My Harem Will Help Me Get My Revenge-Chapter 29: A strange family

Chapter - 29

"So what is it? Is it love, or is it something that I have that you are after?" Lucius looked her in the eye and asked.

But Iris did not say anything.

She pulled her hand away gently from his grasp and walked away, pretending to fix the curtain near the window.

Lucius watched her for a few seconds, "So... silence means what?" he asked softly, "You can't say it's love... Or you are afraid that since it's not love, I will get hurt?"

Iris continued to fix the curtain, her back still facing him.

Lucius stood up from the bed and walked towards her slowly and he stopped just behind her. Their bodies were close enough for her to feel the heat from his body.

"I get it," he whispered near her ear, his voice low and teasing, "You don't want to admit it. You are scared that if you say it out loud, it will become real."

Iris didn't move.

Lucius reached out, his fingers brushing lightly over her arm.

"Or maybe..." He said, dragging the words, "You want me to keep guessing. Keep chasing you, wanting for more."

She turned her head slightly, her breath uneven, "Lucius, you don't under..."

But she was cut short when he gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear,

"I know, I am just your assistant, right?" he said with a faint smirk, "But the way your body is reacting to my touch... it says something else."

His hand slid to her waist, slow and confident, "You could have walked away. Pushed me off. But you didn't."

Iris closed her eyes for a second, breathing in slowly, trying to calm the storm inside her.

Lucius leaned closer, his lips almost touching her ear, "Are you still not going to answer my question?"

She stayed quiet.

Lucius chuckled softly and turned her gently to face him.

His eyes met hers... They were intense and unreadable.

"Okay," he whispered, brushing his fingers down her cheek, "Then I will just find the answer myself."

"But just so you know... if this is a game you are playing..." he paused, letting the tension hang in the air, "I am very, very good at games."

His hand slid behind her back, holding her gently but firmly.

He leaned in slowly, his lips a breath away from hers. The space between them was gone.

His lips were just about to touch hers.

Iris didn't move. Her eyes were half-closed, her breathing soft... It was as if she was finally going to be true to herself and give in.

But then, just before his lips brushed hers, she smirked.

"Stop right there," she said, placing a finger gently on his forehead, between his two eyes.

Lucius blinked, surprised, "What?"

Iris slowly stepped back, a teasing glint in her eyes now.

"Did you really think I would fall for that? I have told you so many times, you have no luck with me, Lucius. None at all," Iris shook her head in amusement.

Lucius raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips, "So all that... all that was fake?"

She shrugged with a little laugh, "Maybe. Maybe not. Well a girl has her ways."

Lucius folded his arms, "You are dangerous."

Iris turned toward the door, glancing at him over her shoulder, "And you are getting predictable."

But then she paused at the doorway, "Dinner's ready. Come down when you are done playing with your little charm."

Then she walked out... Graceful, confident and completely in control.

But as she stepped into the hallway, her smile slowly faded.

Her face softened. A quiet, almost sad look replaced the teasing one.

Lucius nodded, watching her walk away, "Damn... She is alert. But if I can't get something out of her..."

"No... I need to make her speak... One way or the other."

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When Lucius climbed down the stairs, Iris was standing by the last steps, looking at the table with a serious face.

On the table Mr. and Mrs. Aldritch were already seated eating their dinner along with Cassey who was playing with her glass of juice, looking bored.

Lucius leaned in close to Iris and whispered, "How can you rich people fight all day, plot against each other and then sit on the same table to eat food as if nothing happened?"

"This just shows that you have a lot to learn," Iris replied with a smile, "You never know who the enemy is."

"And what's with your cousin? She is quite a character," Lucius eyed at Cassey and asked.

"She studies abroad," Iris said softly, not looking at him, "Only comes home during holidays. Apparently her mother wants her to get a 'better education' far away."

Lucius raised an eyebrow, "She gives off strange vibes. Like she would snap a neck and act cute about it."

"Well she is beautiful. I am sure she can get away with such a small thing," Iris replied flatly.

"Aren't you a little too dramatic," Lucius added, smirking as the two took their seats.

As soon as Cassey saw Lucius, her mood changed. Her lips curved into a slow smile. She leaned slightly forward, resting her chin on her palm, eyes scanning him.

"Oh... Lucius," she said in a soft, sugary voice, "It is so hard to see you in the same house. I was all alone today."

"I am sorry... I didn't know. Otherwise how could I ignore a beautiful lady all day," Lucius looked sorry, "I should be punished."

"Hehehe... You are funny, Lucius," Cassey grinned, "Tell me something interesting about yourself," she asked leaning towards him.

Lucius picked up his fork, barely reacting. "Not much to tell. I breathe, I eat, I annoy people for fun. You can ask your mom."

Cassey giggled. "Well, at least you are honest. That's hot."

"Maybe we can jump into the pool to let off some steam," Lucius winked at Cassey.

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"Ohhh Definitely... We couldn't do that in the evening." Cassey flirtatiously looked at him and grinned.

And hearing him, Iris rolled her eyes.

"Ahemm!" Mr Aldritch, who had been quietly sipping his soup, frowned, "Cassey. That's enough."

"Oh come on, Dad," Cassey said sweetly, as she brushed her foot against Lucius under the table, "I am just being friendly."

Lucius looked up and smirked, "Yeah, she is very... friendly."

"Father, are you saying I can't even compliment our guest? That would be terribly rude," Cassey winked at Lucius with a grin.

Iris elbowed him under the table, but he just smirked more.

Trying to change the subject, Iris spoke up, "So, Cassey, how is it going at college ? Still jumping colleges?"

Cassey shot Iris a glare that could slice glass, "None of your business, obviously."

"You are sitting in my house," Iris said calmly, "So why don't you try answering it again?"

"Your house... Pffftt... In your dreams," Cassey scoffed, "Why don't you try minding your own business for once."

Mrs. Aldritch set her spoon down loudly, "Enough, both of you. We are having dinner."

"I am done here," Cassey said, pushing back her chair, "This place suffocates me."

She gave Lucius one last wink before walking out dramatically, her heels clicking against the floor.

Lucius blinked, "Wow. Is it just me or was that a lot?"

"I warned you she is a bit crazy," Iris muttered.

Mrs. Aldritch stood up stiffly, "You dare call my daughter crazy? You are the one who brought a homeless man to our house. Who can be crazier?"

Lucius chuckled, hearing her, "Is that shade for me?"

"Do you really want to go at it again?" Iris raised her eyebrow, barely looking up from her food, "Your husband won't really like that."

"Hmmmphh..." She didn't answer. She simply left the room with her husband quietly behind her.

Lucius looked at Iris, "Your family is full of sunshine and hugs, huh?"

"I told you," she said, sipping her water, "Now you believe me?"

After dinner, Lucius walked into his room, took his pills, and fell onto the bed.

Staring at the ceiling, he sighed, "This house is a circus. One flirts with me, one stares at me with those sharp daggers, and one wants to fight every two seconds."

He chuckled to himself.

"Still... It's kind of fun."

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The next morning, Lucius stepped out of his room and walked straight to Iris's room. He knocked twice and waited.

"Come in," came Iris's voice from inside.

He pushed the door open.

Iris was standing in front of the mirror, brushing her long, slightly damp hair. She wore a slim white dress that hugged her waist, its back low enough to show the smooth curve of her spine.

"What is it?" she asked, glancing at him through the mirror.

Lucius walked over to the sofa and slumped on it, "Nothing really. Just wanted to know what's the plan for today."

She didn't stop brushing, "We are going to the office first. I need to go through some reports."

"I have also asked Rahul and Aisha to prepare everything we need for our trip to India."

Lucius tilted his head, "You still haven't told me exactly when we are flying out."

"Midnight," she said, "We have a private jet ready."

Lucius gave a slow nod, "Alright. And here I thought you would want to rest before flying across continents."

"I don't rest until things are settled," Iris said, placing her brush down and picking up her perfume.

Lucius smirked, "You know, no matter how much perfume or makeup you put on... you still end up looking like you are out of the world."

Iris turned her head slightly, raising a brow, "Why does it sound like a compliment, but I am not sure."

"Bit of both," he said, grinning.

She rolled her eyes and sprayed the perfume over her neck and wrists. The scent hit the air... A rich mix of floral and musk.

The scent made Lucius shift slightly on the sofa. That fragrance wasn't innocent.

"Let's go," Iris said, grabbing her phone and handbag.

"Yes, definitely," Lucius followed her out of the room. The house was quiet as they walked downstairs.

"Did you ever think of getting someone else to do this running around for you?"

Iris gave him a side look, "And let some idiot screw it up? No thanks."

"You want to prove something... Or maybe to someone, don't you?"

Soon both of them were in the office. There Iris spent the next three hours in a meeting, covering all her basics, be it finance, or legal.

When the meeting finally ended. Everyone looked drained. Iris walked into her office where Lucius was ready with a cup of coffee for her. He gave her the coffee, and she gave him the files.

"Keep these files. We will need them."

"Where to now?" Now that the exchange was done, Lucius asked.

"I have to meet someone before we leave," she said as they stepped out into the corridor.

Lucius raised an eyebrow, "Someone important?"

She gave a half-smile, "Very."

He narrowed his eyes playfully, "Is it an old flame, or my competition?"

Iris didn't answer. She just kept walking ahead, leaving him to follow with a grin on his face.

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