Tempting Fate
Chapter 28

28 Chapter 28: Fake Friend

Emy had relatively few clients that day. Reed hadn’t left his office since they got there, she noticed. Emy was seated at her desk, her attention focused on the top, in the office where Reed’s glass wall could be seen. Jasmin and Avery had been watching her for quite some time, unbeknownst to her. The two smiled as they sat in front of her table, where there was an empty seat.

What the two did was confuse Emy. “Miss Emy, why were you and Sir Reed together earlier?” Jasmin asked.

Emy averted her gaze from Jasmin after saying, “Ah, he merely saw me at the bus stop earlier.”

“At the bus stop?” Avery asked. “Do you mean you’re in the same way?”

Emy shifted her gaze to the two. “What?” Emy’s surprise response. “What are you saying? We’re in a different place. Everything is just a coincidence.”

“How did he notice you at the bus stop?” Jasmin asked.

Avery said nothing, but her smile was as broad as Jasmin’s. The two suspect Emy is hiding something from them. Reed seems to be dating Emy. They rose from their seats and returned to the door waiting for the new customer. Still, the two exchanged glances at Emy, who abruptly rose from her seat, clutching a document, and hurried up the stairs to Reed’s office.

“Miss Emy, where are you going?” Jasmin asked.

“Ah, Sir needs to sign something,” Emy said.

.....

“But there doesn’t seem to be anyone in his office,” Avery said.

“Perhaps he’s just sleeping. I’ll double-check.” Emy said.

He turned his back on Avery and Jasmin. Emy took a deep breath as she approached Reed’s door and knocked. She then seized the door doorknob and yanked it open when he got no answers from the inside. No one was there. Her brow furrowed. Reed had vanished and did not know where he had gone.

———-

“Y-You?”

Lorie wasn’t expecting Reed to show up at their house. She wasn’t working that day and didn’t expect any guests, but when her mother mentioned that a handsome man was looking for her, she sprang out of bed. Lorie, thinking it was a prank, Lorie came out of her room, as a mess. It surprised her when she saw a handsome man sitting on the sofa, surrounded by her sisters.

Reed got to his feet and approached Lorie. “I need to speak with you,” Reed said.

Instead of responding, Lorie returned to her room. She snatched the pillow and hugged it, then screamed, but no one heard her scream but her. She hastened to get dressed.

Reed sat in the living room while Lorie’s siblings interrogated him. He assumes they already asked him about everything. He stepped up and stated that he would wait for Lorie outside. It also took him about half an hour to wait for Lorie to come out of the house.

He could see Lorie was attractive and slim, much like Emy. But he has a just lust for the woman. Unlike how he feels for Emy, he gets such a special feeling that he doesn’t know what it is. He couldn’t explain it. And every day that he was with her and they enjoyed intimate time together, he felt not just the heat of his body but also the desire for her to be his wife and the queen of his realm.

The woman has dressed appropriately for a date. Reed shook his head and turned his attention away from the woman who was seducing her at the time. They strolled along the alley as everyone stared at them. He could hear all around whispers, but Reed disregarded them. He felt the woman’s pride and let her feel it till they arrived at the car.

Lorie stood in the passenger seat next to the driver, expecting Reed to open the door for her as he had done before for Emy, but Reed proceeded straight to the driver’s seat. Lorie opened the door and sat in the passenger seat, irritated.

“What kind of man are you, huh?” As she buckled her seatbelt, she complained to Reed that he didn’t even get to open the door. “You’re simply being a gentleman with Emy. You only serve Emy. Do you realize how irritating you are? ”

Reed remained silent, allowing the woman to pest at him. He located a small but well-known coffee shop fifteen minutes after leaving Lorie’s residence and turned left to park the car.

—–

Reed brought Lorie to a well-known coffee shop. Lorie’s joy was visible on her face. Lorie exuded confidence as she and Reed approached the coffee shop. She couldn’t help but be proud when almost everyone in the place was staring at them. Everyone adored Reed, and some were even envious because they thought she was his girlfriend. When they arrived at the empty table, the waiter approached them and took their order. After that, Lorie stared at Reed.

“What are we going to speak about?” Lorie asked.

“About you,” Reed began.

Lorie’s face was red. The waiter arrived and took their order before leaving.

“Why? Did you realize what I said the other night?” Lorie asked. “She doesn’t deserve you.”

“What do you mean?” Reed asked.

Lorie grinned and drank her Java Chip Frappuccino. “You will get nothing out of Emy. She’s nothing. Someone like you deserves better, and she isn’t that person.” Lorie said.

Reed remained silent, taking a sip of his coffee. Lorie sensed Reed would say nothing. So she assumed he was merely interested in dating her.

“Tell me, Reed, do you like me?” Lorie asked.

Reed couldn’t stop laughing when he looked at Lorie. Everyone turned to look at them as his laughter became louder. Lorie couldn’t believe Reed’s reaction. Reed’s phone rang, and Emy’s photo flashed across the screen. Reed responded with a smile.

“Yes, Wifey?” Reed said, glancing at Lorie. Lorie was uncomfortable and averted her gaze from Reed. “Ah, I went out; why? Do you miss me already?” Reed chuckled in response to Emy’s reaction. “Haist, I can kiss you when I see you, you’re too cute. Don’t worry, I simply have something urgent to attend to. Okay, bye...”

“Do you really need to show me how insane you are to Emy?” Lorie said, irritated.

Reed put his phone back in his pocket after finishing his conversation with Emy. “What do you want from me, Reed? Why do I get the feeling you’re messing with me?” Lorie asked.

“I’m pleased you know that emotion,” Reed said.

“What?” Lorie asked in confusion.

“I know what you did before,” Reed said. “How did you do that to a friend?”

Lorie felt as though cold water had been dumped on her. She was tense and his hand trembled.

“Did you ever consider Emy to be a friend?” Reed asked. “Because you’re really special to her.”

“It’s not my fault if he treats me this way,” Lorie said. “She’s such a gullible.”

Reed chuckled at Lorie’s reaction. “Envy,” Reed said.

“What?” Lorie asked.

“You’re jealous of her, so you get the things that should be for her, everything,” Reed explained. “Do you like what you did to her?”

“I’m not sure what you’re saying,” Lorie responded as she placed the coffee on the table and prepared to stand when Reed spoke again.

“Tell her the truth,” Reed said.

Lorie cast a glance towards Reed. “I have nothing to tell her,” Lorie said firmly.

“Haist, you know you’re wearing on my patience?” Reed said gravely. “If you don’t want the simple way, I’ll do it the hard way.”

Lorie’s eyes widened as she stepped onto a boat. Because the sea was turbulent, she could hang on to both sides of it. Lorie’s expression was filled with fear. The waves were becoming bigger and bigger. She’s getting drenched because water is spilling out of her. Lorie’s respiration became faster and deeper.

“You can’t leave this place if you don’t do what I say,” Reed said.

It surprised Lorie once more when the boat moved. He drank the water and was almost appalled as the foul-smelling water entered her mouth.

“Tell Emy everything; in fact, you won’t leave even the smallest detail out,” Reed said.

“Are you insane? When I do that... ” Lorie said. “I seemed as if I had committed suicide when I did it.”

“Really?” Reed asked. “Do you believe you’ll be able to survive if you don’t obey my wants?” ”

Lorie’s eyes opened when she saw Reed’s real appearance. His face is scarred, and his eyes are a peculiar color.

“You will tell Emy everything, and you will either survive or die. Of course, I will not kill you immediately; instead, I’m going to let you experience the terror of it first.” Reed said. “The feeling of being scared and no one will help you.”

Lorie’s reaction was much more terrified now as she stared at Reed. It heightened her scream when the waves surged again and a massive fish resembling a piranha emerged from the water. She’s already panicking.

“All right,” Lorie said, “I’ll tell Emy everything. Get me out of here!”

Lorie couldn’t stop sobbing. Her tears gushed. “I’m going to tell her the truth. Get me out of here! I’m sorry. ”

Reed grinned. “I am easy to talk to.”

Lorie opened her eyes slowly when she heard that. And she noticed she was seated on the sofa and inside the coffee shop. She breathed air into her chest. The stress in her chest caused her to heave. Reed, who was sipping his coffee, caught her gaze.

Lorie gulped, too afraid to ask Reed. “Who are you?” Lorie’s voice was trembling.

Reed gave a little smile. “I? I’m a Demon King. ”