The Almighty Heir's Return

Lunch time

Lucinda was with her hand offered to Brandon. He looked at her face, at her hand and decided to shake it. 

“Friends.” He said and when she took her hand back, he didn’t like it very much. 

“Have you eaten?” She asked. 

“Not yet.”

“Neither did I… I’m starving! Wanna eat with me?” 

Brandon frowned. 

“Ah, weren’t you supposed to have eaten with your boyfriend?” 

“He’s not my boyfriend.” Her response was very fast, meaning she wanted to make it clear. “And he was called by his father, so he just left me here and left.” 

“Ah, I see.” Brandon said, nodding and looking down. Inside, he was smiling. So she was not dating the guy. He knew he shouldn't be all happy with those news, but he was, in the end. 

“We can go wat and I tell you a bit more about this complicated situation I’m in.” She said and smiled at him. “Shall we?” 

“Definitely. I’m starving as well.” 

They both walked, side by side, to the food court of the mall. They were not talking, just walking and Branon could smell her shampoo. Strawberry. It suited her, since she was very sweet and had plamp red lips and red cheeks. He shook his head. ‘What the hell, Brandon?’, he asked himself. 

“Are you ok?” She asked, because she saw his movement by the corner of her eyes and was now staring at him with curiosity.

“Yeah. Just thought about something. But.. nothing to worry about. What do you wanna eat?” He asked, trying to change the subject. Lucinda was not dumb and noticed his move, but she would play along. It was not her business and she had no interest in making him uncomfortable. 

“Hmmm, japanese?” She asked, unsure.

“I love it.” He answered smiling and she smiled back. 

They went to the japanese restaurant available and Lucinda asked for a bunch of food. Brandon didn't like that she was picking his food for him without asking him.

“What?” She asked him.

“You didn’t even ask me what I’d like to have before you ordered.” He complained and she looked at him, confused. 

“Why would I ask you that? You can order your food.” She motioned for him to talk to the attendant. “What is it?” 

“You just asked for tons of food.” 

“Yeah… I said I’m starving.” She gave him a look that meant it was quite obvious. “Wait, you thought I ordered for you?”

“Well…” he started to say and she laughed. Her laugh was musical and Brandon made a mental note to make her laugh more. 

“I’d never do that! I hate when people choose things for me. Why would I do that with you? Not even if you were my boyfriend or that sort.” 

Everytime the girl talked, Brandon was more and more conflicted. She was not trying to seduce him like Erika did, but she was having much more success with that.

“Thank you. And sorry for thinking that of you.” 

"It 's okay. I’ll let this one slide for now.” She winked and raised her eyebrow to him, looking at the attendant. Brandon jolted a bit and looked at the employer, ordering his food. 

They were waiting for the food to arrive when Brandon looked at her with questioning eyes. 

“So, you said you were going to entertain me with your sufferings.” He joked and it startled him. Brandon Ashford was not a joker type of person. He was normally very serious and centered. He couldn't even recognize himself. 

“Oh, I see. You couldn’t wait to laugh at my misery. Such a friend.”

“No, that’s not-”

“Relax, Brandon. I’m just kidding.” She said and Brandon noticed she looked something behind him, something that made her beautiful smile die. He turned around and saw Damon walking in their direction. “Talking about misery…” She mumbled, but Brandon heard.

“Babe, sorry for making you wait, huh?” Damon said and leaned down to kiss her, but she turned her head and his lips met her cheek. 

“No problem.” She answered and then, Damon sat beside her and looked at Brandon. 

“You again. How odd, huh? Second time I see you today and second time you’re with my girl.”

“He just saved me a few minutes ago, Damon.” Lucinda said and inhaled deeply. Brandon could now see clearly how uncomfortable she was around that guy. 

“Oh, yeah?” He looked Brandon up and down, waited for a few seconds and then, offered his hand. “I should thank you, then. For saving my woman.”

“No need.” Bandon said, but shook Damon’s hand. Damon’s grip was a bit harder than it was necessary. 

“Of course it is. She is very precious to me.” Damon looked at Lucinda, who gave him a weak smile. “My Lucy is everything to me. My future wife. Right, babe?”

“Yeah.” She said, not very joyful. Brandon didn’t know exactly what was going on, but is was obvious, that Lucinda Fairfax had no interest in Damon. 

“I’m Damon Montgomerry, by the way.” 

“Nice to meet you, Damon.” Brandon answered and the blue-eyed man stared at him. 

“And what’s your name?” 

“Brandon.” 

Brandon knew the Montgomerries. They were a very influential family, but the Ashfords were not very close to them. Brandon never cared to know why, but if all of them were like Damon, he could make a good guess about the reason. ‘Are they all entitled like him?’, Brandon thought. 

“Brandon… what?” Damon asked and smiled. “Are you hiding from someone, Brandon, my man?”

“Brandon Ashford.” He finally said and Damon, who was before leaning his back on the seat, now went a bit forward, analyzing Brandon. 

“Ashford? The Ashford Family?” He asked. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Brandon played and Damon narrowed his eyes. 

“You from here?”

“No, Helena.” That was not an entirely lie, since he was living in Helena before he left for Bloomington.

“Ah…” Damon seemed to lost interest. Then, he chuckled. “Of course What was I thinking?” He was kind of surprised that the heir of the Ashfords would be eating in such a simple place, and wearing such trash clothes. Now, he felt a bit silly for even thinking of the possibility. 

The food arrived and Lucinda started to eat, but Damon did the same, digging in her plate. Brandon saw that she was not liking that, and was about to say something, but she shook her head. He held back his tongue. 

“Well, I need to go. Thank you for lunch.” Brandon said to Lucinda and turned to Damon. “Excuse me.”

“Where do you live, Brandon? Wanna a ride?”

“No. But thank you, Damon. Excuse me.”  

Lucinda nodded at Brandon and he left. thinking about how much he wanted to know what was going on. He could, of course, call the butler and ask him to give him all the info he wanted to have, but he refused to do so. No way. He was not going to ask for help unless it was really necessary.

“I don’t want you walking around with him.” Damon said to Lucinda once they were alone. 

“You don’t own me.” She said and got up, but Damon held her hand and made her sit again, facing him. 

“I mean it. You’re mine.”