Chapter 18.
As soon as she saw the retreating figure of her friend which was unlike him, she saw red. She figured he had probably said something to dampen his bubbly spirit and it made Laurel very angry.
She knew her friend wouldn't have left her in the arms of strangers she claimed to be her friends. She waited for Lucas to settle down before she snapped.
'What did you do to my friend?"
Lucas didn't look very surprise to see her angry. It only made Laurel madder as he looked over to her wearily. He looked at her like she was some child who lost her toy.
'I sent him away. You don't want to know what I said to him. Now, are we getting this cat or not?" he asked, getting out of the car and Laurel's question was left hanging in the air again.
They were both waiting for her to walk into the space between them. Are they playing body guards today or…? Laurel asked herself sarcastically. As they all walked into the building, eyes stared at them.
From the moment Cecil drove into the compound, curtains shifted from their original positions. Everyone wanted to see who it was and Boss Lucas didn't help matters showing his expensive red suit beside the red Lamborghini. He soaked up all the attention.
Laurel refused to admit that she felt jealous.
Suddenly, she saw an arm stretched in front of her. It was Cecil's arm. It was his way of saying stop and Laurel paused. He brought out a white handkerchief from his breast pocket and used it to press on one of the buttons on the elevator.
'Looks like I don't need to tell them my apartment number. Have you guys been stalking me?" Laurel whispered in exasperation. Of course, they ignored her.
Unfortunately for her, Mrs. Teresa's face came into view as the elevator's doors opened. The short old woman wasn't fazed by two tall men. Then Laurel's outfit caught her attention. She kept on staring even as they entered into the elevator.
Laurel rolled her eyes because Mrs. Teresa made it so obvious she was staring at her. Only God knew what she was thinking about.
'Hello, Mrs. Teresa." Laurel forced out earning amused side glances from her supposed body guards. They were supposed to be guarding her any way. Laurel subconsciously shrugged.
Mrs. Teresa looked like her hands were caught in a cookie jar. But she smiled to cover her embarrassment. She'd been caught staring even though she never called to find out where she'd been for the past three days which was unlike her neighbor.
'Hello, my dear. I have been searching about for you-" She started, realizing there were two men in the elevator with her. They seemed wealthy, she deduced. Has Laurel resulted to selling herself? She asked herself.
Laurel knew what was going on in the old woman's head as she watched the woman scrutinize boss Lucas and Cecil. Couldn't they act into character? Laurel was tired. She wondered why the elevator was slow today. The sound it made confirmed it was due for an urgent change.
'-besides, you have visitors…your boyfriends?"
'What?! Boyfriends?!" Laurel shrieked. She glanced at Lucas and saw the disapproving look on his face. Cecil's face was stoic. He was trained to keep such a face on at all times. She wasn't expecting Mrs. Teresa to assume the both of them were her boyfriends. Not one but two?! That was ridiculous.
'You assume wrong Mrs. Teresa. They are my body guards and I am here to get my cat." Laurel laughed the ridiculousness of her statement away.
Now, Mrs. Teresa was confused. 'Do you have a cat? You should have told me-"
Laurel hissed in irritation. This woman was going to soil her plans. Luckily, the elevator bell rang to signify Mrs. Teresa's floor. 'And we are right here!" the elevator doors opened and Laurel practically pushed the cunning woman out. 'Good bye Mrs. Teresa!" Laurel called while waving a little too excitedly.
With the corner of her eyes, she tried to read the reactions of the men beside her. She prayed they didn't figure out her plan. They were to calm for Laurel's liking. They should be asking questions or maybe they are as dumb as they looked. Laurel shrugged subconsciously again.
The elevator bell rang again to indicate Laurel's apartment floor. She quickly stepped to only to be pulled back into the elevator by Boss Lucas. His strong hands tightly griped the hem of her pajamas shirt and when Laurel turned back to ask the problem, he raised his index fingers to his lips.
'Shh..." He ordered, looking around carefully. Laurel found Cecil in a protective stance and Laurel wondered what the problem was. It was the apartment she lived in. What could go wrong? Just then she heard a door bang close. It only meant one thing. Ace. She eagerly waited for the young boy to come around the corner and when he did, all he did was to take one good look at her, the men at her back and turn back. Then he was running to the stairs with the agility of a cheetah.
Laurel was shocked. Did Ace see her and run away? Does he know the men side her? She shook away those thoughts, yanking the hem of her shirt from Lucas' strong hands. To no avail of course.
'Great. You've succeeded in scaring my friend; my neighbor and even made one of them think I am sleeping with the both of you. Can you let me go into my room?" she asked sweetly.
Lucas slowly let go of her shirt still staring at the path the boy took. 'Where does that lead to?" he asked gruffly.
Laurel followed his gaze. She stepped out of the elevator, making her way to her door. 'It leads to the stairs." She opened the door, attempting to shut it behind her.
It didn't work.