ASHES : 18

Ever since they left the office, 'Lucas' had been on guard, subtly. His brother had been taking him from one drinking joint to the other. It felt as if he was trying to show him off as well as to get him drunk and slip up or something. He avoided this by claiming that he had to get to work. It had worked well for a while but now it seemed that it won't work in the last drinking joint. Melanie was here.

'Lucas' looked at Jake who was all smiles pretending not to know with new found hatred, which he masked well behind a smile as well. 'I will make you pay for this' he thought as they sat down opposite each other. Melanie joined them. She sat next to him and even wrapped herself on his arm. His skin crawled. He didn't let it show.

"Well," Jake said after the waiter had brought their drinks and a light meal. " I pulled some strings and with the disappearance of Winter," he paused and took a sip of his drink and snuck a look at Melanie. He continued," You'll be the host of this year's business expo" he said happily. 'Lucas' looked at him and smiled, " Really Jay,"? he asked happily. Jake merely nodded in reply.

'Lucas' jumped up in happiness. He hugged his brother." Thanks Jay thank you so much," he said as he hugged Melanie as well. He looked at her and, swallowing disgust in the back of his throat, kissed her, deeply. Then stopped when Jake kicked his leg underneath him. 'Its all according to plan' he thought as he pulled her closer.

" You do know that you'll be super busy with all the planning and inviting major companies from all over the world right"? Jake said as he and Melanie locked eyes for a moment. "Don't worry Jay I won't fail in fact I'll make it into one expo that will be memorable", 'Lucas' replied. He hadn't missed that look that had passed between them. 'Well well well,' he thought.

Jake smiled happily and they toasted a drink to the company and to the success of the expo. 'Lucas' stood up suddenly and claimed he had to head back to work. " Its going to get really busy from now on and I won't be able to meet you often but I promise I'll make it up to you", he said as he held Melanie's face in his hands. He kissed her head and was about to leave when he staggered. "Careful Lu, you've drunk a bit too much," Jay said as he stood up to support him. "Thanks but I feel sober just woozy," 'Lucas' replied laughing and staggering.

"I should take you home", Jake continued as he grabbed 'Lucas' arm an put it over his shoulder as support. 'Lucas' smiled in appreciation. "We can take him to my townhouse since its a bit closer to here," Melanie finally spoke. 'Lucas' encouraged it. "I want to speeend the niiiiiight with my lovelyyyyy gooooorgeously girlfrrrrrriiiiiiend", he slurred drunkenly as he held her hand. Jake sighed," Alright let's go. ' The drug is finally taking effect ' he thought happily as he led 'Lucas' into Melanie's car. They drove off towards her townhouse.

* * *

Ten minutes ago, inside Melanie's house...

Lucas stared at a photo in Melanie's room. It was a picture of them together at a beach smiling happily. 'How stupid of me. She must have been laughing at me the whole time' he thought darkly. " I found it" Riley's voice came through from the earpiece, pulling him out of his reverie. " Ok let me come" he replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

He got to where Riley was, in the basement, in record time that shocked Riley. He looked at the house mains and smiled. He was glad he had taken a few lessons on electricity and wiring. He explained to Riley what he was going to do. Riley looked at him and thought 'Heaven help never to be enemies with this man'. The sound of the car rolling in set the plan in motion.

* * *

Melanie turned off the engine and, together with Jake, brought 'Lucas' out of the car and into the guest bedroom of her house. He was unconscious. They threw him on the bed. Melanie began to remove his shoes when Jake grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room. He pinned her on the wall next to the half closed door and kissed her, deeply.

"Do you know how annoyed I was when that fool was kissing you", Jake said after they pulled apart, his voice heavy with lust. " We shouldn't do this here", Melanie replied as she walked away towards the stairs. Jake rushed up to her and threw his arms around her, squeezing her ample breasts in the process. " Alright", he whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck. Melanie let out a moan. It was one of her weak spots.

Suddenly, the lights went off. She screamed and held on to him. " Relax its just a power outage," he said in assurance. A door opened, and someone stood before them. It was Lucas. For a moment he stood there, trying to resist the urge to kill them right there and then. A slight tap on his shoulder brought him back to reality. This wasn't the time for them, yet. He turned and left. Both Jake and Melanie didn't notice. They were busy with each other, making out.

The lights came back on none of them noticed. They already had their clothes off. They didn't notice that 'Lucas' was no longer in the room they'd left him in.

Two weeks to the business expo