Chapter 34: Do We Need It?

Zane scanned the area once more and shouted for everyone to get back to work. He could instantly hear the typing of keys. With a concerned face, Zane walked toward Ian's office and knocked on the door. After a while he walked in. Once inside he looked at Ian and said

"I didn't know you were such a good actor." Ian looked up and playfully spoke.

"That secretary was better." Ian felt bad, he had forgotten the young woman's first name and could only recall her surname; Kim. While holding up a finger for Zane to be quiet, Ian made a call to human resources and instructed them to withhold one month's pay from the secretary he had just cast out. He had to make the act convincing, but he had already given her a check that reflected her monthly salary. Zane saw that Ian was too into this act and sensed that it had to do with something more than just snubbing potential employees.

"Ian, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on." Zane was always good at reading people and after ten years, he could read his friend well. Ian handed Zane a stack of files and told him to do a basic background check on each of the people whose resumes were held. Zane felt that there was something strange going on, and even Luna was not being forthright with the truth. He told himself that something big must be happening in the Lee family and they were embarrassed by it. Zane took the files but did not speak. He was a little offended that his friend did not trust him but before he could leave Ian suddenly spoke.

"Two more weeks and you'll know everything." Satisfied Zane went to carry out his task.

Ian quietly worked in his office and allowed time to escape him, he had so much to catch up on and it seems as if he still had not made the Lee Group completely his. Ian looked at his watch and jumped out of his chair. It was 7:30pm. He was supposed to meet Lisa at six!

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Lisa had already left the restaurant. She had heard that Ian returned to the office today and fired someone upon entry. She was feeling down, and after waiting for an hour with no call or text she finally asked for the bill and left. While in the car, her phone lit up and Lisa ended the call. She did not even bother to see who was calling. Her phone rang again, and she declined it once more. She heard an incoming text, and it was from Ian.

[Please, answer your phone.]

Lisa wanted to be angry, she thought about her brother's provocations, and she felt as if his words were about to bite her, but she could not hate this man. She loved Ian so much that his simple text, with no emotion made her heart melt. Lisa's phone rang again.

"Hello… Li, where are you."

"I am in a car headed home." Her sentence was short and sharp. She only said a few words but her meaning in them was clear. She was clearly telling him that she was not going to look for him. Ian's guilt was compounded, and he thought about Zane's rebuke. Lisa was his responsibility. He asked her to meet him at his place, telling her they could have a late dinner together there. Lisa lost all composure and jumped at the opportunity.

'Maybe he likes me playing hard to get?' She thought.

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At the Lee mansion Ian and Lisa had just wrapped up their meal. Lisa showed no signs of leaving and Ian did not know how to bid her farewell. He excused himself from the table and went into his study. He wanted to check in on Mina. He sat at his desk and opened his laptop when he heard his study doors closing.

Lisa had followed Ian upstairs. He stared at her, he really looked at her and saw that she was wearing the dress that she had professionally altered. Tonight, he had intentionally avoided looking at her because of her change in hair color, but now she was on full display in front of him and he could not look away. He did not know if the brown hair looked good on her or if it made it easier for his mind to imagine her as Mina.

Lisa strode into the study and walked straight into the rest area. She plopped herself on the bed and laid there suggestively. Ian tried to pretend not to notice, but he was still a man, and lately he had been waking up with 'company'. Ian stood up and walked over to where Lisa lay on the bed. He managed to choke out the sentence "what are you doing?" but the "doing" part of the sentence was cut off as Lisa reached up and pulled him down on top of her. She pressed her lips against his, and at first Ian was tense, but he soon found himself giving into her. One by one their layers of clothing were removed. As they kissed, Ian slowly reached under his pillow and fumbled around with something in his hands.

Lisa looked up and innocently asked, "what's that?" Fearing that he may have misread the situation Ian tried to get up, but Lisa wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The two of them were only separated by underwear and the heat from their bodies warmed the room. Ian bent to kiss Lisa again, but he really could not lose himself in the kiss. His body had a natural reaction to her, but he was not sure he wanted to be with her. Seeing that he was unsure, Lisa wriggled her body and removed her own underwear. She was completely naked beneath him. He sucked in a deep breath and reached under his pillow once again.

Lisa had made herself clear, and he would not reject her. Lisa saw what he was holding, and she reached out to grab his arm.

"Do we need it?" she asked. Ian looked at her incredulously and nodded his head. He was in no way ready for children.