Chapter 7

Luke glanced at Spencer who was deeply focused on his work. Then, he lowered his voice to share the news with Finn. "Spencer called last night and told me to find an apartment for Clementine. He said she had to move out of the hotel. He wouldn't let me come back to the office until it was done." "It's not like you do much all day anyway," Finn retorted. "That's not the point, Finn." Luke couldn't help but wonder why everyone was always picking on him. "Spencer's just reigniting an old flame. He's not the type to cheat. So, if he really is getting back with Clementine, Sara could be in serious trouble. They might even end up divorcing," Finn said. "No way. They've been married for almost three years. Spencer must care about Sara. Let's make a bet." "I'm not making that bet." "Why?" Luke snapped, leaping to his feet, his voice rising before he could stop it. He was furious and convinced that Finn was siding with Clementine. "If you two insist on staying here, then shut up. Otherwise, get out and do your jobs. I don't want to see you." Spencer glared at them, their murmuring grating his nerves. No matter how hard he tried to push them away, they wouldn't budge. At this point, even the idea of banishing them to the middle of nowhere had briefly crossed his mind. "Finn, why won't you take the bet?" Luke quickly dropped back into his seat after Spencer's outburst, but he still pressed Finn for an answer. He was set on winning people over to Sara's side. "Because I agree with you. There's no point in betting." "Oh, Finn! So, you do think Spencer has feelings for Sara? I knew I wasn't imagining it." "It's obvious to a blind man, let alone you." "Then why'd Spencer go out of his way to pick Clementine up from the airport, book her a hotel, and now get her an apartment?" "Who knows what goes on in Spencer's head? When it comes to relationships, he might be even dumber than a rock." Luke was speechless. Was it really appropriate for Finn to criticize Spencer like that? Though secretly, he agreed too. After all, relationships were the only area where Finn had ever admitted Luke might be better than Spencer. After the topic of Sara and Spencer died down, Finn and Luke continued loafing around Spencer's office, completely unproductive. Then, Spencer said, "Finn, is the entertainment division really that dead these days? We still haven't settled the matter of that last news leak. Maybe I should increase your workload by assigning you to assist Zayn's team." "Today was literally my only day off in ages, Spencer, and you just happened to walk in. The news leak wasn't my fault. The reporters were already camped out there. Besides, I made sure every trace was scrubbed clean the second I found out." Finn sounded almost proud of himself. "I finished all my work today, Spencer. I secured the apartment and even arranged the move," Luke chimed in with a cheeky grin, eager to prove he'd been productive. Spencer stared at the two brazen fools, utterly speechless. He figured if he just clocked out and went home, they'd be out of sight, out of mind. Luke watched as Spencer stood up, grabbed his coat, and headed for the door. He quickly followed after and said, "Spencer, you're done with work? Heading home? Let's go together." Spencer stopped and eyed the two trailing behind him. Warily, he asked, "I'm going home. Why are you two following me?" "Can Finn and I come over for dinner tonight? It's been ages since we've had Sara's cooking." Luke flashed Spencer an ingratiating smile. "No." Spencer refused outright. He'd never met anyone so bold. "Why not? It's not like you're the one cooking. I'll just call Sara myself." Luke pulled out his phone and dialed for Sara before Spencer could stop him. … When Sara saw Luke's call, she assumed it was about Spencer and quickly answered it. "Hey, Luke, is something wrong with Spencer? Did he drink again?" Upon hearing Sara's immediate concern for him, Spencer's expression softened slightly. Luke replied, "Spencer's fine, Sara. Finn and I are at the office. It got late before we even realized. We wanted to go back with Spencer for dinner, but he refused. So, I decided to call you directly." "Spencer's just messing with you. Have you left yet? I was just about to start cooking," Sara said. "We just left. Don't make too much. We won't eat much. Just make some spicy beef skewers for me." "I'll have grilled chicken," Finn quickly chimed in. The two of them didn't hesitate to place their orders. Suddenly, Spencer snatched the phone away. "Don't make anything for them. A pot of oatmeal is all they're getting." Then, he hung up. "Come on, Spencer, don't be so selfish. It's not like we go all the time—just two or three times a month. Sara's cooking is way too good to pass up," Luke whined. "Yeah, Spencer, we're just mooching a meal. We'll eat, head out, and steer clear of your 'couple time,'" Finn said, throwing caution to the wind. "Should I be thanking you for not moving in?" Spencer asked, his face darkening. "Can I actually move in? Or at least into your neighborhood? I'll check tomorrow for any houses for sale." Luke completely missed the sarcasm and took it as a genuine offer. Living together might be crossing a line, but being neighbors? That sounded perfect. "Try it, and I'll send you to the farthest corner of the world by the next morning. You won't be back for at least a year," Spencer warned. "I'm just saying, Spencer. It wouldn't be convenient anyway." Luke nervously chuckled. His audacity really was something to admire. Meanwhile, Finn held his tongue. He understood that words often bred trouble, and a warm meal was all he needed anyway. The three of them headed to the elevator as they talked and made their way down to the parking garage. Since Luke and Finn had driven separately, they planned to take their own cars. With that, all three cars pulled out together and headed for Spencer's villa. They arrived almost at the same time, parked, and headed inside. Sara's timing was perfect. She'd just finished the last dish—some soup—and was setting it on the table. "You guys made it! Just in time for dinner," Sara greeted Luke and Finn with a smile. "Sara, I could smell the food before I even stepped inside," Luke said, already making a beeline for the dining table. The spread was everything he loved. Sara had made spicy beef skewers, grilled chicken, grilled fish fillets, creamy mushroom soup, and a whole array of side dishes too. "This is a feast. Zayn and Hans are really missing out," Luke said, grabbing a piece of meat with his fingers and popping it into his mouth. Between bites, he couldn't stop praising Sara's cooking. "I made a little bit of everything. You should all try it. Next time, we'll invite them over, and I'll make more," Sara happily said. "This is more than enough," Luke said as he reached for another piece. However, Spencer swatted his hand away. "Go wash your hands and grab some plates and utensils," he ordered. "I'll get them," Sara said and turned to go. But Spencer caught her hand. "Take a seat. Let them handle it. You've already done enough cooking for them. It's the least they can do to help." So, Finn fetched the plates while Luke grabbed the utensils. Soon, they emerged from the kitchen together. Upon seeing Spencer's darkening expression, Finn quickly spoke up, "He's right, Sara. Sorry for making you cook all this. You should rest after we eat. Luke and I will clean up and do the dishes." "Yeah, we'll take care of everything," Luke said. "Finally, some decency from you two," Spencer muttered. With that, the four of them sat down to eat. Sara didn't eat much herself, but the three men had hearty appetites. They polished off nearly every dish on the table, though the side dishes remained mostly untouched. Once the meal was over, Luke and Finn swiftly cleared the table, washed the dishes, and made themselves scarce.