Lucas woke up with a full bladder. He flipped his legs on the floor and shuffled to the bathroom to pee.
However, the morning sun crept into the room and the chirping of birds around his windows slithered into his ears.
When done peeing Lucas scrambled back into the room and peered at the wall clock.
“9: 30 a. m.” He whispered under his breath, eyes wide.
Lucas hurriedly selected the shirt and pants he’d wear to work and flung them on the bed. However, he wants to take Ethan’s advice seriously by going to the Monson group to inquire about the proposal and figure out if he has hope.
Now that Hera is forcing him to wed Danika Lucas wants to press more on the proposal with the Monson group if it doesn’t work then, he has no other choice left than to wed Danika.
*
“Wedding?” The words slipped from his mangled lips.
“That’s the only condition I’ll give you. If you find it hard not to do. Then I’m afraid I can’t help your company. It’ll fold.” Hera asserted.
“Ma’am Hera. I…I need more time to think…I mean settle a few things before I give you my reply.” He said, voice slightly above a whisper.
“The choice is all yours. But be aware that my condition has a time limit. There’ll be time you might decide to come back and take the offer but it won’t be available then.” Hera said, huffing.
“And again. Even if you don’t accept the offer at the wedding Danika, you’ll still pay the astronomical dept your uncle owes me. That’s a must. And by that, I’ll start by confiscating your… so-called villa.” Hera stated.
‘Confiscating the villa!? This woman and her daughter really wanna throw me on the street. Good lord!’ Lucas mumbled inwardly.
“I’ve heard all you said ma’am Hera. I’ll get back to you.” He said.
Hera gave him a side glance and smirked.
“Poor thing.” She blurted.
Remembering this, determination shot through Lucas’s veins. When he finished bathing, he quickly dressed up.
As usual, Lucas didn’t fit into a suit nor head out with his briefcase. He looked more like an employee than a CEO.
When he descended the stairs he saw Danika stirring a mug of what he presumed to be coffee in her hands while ascending the stairs.
They both clashed with each other and a grin peeled from Danika’s lips as she stretched the cup of coffee as Lucas presumed to him.
“Made some coffee for you.” She winked, handing it to Lucas.
Despite not wanting to take anything from Danika, Lucas schooled his features, reined on his anger, and collected the cup from Danika.
“Thank you, Danny…” He cooed but was inwardly brewing with annoyance.
“Anything for you, love,” Danika said as she trailed downstairs behind Lucas.
“Well, I’m thinking of where would be best for our reception. Do you think the Monson hotel and suites will be perfect? Oh, I want a perfect wedding, one that everyone in the states will gasp in surprise once they hear about it. I want it to be such an expensive wedding brimmed with VIP guests.” Danika rasped out.
Lucas gagged from taking a sip from the cup when he heard Danika’s words.
‘She’s already thinking about the fucking wedding shits! Unbelievable.’ He nagged.
“And yes…oh I’ll definitely order my wedding gown from Paris. I heard there are high-profile wedding designers there. I don’t want a cheap thing because I’m not from a cheap family. So I want every nook and cranny of the reception hall of our wedding to scream of money…”
“Danika…I’m already late to work I need to rush out there.” Lucas said cutting her off.
Danika clicked her tongue, annoyed. “You always find shitty excuses to give. But I warm you…don’t mess up now that a brand new opportunity has been given to your stupid ass.” She scowled.
Lucas swallowed her harsh words and nodded. Without saying another word he dashed off the house.
While outside, Lucas ordered an Uber and headed to his company to pick up his assistant Grey, so they’d go to the Monson group together.
**
Sia donned a skirt and tank top while holding her minibag as she limped down the stairs, wincing in pain.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Came Michelle’s voice as she appeared in front of Sia.
Sia gave her a slight nod but asked the question that has been bubbling in her chest all through the night to Michelle.
“Did you call anyone with my number, Michelle?”
The question seems ridiculous to Sia because she doesn’t give anyone her phone let alone Michelle but remembering the events of yesterday, her instinct tells her that Michelle might have called someone with her phone.
“No…I didn’t.” She said.
Sia signed, deflated. She limped toward the exit while talking with Michelle.
“Well, I’m asking ’cause someone called last night and said I called him before. So I just wanted to ask you and confirm my suspicions.”
After Sia said this, Michelle’s mind flashed back to the mistake she made yesterday while trying to call the doctor. As this flicked in her mind, Michelle rasped out.
“I did…oh, Mrs. Monson.” She facepalmed. “I mistakenly dialed another number hoping it was the doctor but when I checked the screen, I noticed it was not the doctor so I hung up. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.” She apologized but Sia waved her off.
“Just be careful next time. It’s not a big deal.” She said, limping toward the car but stopped when Michelle questioned.
“I want to get a few things from the company before heading to the doctor’s office. Don’t worry I’m off today.” Sia said and clenched into the car not waiting for Michelle’s response.
The driver rolled out from the villa and headed to the company. Moments later, they arrived at the company and Sia instructed the driver to park in the driveway and wait for her return. Afterward, she ploded out of the car and limped into the company, taking the exclusive elevator to the CEO’S floor.
However, as she made her way to the office, her phone rang. Sia shoved it out and glanced at the screen.
She grinded her teeth before picking up
“What do I owe this call, Silas Monson.” She asked, feet stomping on the floor as she walked.
“Easy love…I just called to remind you…” Silas’s voice blared.
“Remind me of what?” Sia asked, harshly.
“What else. The long-awaited family meeting. Be there at James’ place tomorrow. I can’t wait to see you, love.” Silas worded.
Sia didn’t give him a reply and hung up the call, sighing.
That outlandish feeling about the so-called family meeting crawled back inside her.
She called on Liam and Rebekah when she entered her office and both of them arrived at the office, quickly.
“I need the files of the unfinished business Mr. Monson had with some companies. I need to look into it.” She instructed Rebekah who busied herself gathering the files.
Sia turned to Liam and informed.
“I need you at my place tomorrow. You’ll be my driver.” She said, face stoic.
Liam nodded, “Will be there ma’am.” He said.
Rebekah turned back to Sia with a handful of files.
“Ma’am. These are the top companies he had unfinished business with. They are about twenty of them remaining. But these are the top ten companies.” Rebekah said.
Sia glided through the names again and read aloud.
“Woods Enterprises and Perez LTD. I’ll go with these two first and work on the other later,” Sia said, tiredly.
“Okay, ma’am. Well, you haven’t said anything about the first one you took. The Evangelista group file.” Rebekah reminded.
“Don’t worry about that.” She lastly uttered and headed out of the room.
Meanwhile, Lucas and his assistant, Grey, have arrived in the Monson group. They both wriggled out of the Uber car, glancing their eyes around.
“This will be my first time entering this company, Mr. CEO. The process of visiting the CEO is very hard. Not everyone has the opportunity to visit the CEO’S floor.” Grey happily uttered.
“Is that so?” Lucas asked.
It’s not much of a surprise to Lucas because almost everyone in the states knows that coming to the Monson group is very hard much less visiting the CEO.
Grey continued with his utterances as they shoved into the crowded building.
Grey went to the receptionist to get their visiting cards while Lucas stood by the corner watching as everyone moved in and out of the building.
“Mr. CEO, I’ve procured our visiting card to the CEO’S floor. We still have to see a receptionist on the floor before getting the final access to the CEO’S office.” Grey explained when he returned to Lucas’s stead.
Nodding, Lucas told him to lead the way. However, they didn’t go through the elevator considering the number of people in the queue. So they headed toward the escalator.
As Lucas was about to plant his feet on the machine, he spotted Sia, shoving through the hordes of people in an attempt to move outside the building.
Lucas unknowingly shouted her name,
“Sia!”
Sia paused when she heard someone call her. She veered back and saw Lucas a few meters away from her. Immediately, she turned and quickened her pace outside.
“Mr. CEO, let’s go,” Grey called when he saw Lucas plodding away from the escalator.
Lucas paused and turned back to Grey, wording curtly.
“Please go, I need to fix something. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
After saying this, Lucas turned to leave but mistakenly bumped into an old woman carrying duffel bags. The impact made all her goods fall off.
Lucas sighed, frustrated. He dropped to his haunches to help pick up her stuff, hurriedly.
“I’m sorry ma’am I wasn’t looking.” He apologized, breathlessly.
“It’s okay, son.” Said the old woman.
The instant he finished packing the stuff in the duffel bag, Lucas spun on his heels and made a beeline to the exit.
However, by the time he came outside, Sia already shoved into her car.
She glanced outside the window and saw Lucas rushing outside.
Sia hurriedly rolled up her window and Instructed the driver.
“Drive!” She said, voice cold.
She peeked at Lucas and saw as he looked every lady there on the face in search of her.
“Fuck!! She was here just now.” Lucas cursed, ruffling his hair.