Since She Met Lucian

"I'm telling you now, Kent. If you so much as dare make a decision without my knowledge, you'll face consequences!" Melissa's words were still ringing in Kent's ears when she hurried to the elevator.

And although the words were not addressed to her, it was Amelia who felt the sting of those words as soon as the elevator doors closed.

"It's almost five," Amelia said. "I need to talk to you. Do you have time after work?" Amelia never thought of the office as the proper place to be asking colleagues about personal affairs, so she thought it best to talk to Kent elsewhere.

"I know that you and Courtney are good friends," Kent began, facing Amelia. "Before you reached out, I was actually thinking of talking to you." Amelia could see that Kent was struggling to turn his frown into a relaxed smile.

"You didn't change your number, did you? I'll call you after work." Deep down, Amelia knew that she was angry, but one look at Kent's worried expression seemed to vanish her feelings of hate.

"I'll call you later," Kent repeated before he himself entered the elevator.

Amelia realized that she'd been out for too long. She quickly turned back to head to her desk, her face contorted into an expression of confusion, anger, and hurt. She forced a smile when she saw Lucian looking at her. "Sorry," she meekly said, "I left my post without permission."

"I'll ask Frank to drive you home." Lucian's reply was cool but quick. He got up, adjusted his coat, and grabbed his suitcase, reaching for the door.

"So, are you doing anything tonight?" Amelia hesitantly asked. She knew the answer to her question. She had already heard the conversation between Sasha and him, but she couldn't keep herself from asking.

"Yes," Lucian replied curtly before looking at Amelia with the gentlest of eyes. "I'll head out soon. I just have a few more things to attend to."

He didn't say much and Amelia didn't want to press.

"Okay," she said. "I'm sorry, it's nothing. Go, finish up." Turning her head back to her desk, she realized that it was five minutes to five and she was supposed to meet up with Kent after work.

Lucian left Amelia to her thoughts. She was packing her things up when her phone began to ring. She picked it up and answered, "Yes?"

"I'll meet you downstairs." It was Kent. Amelia shoved her things inside her bag and hurried to the elevator.

Stepping out of the Zhan Group building, it was Frank who first caught Amelia's attention. He was waiting by the car as instructed. The man smiled at her. "Mrs. Amelia, Mr. Lucian asked me to drive you home," he politely said.

Amelia realized that she forgot to inform Frank of her plans for the night. "I'm sorry, Frank. There's, uh, something I have to deal with right now. I'll just take a cab home."

"But Mr. Lucian made strict orders for me to drive for you," Frank protested. "I have to inform him once you're home." Frank looked worried.

"I'll explain everything to Lucian," Amelia reassured Frank. "Don't worry."

"Well, if you say so." Frank looked like he wanted to say more, but stopped himself midway. Instead, he bid Amelia goodbye and drove off.

Kent watched the car go before approaching Amelia.

a coffee shop across the street," Amelia said. "Let's talk there." "Did you call Courtney?" Amelia asked. She walked

here," Kent replied. He couldn't look at

quickly found one and waved for coffee. There was a moment of silence between the two until Amelia spoke. "As for Courtney..." she began. "Don't you

of the answer, but she was determined to know the whole

do. I still love her." Kent looked earnest,

She withdrew her eyes from Kent and looked down instead on the cup of coffee the waiter placed in front

Kent loved Courtney, how did he get involved with

he was truly in love with Courtney, so it was hard for him to put his mind around the fact

reaching for Kent's hands. "Tell me what happened." Anyone watching would see that Kent's expressions were the complete opposite of Amelia's.

jazz music was playing in the coffee shop, but not even its melody could soothe

for a long time before finally exclaiming in resignation, "I've done what

understand how Kent could have thought this, and his expression

beg you for answers down on her knees? Is that what you want?" Amelia asked. Courtney was never one to leave without all of the answers. Amelia knew that Courtney wouldn't stop until

Courtney's own words, she would die if she must, but she would get the whole picture. Amelia knew what her friend was like, and yet she believed that Kent knew Courtney better than she

tell that Kent felt hopeless and that he

explained your side! It's not over yet," Amelia protested. "Things could still turn around." Amelia tried to cheer Kent up, but even she doubted the words which came out of her mouth in a

when a familiar

out of his seat and reached out to hold Courtney, but the latter was quick to

Amelia. Her

as long as you promise me that you'd talk to each other calmly." Amelia wanted to be there for her friend, but she also felt uncomfortable

Amelia before she could go. "Are you sure you want to leave me with him?" Amelia couldn't read

were quickly becoming too much for Amelia but she steadied herself. She initially thought it would be best for her to leave the two alone,

but it was too obvious that he was perplexed. The guilt for everything he'd done was

said in an almost whisper, "I know that you and

want to hear him explain!" Courtney exclaimed. "I want to know how pretty she is, Kent. I want to know what the girl you broke up with me for is like!" Each word that came out of Courtney's mouth was spoken

"Courtney," he began, "you've given up a lot for me these years. I

dismay. "What did you do? Did you sleep with her? Do

close his eyes in shame. He wanted so much for the earth to open up and swallow him

confrontation Amelia had ever found herself caught in. Trying to break the tension, she turned to her friend, "Courtney, I've already told

have all the answers that I want!" Ignoring Amelia, Courtney continued addressing Kent, "You know what I'm like. I will never

could no longer see how he could turn everything around. Courtney's anger was as deep as her

was hopeless! There was only one thing left to say. He raised his head slowly and turned to Courtney. "Take care of yourself,"

was raging. "Of course!" she sneered, "Another woman is waiting for you. How could I've forgotten? Of course, you're leaving because you

of coffee in front of her and threw the contents