shoots Jamie a glance.
"Sorry for making you wait, Jamie, but my wife seems a bit clingy these days," he lies beautifully, making me want to murder him.
