Ruin

17

LUCAS P. O. V
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Monday: 5:50 P. M.
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I take in the small chiney-looking woman who's beaming up at me.

I offer her a tight smile.

What's with these women and interrupting us?

"How's dad?" she asks when I say nothing. "Last I heard is that he was ill..."

My jaw ticks at the mention of my father's condition. "He's doing good now. Recuperating."

"And mom?"

Why does this woman feel she has the right to meddle in my private business?

Just because she's always pesking my mother to support her many "charities" doesn't mean they're suddenly friends.

"She's fine. She's mostly in the U.S. lately to be by his side."

She perks up. "So that's why I haven't seen her! It's been months."

I really don't give a shit.

I nod nonetheless. "Yea."

My eyes find Amanda's. She still looks like a deer caught in the headlights.

Why does she seem so nervous?

Is she that surprised to see me?

Or, is she jealous I'm talking to another woman?

After seeing how she behaved last night, I don't put it past her.

She tries desperately to put on a show all the damn time and acts as if I don't affect her, but I can see through the facade with a fucking 20-20 vision.

She wants me. Bad.

And aren't you going to admit that you want her, too?

"Are you——" I begin to say before the woman cuts me off again.

Bomboclaat, woman!

"How do you know my daughter-in-law?" she asks, rubbing Amanda's arm gently in that way old, stuck-up women do.

Daughter in wha?

"Law..." she finishes my thought.

Wait, mi seh that out loud?

She raises a thinly plucked brow. "Do you work together?"

You mean does she work for me...?

"No. We met at a social event actually," is all I say, beating Amanda to a response.

I can literally see her cogs turning and know she's struggling to find an excuse.

You have to be quicker in these streets, baby girl.

She nods in agreement with my answer.

So this is her boy toy's mother? No wonder he seems like such a sissy.

The woman's pale face visibly lights up. "Really? Which one?"

Woman, yuh a push it now. Big man thing.

"Mom, I found a dress I like!" Amanda says suddenly, trying desperately to distract her. I know that voice.

It's the same one she uses with me when I make her uncomfortable.

But...hold the fuck up!

Mom? All get big title already? Things really serious...!