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Ella
When I wake, Lucas is gone, and for a moment I feel lost. I’m not sure when I became used to him being around. If he’s not beside me, I feel the emptiness and I frown a little. This isn’t good. I know the clock is ticking, I’m on borrowed time here. He’s made that perfectly clear, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Just for a minute, I lie in his silken sheets and stare around the room at more luxury than I ever thought I’d see in my life. The trappings of wealth and having everything in life, except for one thing—true happiness. Lucas may have everything money can buy, but he is poor where it counts. His family died—tragically and I’m not sure if he ever really came to terms with that.
My heart breaks for him because just thinking about how close I came to losing my sister, how I live with the knowledge mom doesn’t have long, makes me feel raw pain inside. How will I cope when mom does pass and how long does Hannah really have? We never knew our father, he died when we were small girls. It was a short illness and I suppose we were lucky not to live through that, but I don’t think mom ever fully recovered.
Having met Lucas, I kind of know how hard love can hit you. It’s why I’m trying my best not to fall too heavy because I’m in no doubt I have fallen—hard and it’s the man, not the wealth that interests me the most.
Deciding to grab a shower, I indulge myself in some quiet time while I have it. Most of my time with Lucas appears to consist of him inside me, and I’m not complaining about that. I know he’s desperate. To feel while he can. He is an empty shell and won’t allow anyone in, I kind of understand why, no matter how I wish things were different.
The shower revives me and I wrap myself in a silken robe and wander through his amazing apartment, taking in every detail and committing it to memory. I never really knew people lived like this. It’s like something from a movie, but it’s Lucas’s life. If I wasn’t so sad for him, I’d be impressed.
“Hey, Ella, lovely morning.”
I look up and smile as Tom heads into the room, pushing a cart laden with food.
“Morning Tom, you’ve been busy.”
I laugh as he buckles under the weight of the feast he has arranged and he grins.
“I never know what you prefer, so I bring everything.”
“Maybe you should let us order it, it wouldn’t be so wasteful.”
He shrugs. “It’s not wasted. Most of it is used in some way. Mainly by me when you’ve finished.”
He laughs and I smile. “So, tell me about you, Tom, what’s your life like outside the glass bowl?”
I watch as he sets up the table and he shrugs. “I have it good, Ella. Mostly Lucas isn’t around and my days are my own to arrange. I love taking care of him and when I’m not, I have friends I catch up with, my own apartment to maintain and family I visit.”
“Is your apartment far?”
“On the floor below.”
I’m surprised and it must show because he nods. “I have a large apartment and Dixie has another. Charlie and Eddie also have neighboring ones because Lucas likes to keep his staff close. He’s a very generous boss when he’s not being a bastard to the masses and we have it good compared to most.”
“What will Dixie do when she’s married?”
“I’m not sure, I don’t think any of us have really thought this through. I mean, her ‘husband to be’ is successful in his own right and won’t want to move in here. He has his own house and life and will expect her in it. I think Lucas is dreading the day Dixie leaves because he will have the inconvenience of training somebody else.”
“I can see your problem.”
Tom shrugs. “There are a few candidates on the horizon, women he has stand in for Dixie when she’s on vacation. My preference is Mrs. Evans. She scares the pants off me and Lucas if he’ll admit it, and she has no life outside of work to get in the way.”
“Who’s Mrs. Evans?” I’m quite surprised because she sounds like a school mistress and Tom grins. “She works for Adam because he screwed so many of his assistants, it was becoming obvious one of them would sue one day, so Lucas found Mrs. Evans. Adam was pissed, but the rest of us found it funny. To be honest, she’s better than most and certainly gets the job done, which is, after all, what they are paid to do. She also idolizes Lucas for some reason, won’t hear a bad word said about him, and keeps Adam firmly in check. I’m guessing she will get the job if Dixie ups and leaves, heading off for her happily ever after.”
“And you, Tom, what about you, is there someone special you go home to?”
“I have a guy I see, but it’s just casual. Nothing serious, he travels a lot because he’s a flight attendant, which suits me just fine. I’m not ready to settle down. Why would I when I’m living the dream?”
He pours me a coffee and I smile my thanks, taking a seat and saying, “Will you join me, it feels odd eating alone?”
“Girl, I’d be honored.”
He takes his seat opposite and grabs a coffee for himself and it feels good to have company. It’s only now I realize how empty my own life is, and Tom looks concerned.
“You’ve got a sad look in your eye, Ella, what’s the matter, I’m a good listener?”
