Charlotte's POV

"What about?" He asked nonchalantly.

I gritted my teeth in irritation and replied sarcastically. "Maybe about your unforgettable race and your new girlfriend?"

He cleared his throat and breathed deeply without saying anything.

"I am home." He heaved a deep sigh.

"Fine. I will be there in thirty minutes." I informed before hanging up.

***

"Would you like something to drink?" Lucca asked after we had greeted each other.

"No, thanks." I gave him a polite smile and sat down on the couch.

He nodded and sat down in the armchair beside the couch. "I am all ears."

"Why are you playing with Nicole?' I asked, looking into his eyes.

He heaved a deep sigh, running his hand through his hair, and stood up. "Why do you think like this? Can't I fall in love with her?" He asked sarcastically, placing his hand into his pocket after walking towards the bar.

"Lucca! Don't try to fool me? Both of us know that you don't love her." I stated firmly, approaching him while he was pouring a glass of whiskey for himself.

"Hmm. Then who do I love? It seems you know about my feelings better than me." He asked, raising his eyebrow, and sipped his drink, looking into my eyes, his gaze intense.

"Lucca!"

He breathed deeply. "Lottie, mind your own business!"

"Do you really think I will let you play with Nicole's feelings?" I asked angrily.

"Why are you so sure that I play with her?" He asked mockingly.

"My favorite race was in Italy. It was an unforgettable day." I mimicked him and gave him a knowing look.

His jaw clenched, and he gave me a death glare, finishing his drink.

"Lottie, what do you suggest? Should I wait for you while you are having fun with your boyfriend?!" He mocked without managing to hide his sadness.

"So you decided to use Nicole?! Why? Because she is Nathan's sister?! Or it doesn't matter who is a rebound girl?!" I asked angrily.

"Charlotte!" He exclaimed furiously and approached me. "Do you really think that I am a ruthless jerk?" He asked in disappointment.

"Luc..."

He raised his hand in the air, stopping me. "No, I didn't choose her because she is Nathan's sister. For fuck's sake, he is my friend, not my enemy. I would never hurt him or Nicole deliberately." He breathed deeply, trying to calm down. "Didn't you tell me she loves me? So I decided to give her a chance. And don't forget, it was you who tried to throw her into my arms." He stated nonchalantly.

"Lucca, how many times should I tell you I didn't try to play a matchmaker between you two?!" I snapped, frustrated and ruffled my hair.

"Whatever! If you finished, you may leave. I want to rest." He sighed, walking away.

"No, we didn't finish." I stated, annoyed and followed him. "You will listen..." I grabbed him, trying to turn him towards me, but he lost his balance and fell onto the couch, dragging me with himself.

I gulped nervously, lying on top of him while his arms were wrapped around me protectively. Meanwhile, he was looking into my eyes, his eyes dark. There were a few inches between our lips.

"Lucca..." I mumbled.

"Lottie..." He murmured huskily, closing the distance between our lips slowly.

Suddenly, his phone rang. I cleared my throat and got up quickly and adjusted my dress, averting my gaze. He breathed deeply as he stood up and picked up his phone angrily. I grabbed my bag and left quickly while he was talking on the phone.

***

I sighed, ruffling my hair, and bit my lower lip, staring at Lucca's name on my phone. He had been calling me since yesterday. I put my phone on silent mode and continued working.

Once the meeting was about to start, I grabbed my file and phone, and went to the conference room. As soon as Alexis arrived, we started the meeting.

I frowned as my phone rang. It was Lucca again. I grabbed my phone and turned it off.

"Am I disturbing you, Ms. Wright?" Alexis asked dryly, focusing his attention on me.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance and replied arrogantly. "No. You may continue." I flashed him a cocky smirk.

He gave me a death glare as his jaw clenched. He sighed, mumbling something under his breath, and continued informing us about the details of the new campaign and the models which the fashion house chose for it.

After the meeting, I went to my office and turned on my phone. I breathed deeply and listened to the voice mails Lucca had left.

"Please pick up the phone."

"Lottie, please. I have to tell you something."

"I am sorry for yesterday. I...couldn't control myself. When you are around me, I..." He sighed, pausing, and added. "Please call me. You were right. I shouldn't have given Nicole false hope. I will talk to her. I can't do it while I am in love with you."

I breathed deeply, closing my eyes, and leaned against my seat. I was relieved Lucca understood it was wrong. On the other hand, I was worried about Nicole; she would be heartbroken.

"Ugh!" I heaved a loud sigh as I stood up and walked towards the bay window. I didn't know why, but I felt weird; it felt like something bad would happen.

***
After finishing my photoshoot, I went home after stopping by the agency. I felt so tired and anxious. I hadn't heard from Lucca since yesterday. My mind was on him and Nicole. Did he talk to Nicole or not? How did she react?

When I was about to take a bath to relax, my phone rang. My heart started beating faster as I saw Lucca's name on my phone. I took a deep breath and picked up the phone.

"Lottie, we have a problem." He said nervously as soon as I picked up the phone.

"What happened? Did you talk to Nicole?" I asked, worried.

"Yes, but..."

"Lucca, tell me. You make me worried." I stated firmly.

"She saw our photos." He heaved a deep sigh.

"Which photos?" I asked, puzzled, furrowing my eyebrows.

"The photos you took when... we were in Italy, including the photo we were kissing in the bed." He informed me uncomfortably.

"What?!" I exclaimed in shock and sat down on the couch as my legs got weak.

"When I went to the kitchen to bring something to drink and came back, I caught her prying into my phone. She saw our photos." He resumed and breathed deeply.

"Why didn't you delete them?' I asked angrily and ruffled my hair.

"I... I didn't have the heart to delete them. They were precious moments for me. I couldn't guess she would pry into my phone." He mumbled uneasily.

"Perfect! Just perfect!" I snapped angrily and hung up the phone.

Damn it!

I cursed under my breath, pacing back and forth in the living room. I chewed on my cuticle nervously and approached the window. 

Did she tell Nathan?

Calm down, Charlotte!

You didn't cheat on Nathan. You weren't together when it happened. But for Lucca... it will be different. But it was his fault that Nicole found the photos; he should have deleted them. At least, I know he didn't do it purposely; Lucca is a good guy, and even if he is in love with me, he wouldn't do anything to hurt me or try to ruin my relationship with Nathan.

I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down, my eyes closed. Suddenly, my phone rang.

I swallowed hard and picked up the phone. It was the security guard. He informed me that I had a visitor. My heart started pounding as I heard Nicole's name.

I was pacing back and forth nervously while waiting for her.

A few minutes later, the elevator door opened and Nicole walked in; she looked furious. She gave me a death glare and approached me in quick steps.

"I trusted you. Were you laughing behind my back with your lover?" She asked furiously.

"Nicole, please let me explain." I gave her a begging look.

"What will you say?! I saw the photos with my own eyes and heard him declaring his love to you. I should have guessed there was something else when he suddenly changed his behavior towards me." She barked, giving me a black look. "What a fool I was! Why did you help me? So you can hide your affair with him by using me to cover you two?!" She snapped angrily and ruffled her hair.

"No. No. There is nothing between us. I swear. I didn't cheat on Nathan. I love him. Lucca..."

"Because of it, your lover keeps your photos together kissing each other in the bed on his phone?!" She mocked, cutting me off. "He is not smart enough; he hasn't guessed I could see them."

"That...night was a mistake. We were drunk. I felt sad because I found out that Nathan started dating Stella." I explained honestly.