Chapter 192 - Keeping Enemies Closer

Anita wasn't really pleased about making the call to Lucy, especially considering how Lucy had acted like a little bitch during the meeting, but she had long decided to set aside her pride in her bid to get the CEO. He clearly wanted a docile woman he could control, and she was going to be one for him. All that she was doing, was stooping to conquer. 

"Hey, dearie! Can you talk right now?" Anita asked in a cheerful voice the moment the call connected.

"You mean like you talked to me during the meeting just now?" Lucy asked dryly as she placed the call on speaker for Tom to hear what Anita was going to say. 

Since Anita was trying to pretend that they were cool, she was also going to act like the ignorant and naive one among them. Acting like she was setting all her cards on the table was the best way to deal with an over confident person like Anita. 

Anita let out a soft giggle even though she was feeling anything but funny at that moment, "'Come on, you shouldn't take that to heart. It's the way meetings like that work. Besides, it seems like the CEO doesn't really like us being friends, so I did what I did for him to know that our friendship wasn't going to get in the way of business. I'm very sorry if you felt betrayed by my actions. I really do care about you, and you should know that," Anita lied, and Lucy rolled her eyes. 

"I suppose I understand. For a moment there I thought you were trying to get me to lose my job, and I couldn't understand why," Lucy lied, making Anita smile.

She felt grateful that Lucy had bought her lie and was back to seeing her as a trusted friend once again, "I can't possibly do something like that to you, darling. We are friends and I will always have your back," Anita promised.

"I feel so relieved hearing this right now. I'm sorry about what happened in my office earlier today. The CEO is just a bully and he doesn't like people receiving visitors during work hours," Lucy lied, while Tom raised a brow as he listened to both ladies. 

"Oh! Are you sure that's just it? One would think there's something special going on between you and the CEO. He always seems to favor you," Anita said offhandedly like it wasn't a big deal, making Lucy meet Tom's gaze in the rearview mirror.

"Uhm... About that, I was actually wondering the same thing too, and I only just realized why a while ago. I will tell you about it when we meet," Lucy said, making Tom look at her with questioning eyes as he wondered what she was going to tell Anita.

"Really? Do you have something planned out for tonight? Or could you come over to my house and then we can have a sleepover, just the both of us girls bonding," Anita suggested, and Lucy shuddered at the thought of acting all prim and proper for an entire night.

No, thanks. She would rather be cuddled up with Tom on her bed doing and saying naughty things all through the night, "Uhm, sorry. I would have loved to, but I'm spending the night with my boyfriend," Lucy said meeting Tom's gaze, and he winked at her, making her smile.

On hearing that Lucy was spending the evening with her boyfriend, Anita's disposition brightened. For a moment she had thought that Lucy had behaved that way during the meeting because she was trying to impress the CEO, but now she felt relieved, "For someone who didn't want a man in her life, you seem to be really spending a lot of time with this new boyfriend. I hope I get to meet him someday," Anita said in a teasing tone. 

You've met him already, bitch! Lucy thought in her head, but covered it up with her laughter.

"We can meet at a restaurant or bar," Lucy suggested changing the subject as she didn't want to tell more lies than were necessary, and neither did she want to go to Anita's house, or have Anita come over to hers. She didn't want Anita to find out about her relationship with Tom yet. 

"Really? That's great then. Text me a location and I will meet you," Anita said excitedly. Glad that she was finally going to have time to get some information from Lucy.

"Okay then. See you later," Lucy called out in a cheerful voice before hanging up, "Phew! That was pretty exhausting," Lucy complained, massaging her neck as she rested her head on the headrest of her seat and shut her eyes. 

"You handled it well. Although I'd rather you cut her off than hang out with her. If I remember correctly you said that you felt she was dangerous," Tom reminded her as he shifted his glance from the road to the rearview mirror.

"Ever heard of the saying, 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer'?" Lucy asked without opening her eyes.

"Keeping your enemies closer is the fastest way to get backstabbed," Tom pointed out to her.

"Not in this case. I'm keeping my enemy in front of me, so she can't stab me in the back. Especially not when she thinks she is so smart and way ahead of me," Lucy explained.

"Still, I need you to be careful. Always keep me in the know of your movements with her. I'm not trying to control your life or monitor your movements, but you don't exactly know your way around the city, so I should know where you're going and with whom. That's the only way I can ensure that you're safe," Tom said in a slightly worried tone making Lucy smile.

"You're such a caring driver. You deserve a tip," Lucy murmured as she opened her eyes and picked up her handbag. She fished inside for a money note and handed it to him.

Tom chuckled as he received it from her, "Thanks ma'am, I promise to do my best," Tom said as they both laughed at the ridiculousness of what they were both doing.

"So you're going out with her? Are we still seeing a movie tonight?" Tom asked curiously.

"Sure. I do hope you remember that you promised to take me to see your friend's mansion this weekend?" Lucy reminded him as he parked the car in front of her apartment.

"I do remember. You can go there whenever you want. All you need to do is say the word," Tom assured her by giving her a small smile through the rearview mirror as he turned off the car's ignition.

Once they both got out of the car, they stood there staring at each other for a while, and before Lucy could leave Tom grabbed her hand, "I'm very sorry I lied to you and broke your trust, Lu. It was never my intention to hurt you or make you feel unsafe even though we both know it was worth it just to get to know you," Tom said, knowing that even though they had been acting like nothing happened the whole time, he was yet to really make her understand that he was sorry. He knew that she had probably forgiven him because of her feelings for him and because she understood him, not necessarily because he had shown her how sorry he was to have messed with her head that way. 

Lucy looked at him without saying a word for a moment. Shit! She liked this man. She liked him really much, and it meant so much to her that he had chosen to apologize even when she had chosen to assume their argument the other day had never happened. Without saying another word Lucy stepped forward and embraced him, burying her face in his chest as she inhaled his scent.

Tom swallowed past the lump of emotion in his throat at her sudden gesture. He could feel his heart soaring with love for her, and he placed a hand behind her head, and the other on her back as he gently patted it. He was relieved to know that his heart had chosen such a sensible and sweet lady. 

"So are you going to stop the roleplay thing now?" Tom asked hopefully after they remained in that position for a while, and Lucy giggled against his chest as she stepped away from him. 

"No. I may understand you and have forgiven you, but you're still getting punished. Besides, it's fun, so don't ruin it," Lucy warned as she gazed into his eyes.

"I don't think you remembered the fun part of it earlier during the meeting," Tom pointed out, and Lucy hit his shoulder.

"You took your ex-girlfriend's side over mine," she said accusingly.

"I didn't. You know I won't do that. I was only trying to prove a point to you. You don't need to stoop to her level to impress me. The mere fact that you exist and you're a part of my life is all I need to be impressed," Tom said, looking into her eyes with a soft smile that made Lucy's heart flutter.

"I'm not falling for any of that," Lucy said even though her eyes told him otherwise as she snatched the car key from him, and headed for her apartment while he shook his head in amusement as he watched her. 

"Don't forget to tell me where you're meeting her," Tom called out after Lucy.

"Don't forget we are having dinner together and seeing a movie. Dinner is on you," Lucy called back making Tom chuckle to himself as he turned around and headed for his apartment. 

He paused when he noticed Alicia sitting outside her apartment looking at him. She smiled and waved at him when their eyes met, and Tom waved back even as he wondered why she was always looking at him.

As Alicia watched him walk away she couldn't help wondering what was going on between Lucy and Tom.. Their conversation a while ago had seemed pretty intense. Perhaps Lucy knew the truth about Tom now?