Can I trust him?
The silence in this room was etched into them like deep shadows that had resided with them. The air was tense and uncomfortable. Every step he took sent cold shivers down their spines. His face grimaced at their surprised face. His bloodshot eyes showed resilience and danger.
"L..Lucas." Fiona king stuttered and moved back in intimidation. He was becoming himself. The part she hated to see.
"Good morning, Mr Lucas king." Gladys countered, trying to direct his hard stare from her boss, to meet hers.
"Gladys." He mentioned in a seething tone ,without making eye contact. He was too pissed to notice their frightened faces.
"Can we sit and have a proper talk?" Gladys offered, gesturing him to take a seat close to Lilian who couldn't still recover from his entrance. He agreed and sat down, though there were some difficulties.
Fiona could feel his rage emitting from his body. She wondered what could have made him so upset and defending her was so strange. He couldn't possibly be attracted to her.. right? Fiona thought hard, staring at the both of them.
"Are you okay?" He asked, looking at her with sad eyes, blaming himself for letting her endure this much because of him.
"Yeah. I am fine." She responded with a sigh. Not from tiredness but from the shock earlier. He gave her a weak smile that tells her, he got this!
"Brother. I am so shocked to see you here. I am delighted to see you recovering so well. It means that Lilian has been doing a good job as your wife." Fiona king said with all enthusiasm. Her face contoured to a dark smirk that Lilian found very rude.
"Keep your goodwill to yourself and state your reason. I want to know why you came to disturb my family from their peaceful slumber."Lucas growled.
Fiona king was speechless, her brother hasn't been bold like this. He was a good child, the obedient one. The one that follows the path you chose for him. What could have happened? Her eyes roamed towards her. Her innocent yet bold face looked at him with so much care and attention.
"Well, your lovely wife broke our contract and we came here to address the situation. Come on dear, tell him what you did?" Fiona beckoned onto Lilian to spill. Lucas gave her an inquisitive look but when he saw her, Lucas knew something was amiss.
"Why don't you tell me about her offense. I am the husband so I can handle my family matters."Lucas asked in a commanding tone which riled Fiona to the maximum.
"Lucas. You are indeed becoming a man. I must say you have changed alot. I haven't seen this part of you but that is good. I like your boldness." She said, chuckling deeply for her carelessness. Lucas was pulling hard for her tight grip.
Gladys used the opportunity to address the situation. Lilian tries to object when the default money was being mentioned. Lucas held her down assuring her with that smile again, which kept her shut. Her mind asked her heart, if they could trust him.
"How about another proposal?" Lucas offered with a grin that told something different was about to happen and it might not have favored them.
"What is that?" Fiona asked bluntly.
"Another new agreement. I pay the money and the contract you have with her is void." He dropped the bomb shell and a gasp slipped out from her mouth.
"What?"
"Yes and in fact, I will double the money. 50 million dollars." Lucas said proudly.
"Woow. Lucas, you are unbelieveable!" Fiona King said, applauding his effort.
"Lucas."Lilian responded breathlessly. Her face flushed from his mysterious help. She wasn't expecting him to bring that offer.
"What makes you think that I will agree with you?" Fiona asked with an irritated face. Her make up soiling from her extreme demeanour.
"Because you have no choice. I can sue you too and I don't think you want that for your image, your reputation and I heard you are engaging in politics. What if I send them an interesting story about me? I wondered what the headline would be?" Lucas scoffed in victory. He watched with glee as her face went to a deep frown. He had touched her,where it hurt.
"Lucas, you can't eat your cake and have it!!" She gritted in anger. Her palms gripped the fabric of the sofa. Her nails dug deep into it but the fabric was stronger and stood strong despite her anger.
"Oh yes. I can." He breathed out.
Fiona king gave a dangerous stare to Lilian which made her uncomfortable. She felt uneasy instantly instead of relieved. Lilian was wise enough to know that it won't end well.
"Take my offer before I change my mind." Lucas advised, relaxing properly to see that he had won this round.
Fiona king and Gladys left the mansion. Though they were defeated, it still wasn't over. Fiona had a look that shows her hidden card was still in the game.
Her car drove out of the compound. Just before she rolled her side window up, her eyes caught him driving into the compound.
They both made eye contact and nodded slightly before both cars were out of sight.
"So what are we going to do?" Gladys asked inside the car.
"Plan A failed but PlanB has been in motion since."Fiona King replied with a wicked grin. Gladys felt uncomfortable by her remark. Wondering what her plan was.
Lucas breathed in deep relief when Fiona King agreed to accept his proposal and they made an agreement. Lilian was free to be herself. No restrictions . No rules or limitations.
She was supposed to be happy. Anyone in her shoes ought to be excited but Lilian kept a gloomy face. Lucas noticed this and tried to cheer her up.
"Hey. It is okay now. You are free. You can live your life now. No limitations anymore." He cheered her on.
"Lucas."
"Yes."
"I don't really know how to express myself. I haven't felt this way. No one has made me feel this way. So try to understand me. I am not used to this kind of favor. I can't repay you, Okay. I don't know if I should be happy or uncomfortable. I ..i still in shock…"Lilian explained sincerely. Her emotions were skyrocketing. She couldn't process anything yet. Her hardened walls built around herself started to melt away. What took her years to build , crashed to the floor with one gesture.
"Just start with a thank you." He told her.
"Thank you, Lucas." She said with a heartfelt smile.
Lilian couldn't control her emotions. She didn't know what it felt to cry. Tears seeped down from her eyes uncontrollably.
"You are crying?" Lucas noticed. He tried to wipe them off but the tears rushed out profusely.
"I am crying? I haven't cried in a very long time. What is going on with me? I can't stop myself." Lilian sobbed dramatically.
Lucas smiled and pulled her for a hug. He whispered, assuring her that it was okay to let it all out. Lilian cried like she was hurt physically.
These tears were kept and locked within her. She hated to be vulnerable, weak and lost. All her life, she had been abandoned, lonely and craving for love but the people she considered family, took every advantage of her and ripped her bare.
The room lightened with their warmth igniting something that can't be seen physically but can be earned, Trust. She was cold and hard. He was warm and soft. Both joined together to form something that is stronger, powerful. They would call it the greatest thing in the world. Love and friendship.
Lucas waited still. Just patting her back. Listening to her steady heart beat and her tears which were immersed with her pain and longings. A pain that runs deep. In that instance, he made a vow to himself. He was going to protect her, care for her. Stand by her and love her.
Mrs Landon eavesdropped on their conversation unintentionally. She had wanted to check up on them but had to hide behind the door. It was intense and deep down, she could relate with her. For the first time, since their meeting. She felt pity for her and regretted ever treating her that way.
"Father."Fiona King yelled as soon as she entered his house. The butler tried to stop her but got a slap of his life that sent him to the floor.
She grunted in anger and walked upstairs, her feet stormed hard on the marble stair.
Fiona opened the door and what she saw, riled her up to the maximum. Her father was having a good time with some hot chicks. They were having fun and dancing , half naked in his bedroom.
They stopped in surprise when the music was turned off, alerting her presence. The girls hid in shame trying to cover their body with the blanket.
Martin King, frowning and pissed for her rude intrusion, stood up from the floor and sat on the bed ,panting heavily.
"Leave!" Fiona roared, sending the girls scurrying away from the room in fright.
Martin king couldn't care less about her disappointed face. He doesn't care about their opinion about his lifestyle.
"What are you doing here Fiona?" He asked and walked to his side drawer. He took out his cigar from the drawer and lit it up.
"I don't have any comment about this.." she said referring to him and his little shengiagans. Still couldn't accept that he was the one that birthed her.
"I want to ask you how Lucas knew about my political views. I haven't even made it public! You are the only one that knows."Fiona snapped but her father didn't reply.
"So you told him?I can't believe it." Fiona scoffed hard.
"He is your brother and he has the right to know." Martin replied to her, smoking hard.
"But I am also your daughter. You act as if I am your secretary. You don't treat me like your own blood. You are always after Lucas. Lucas is your son because I was born as a GIRL!" Fiona said,sniffing the tears away. She wouldn't want him to feed on her weakness.
Martin watched her doing her thing. Throwing tantrums,he would refer to her most times.
"All I have asked from you is to treat me like your own. I am your first child, your daughter but instead you treat Lucas like the golden child. I have used everything in me to prove myself to you. My blood, my sweat, my brain to make King's Group what it is today. And all I got from you is NOTHING. Not even a thank you." She said bitterly. Her make up was already soiled from the tears and sweat.
"You ought to thank me for giving you this privilege. I am the one who put you on that seat and I have every right to take you off. It will be just a matter of time before Lucas would come and claim his rightful place. So enjoy it while it lasts." He yelled at her. Feeling pissed for rudeness. She wasn't worthy to get all this entitlement and power. A woman shouldn't be given this authority because they could destroy the world. Martin thought.
Fiona king laughed manically, putting her father in a confused state. She walked closer to him in a demeaning way that made him tremble by her hard stare. Not of desperation but conviction.
"Thank you? Father, you should be glad that Lucas is still alive to be your golden boy. Tread carefully and play nice cause they won't be next time." She threatened with a stern face and walked to the door. Martin king felt threatened. He could see the hate in her eyes towards Lucas.
"You are just like your mother, hateful and deceitful." He seethed at her.
"That is why she left you because you are a coward and a loser." Fiona laughed wickedly and walked out of the room. Leaving him vulnerable by her words.