Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 214: Crossing boundaries

Braelyn’s POV

I was stunned at Lucien’s sudden appearance. This is what this was about... wait a moment, how did he even know so fast?

My eyes widened. "You called HR?" I blurted before I could stop myself.

Lucien’s jaw tightened. "I didn’t call HR," he said flatly. "They called me." That only made it worse.

"Why would they call you?" I was baffled. I stared at him, dumbfounded, the hum of engines and the echo of footsteps in the underground car park suddenly fading into the background.

Concrete pillars rose around us like silent witnesses while the ceiling fluorescent lights were buzzing overhead us throwing shadows across his face. He looked... furious. And worried. And far too invested for someone who was supposed to be nothing more than my husband’s reckless uncle.

"I had a feeling you would call in sick, so I instructed them to inform me if you did." He revealed and that left me more speechless.

"You have no right to monitor my sick days," I snapped without even thinking. It felt like he was crossing my boundaries but then again Lucien had never respected my boundaries. "I’m allowed to take a day off without you interrogating me.". I added

His hand lifted again, stopping just short of my cheek, as if he wanted to touch me and remembered himself at the last second. "I couldn’t forget about last night. You looked like you were literally breaking apart" he said quietly. "And now you vanish from work without a word. What was I supposed to think?"

"You know I am an adult capable of handling myself. " I shot back irritably.

He let out a slow, frustrated breath, raking a hand through his hair. "Braelyn, don’t do this."

"Do what? Pretend you’re not acting like my personal doctor and bodyguard combined?" Lucien’s gaze flicked past me for a split second, before returning to my face.

" Well, I am a doctor, I see nothing wrong with also being your bodyguard because clearly you look like you need one." He retorted without batting an eye

"Lucien.." I barked at him. He ignored my tone. " Are you dizzy?" he asked instead, getting into the doctor role. I didn’t know if he was here to help or piss me off.. "Headache? Nausea?"

"I am not in a medical emergency," I snapped, shoving him back. He didn’t bulge.

"Then why did you call in sick? HR said it’s the first time you have called in sick..." he asked staring intently at me

I blinked my eyes for a moment, before reaching for his hand to pry it off my arms. "I called in sick because I was feeling a bit under the weather and decided to call in sick." I simply said

"Oh Braelyn..." he groaned, rubbing the space between his brows.." you scared me," He muttered then tension slowly rolled off his shoulders. The look in his eyes immediately dissipated the anger in me.

I was surprised he came all the way out here because of that. "You should have called instead.. You didn’t have to come all the way here." I said slowly.

"I did call.." Lucien hissed. "You weren’t answering, and I was worried, considering last night." He explained

"I thought you cried yourself to sleep because of him and feel sick as a result." The worry on his face was obvious. It was kind of cute how worried he was...

At times I genuinely forget Lucien was older than me because of how reckless he acts. A soft laugh skittered out of my lips before I could help it. He was dumbfounded by my laugh..

"Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?" He asked completely cluelessly and that’s what made it more hilarious.

"There is no need to worry, as you can see I am fine. I just needed some space to think. "

A beat passed between us. Lucien just quietly stared at me before he spoke. "I really can’t help it." He admitted.

"I hope you aren’t hung up on Raphael..." he hissed through his clenched teeth. I didn’t answer immediately, I deflected.

"You should head back to work. Genny and I were heading somewhere." I tried to brush him off. He didn’t move and just stared at me.

His jaw clenched and slacked. He obviously had something to say. "I do have some things to handle." He reluctantly said then turned around to leave. He took two steps then stopped. His fist was tightly clenched

His voice slithered out. His tone was cold and controlled. "Don’t expect me to stand by and watch you fall back into his arms?" He said, finally finding his words.

My fingers curled up. "I have no intentions of doing that. A confused confession doesn’t change a thing " I hissed at Lucien. He laughed at my words.

"I am glad you said yourself," he laughed before glancing over his shoulder. "But you look like it actually meant something to you." He said slowly

"You are overreacting...I still remember how he hurt me." Something flickered in his eyes.

"I hope you remember those words. You can’t let him off so easily. Don’t forget that night, this game isn’t over until Raphael crumbles " Those were his last words before he walked away, clearly more pissed than he was before he came.

I stared at his car drive off before prying my leg off the concrete slab to Genny’s car, which was packed in the end. Genny was driving an old Mercedes that she had for a few years now

Although she preferred hitching Uber rides instead of driving herself most times.

I got in through the passenger’s door. She was already seated in the driver’s seat with Alora at the back." I am surprised your car still works." I muttered, she rolled her eyes at me..

"I got it serviced recently," she replied, her gaze still lingering on me. "What was that about?" She courteously asked.

"Nothing serious...we should leave." Genny nodded and drove off