The Billionaire Heir Fell for the Wrong Girl (Hathaway Whitmore) novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Lucas posted on his social media: [Going to a party without a date.]

Lucas thought, ‘This should catch her attention.‘

But to his surprise, he’d been blocked again.

Elaine, who had no idea about Lucas’s real intentions, saw his post and immediately reached out, volunteering to be his date for the party.

Elaine had always wanted to spend some one–on–one time with Lucas.

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She’d had a few meals with them before. Calvin always seemed cold and hard to get along with, but Lucas was easygoing, a charming rogue, and always looked out for her.

After she sent the message, Lucas didn’t reply for a long time.

Elaine waited anxiously.

The Kingsley family noticed how restless she was and asked what was up. She came clean and told them everything.

Everyone else was cheering her on, but Jessica frowned. She didn’t like seeing her cousin throwing herself at him, but she kept quiet.

When Elaine was getting really anxious, Lucas finally replied: [Sure.]

Elaine jumped up, practically bouncing with excitement. She rushed home, grinning from ear to ear, ready to get all dolled up.

When the time came, Lucas showed up at Elaine’s place to pick her up.

When he saw what she was wearing, Lucas paused and said, “Is this a pool party or something? Why are you showing so much skin?”

Elaine had on a spaghetti strap dress that was pretty short, showing off her curve, but Lucas had seen more impressive bodies before, so he barely reacted.

Elaine blushed and tugged at her dress, feeling a little self–conscious. Honestly, she didn’t have many fancy dresses to choose from.

Her dad, Spencer, ran a window and door business. Though he’d spoiled her growing up, the priciest dress she owned was only a few thousand dollars.

She didn’t want to borrow Jessica’s, either. She’d rather not have people whispering that she was a copycat.

Lucas grabbed his suit jacket from the car and handed it to her. “Don’t catch a cold.”

Elaine’s cheeks turned pink as she slipped on the jacket and got into the car with him.

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While Lucas was driving, she quickly texted Jessica: [Jessica, he lent me his suit jacket. Does that mean he doesn’t want other guys checking me out?]

She thought, ‘That’s how it usually goes in TV dramas. The male lead is always super possessive of the female lead.‘

Elaine waited for a while, but Jessica still didn’t reply.

Lucas turned the car around, and soon they pulled up in front of a luxury dress boutique. “Go inside and try some on. If you find something you like, it’s yours.”

Elaine’s eyes sparkled instantly, a mix of excitement and anticipation lighting up her face.

Lucas had the staff pick out a few options for her.

Elaine slipped into the fitting room, made sure the door was locked, then quickly pulled out her phone.

Her fingers trembled as she called Jessica, keeping her voice low. “Jessica, I’m in this super fancy dress shop right now. Lucas told me to pick out whatever I want. Should I really accept it?”

Jessica frowned and replied, “Let him pay for it first, then ask your dad for the money and pay him back later.”

Elaine felt like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over her head.

She knew Jessica had had a candlelit dinner with Jeremiah and accepted a luxury necklace worth one million dollars from him.

Jessica could accept it, but Elaine couldn’t.

Elaine frowned, thinking Jessica was really having double standards. But she had to do as Jessica said.

After all, if Jessica got mad, Elaine would be in for a world of trouble.

It was not only Elaine. Ever since Jessica started dating Jeremiah, it felt like everyone in the Kingsley family was more under her thumb. The party Elaine had been looking forward to suddenly lost all its charm.

It was already nine when Elaine finally left the party and made her way home.

“Tired?” Lucas asked, sounding pretty laid–back.

Elaine quickly shook her head and replied softly, “No, I’m fine.”

“But I’m a little tired,” Lucas admitted.

Lucas handed the keys to the driver, then leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and gave off a vibe that said he didn’t want anyone bothering him.

Elaine didn’t go home. Instead, she had the driver take her to the Kingsley residence.

When she got there, she found Jessica. “Jessica, I feel like Lucas wasn’t really into it tonight. Do you know what’s up with him?”

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Jessica was reading a book. She thought for a moment and said, “I heard he had a fight with Hathaway not long ago, but I doubt it’s about her.”

Elaine felt a surge of irritation. “Why does Hathaway always have to butt in with every guy?”

Jessica thought, ‘It’s not her trying to get involved. It’s Lucas who’s always pulling her in.‘

She’d heard that Lucas had splurged on a bunch of pricey dishes at her restaurant that day. He never went all out like that, not when he was with his ex.

Jessica thought, ‘Could it be that Lucas actually has feelings for Hathaway? She’s not some background character among them. True, Hathaway and Jeremiah practically grew up together.

‘After spending so much time together, there’s bound to be some effect. But there’s no way Lucas would actually like Hathaway.

‘Lucas is always the one putting her down and making fun of her; he never shows the slightest bit of affection. No way he’d ever be into her.’

Jessica told Elaine, “Let it go for now. Make sure you ask your dad for the money and send it to Lucas. Remember, the most important thing for a woman is to have self–respect and self–love.”

Elaine couldn’t really argue with that. So when she got home, she asked her dad for the cash and transferred it

to Lucas.

But Lucas never replied to her message, and he didn’t take the money, either.

The money bounced back to her account.

Elaine couldn’t help but feel happy. She realized she’d learned a whole new level of what a real man was like. Lucas was way better than those cheapskate guys she’d met back in college.

Her heart was all aflutter. Lucas was that bad–boy handsome, and he was so generous. She thought, ‘If only he were my boyfriend.’

She thought, ‘By then, Jessica would be Mrs. Blackwood, and I’d be Mrs. Reed. The two of us will join forces.‘

Elaine could barely dare to imagine how perfect her life would be.

*****

The next evening, Reginald and Eleanor were out for a business dinner.

Jeremiah was at home, scrolling through his emails, when he got a call from the admin office. “Mr. Blackwood, could you come over for a moment?

“One of our staff members made a critical mistake. He sent the client a file that was clearly labeled as an obsolete version.”

The project had looked really promising, but because of some hidden flaws in the technical patents, the company had already pulled the plug on it.

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Somehow, the client still got their hands on it.

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Jeremiah forced down his anger and spoke coldly into the phone, “Who’s responsible? Who’s his supervisor?”

“It’s Reid Sullivan. He handles overseas server maintenance. His supervisor is Grady Thornton.”

“Notify HR to terminate both of them,” Jeremiah said in a low, commanding tone. “Have them leave immediately. Settle their pay through today, and make sure they’re never rehired.

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