Lucas – 4. chapter

“Please,” she said, her voice breaking. “I just wanted to help you. Don’t punish me for that.”

“Lucka,” his voice softened dramatically.

“I don’t want to punish you! You saved my neck, and I owe you my thanks for that. And you’ll get them, exactly the kind you deserve. But right now, nothing makes sense to me. I feel like a complete idiot, and I don’t like that feeling. Just explain it to me, and we’ll move on, hm?” He sounded friendly, persuasive.

“Well, we probably won’t,” she said, shaking her head.

“Why not?”

“Can’t you thank me by not asking questions?”

She looked at him pleadingly.

“No. I definitely can’t.”

“Let’s pretend today never happened. Please,” she insisted.

He stayed silent for a few seconds.

“Lucka, I truly don’t mean you any harm. I don’t want to hurt you either. But…” He searched for words. “It would be better if you cooperated. I’ll get what I want from you. But if it has to be by force, it won’t be pleasant. Be reasonable.”

“Can’t we leave this for another time? It’s late. I’m really in a hurry.”

He looked disappointed. Slowly, reluctantly, he stood up. She watched him without moving until he stopped right in front of her. He kept his eyes on hers and started untying his tie.

“I can’t shake the feeling that once I understand what’s going on here, I’ll find out you’ve been having a good laugh at my expense for quite some time.”

“That’s not true!” she cried out.

“Then what is it?!”

He planted his hands on his hips and waited. He watched her inhale and open her mouth. Then she closed it again and lowered her face to the floor.

He slid the now untied tie off his neck, walked around the chair, and stopped behind her. He grabbed both of her wrists and pulled them behind the backrest. She hesitated, confused, until she realized he had tied her hands behind her with one quick motion.

“What are you doing?!” she cried out and instinctively pulled away from the chair. Instead of answering, he yanked her back by the wrists and fastened her now motionless wrists to the chair itself. Her heart hammered even more wildly than before.

He finished his handiwork, straightened up, walked back around her, and sat down in his chair. He gave her a cold, almost angry look.

“There. Now we have plenty of time. Think carefully about whether you might want to tell me something after all.”

He stared her down and waited. She inhaled, her eyes darting helplessly from him to the things around the room and back again. She glanced at the clock and sighed desperately.

Five thirty.

“Where do you need to be at six?” he asked matter of factly.

“I have an important meeting. In Dúbravka.”

“You don’t stand a chance of getting there in half an hour.”

“I do,” she argued.

He smiled with malicious satisfaction.

“I don’t think so.”

“Let me go,” she demanded, fully aware of how absurd she sounded.

“Why?” he asked seriously, as if he were actually considering the request.

She didn’t answer.

“What do I get out of it?” he continued. “Answers?”

She didn’t want to nod, and she was afraid to refuse. She had no idea where this situation was heading, after her boss had TIED her hands with his tie. He, meanwhile, sensed they were reaching a dead end. He had frightened her, but not broken her. He was also acutely aware of his unusually strong bargaining position and had no intention of letting it go unused.

“Lucia, if I let you go now, will you promise that tomorrow we’ll continue where we leave off today?”

“Yes,” she agreed immediately.

“You’ll come here, say, at four. You’ll sit where you are now, and you won’t resist when I tie your hands.”

Her sharp intake of breath drew a smug smile from him. He waited until she nodded through clenched teeth. He hesitated, gauging how far he could push her.

“And you’ll answer my questions?”

The fear in her eyes shifted instantly into resolve. He understood he had pushed too far. She searched for words, then said, “If it’s appropriate, yes.”

However little he wanted to back down, he knew he wouldn’t wring anything more out of the situation today. This way, at least, he could be sure she wouldn’t get herself put on sick leave tomorrow, or anything like that.

He stepped up to her and freed her hands.

She jumped to her feet immediately, spun to face him, and took a step back. Illogically, straight into the middle of the room. Farther from him, yes, but farther from the door too.

“See you tomorrow,” he stated.

She shot him a nasty look and darted out.

She disappeared as fast as she could. She grabbed her purse, didn’t bother putting her jacket on, left her cigarettes on the desk, and rushed toward the elevator.

In the hallway, Peter passed her.

“Lucka! Heading out already?”

She smiled without answering and kept going.

“Lucka, do you have a boyfriend?” he didn’t seem ready to end the conversation.

“No,” she replied with a forced smile in her voice.

“I was hoping. So, rich parents?”

The question caught her off guard.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t work out either. Why?”

She stopped and pressed the elevator button.

“I’m just wondering how you got the car.”

Shit.

She shot a glance toward her office door, wondering whether Lucas could have heard this conversation. Of course, he was standing right there in the doorway, smirking broadly at her.

She stepped into the elevator and swore colorfully.