Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 126

Completely oblivious to the silent, electric exchange between the two, Lucas turned to Hudson with a sickeningly sweet smile. "Mr. Lancaster, is there anything else you might need?"

Hudson swept a cool glance over him. "Give us the room."

"Of course, of course."

Lucas nodded frantically before turning to Nora. "Ms. Reed, the boss and Leo have business to discuss, so the two of us will just step outside..."

Before he could even finish his sentence, Leo tossed his guitar aside, shot up from the couch, hooked an arm around Lucas's neck, and physically hauled him toward the door.

Lucas was unceremoniously dragged into the hallway. Even as the door clicked shut behind them, his brain was still scrambling to compute.

"???"

What... what just happened?

Why did Leo step out with him?

Then who was Mr. Lancaster here to visit?

And more importantly...

Why didn't Jade come out with them?

"Lucas."

Leo leaned back against the wall, slipping his hands into his pockets. "You stand right here. Don't let anyone get close to that door."

"Huh?"

"Guard the door."

With that, Leo clapped him on the shoulder and sauntered off down the hall without a care in the world.

Lucas stood frozen in place, utterly bewildered, taking a long moment to process reality.

He looked in the direction Leo had vanished, then back at the tightly shut door, his eyes widening to the size of saucers as an earth-shattering realization hit him.

No way...

It couldn't be what he thought it was, right?

...

Inside the dressing room, Nora looked up at Hudson. "What are you doing here?"

Hudson didn't answer right away. He just looked at her, his gaze slowly trailing down her face. She was wearing a crisp white blouse, the collar unbuttoned just enough to reveal a delicate sliver of her collarbone.

His eyes lingered there for a heartbeat before he spoke, his tone completely nonchalant. "the Summit Ridge Equestrian Center over in Azure Bay. He wanted us to go check it out."

The moment they pushed the door open, Lucas was still standing guard in the hallway. Seeing them walk out hand-in-hand, his eyes practically popped out of their sockets.

"M-Mr. Lancaster..."

Hudson didn't even acknowledge his existence, striding straight toward the elevators with Nora's hand tucked securely in his.

"Have a safe trip, sir..."

It wasn't until they completely disappeared from view that Lucas finally wiped his forehead, letting out a massive sigh of relief.

That was close.

Thank god he hadn't offended Jade today.

Otherwise...

He patted the pocket holding Edmond's fifty-grand check, a delayed wave of cold sweat washing over him.

But then, a sudden realization sparked in his brain, and his eyes widened in horror—

He finally remembered...

He finally remembered why 'Jade Reed' had looked so familiar...