"Just continue the meeting. I'll leave it to my secretary," Aegypt said, glancing at and pointing to the young woman seated not far from him: Harellina.
The blonde woman, with thin glasses on her face, immediately turned with full attention.
"You handle this. Note all the decisions from the meeting, and report the final outcome to me. I will make the final decision later," Aegypt whispered in a firm, yet cold tone.
The woman nodded firmly. "Yes, Mr. Aegypt," she replied in a quiet but thoroughly professional voice.
Aegypt slowly rose from his chair, a movement that automatically drew all eyes in the room. He gave a simple hand signal.
Lexus, who had been sitting close by, immediately understood and moved to follow his boss's steps.
As Aegypt walked out of the meeting room, the two guards stationed at the door quickly bowed respectfully. They then followed Aegypt from behind, maintaining distance but remaining alert.
The company's long corridor echoed with the sound of Aegypt's leather shoes against the marble floor.
His gaze was sharp; his face showed no trace of doubt, even though his mind was in turmoil.
"Lexus," Aegypt called softly, but with full pressure.
"Yes, Sir?" Lexus answered quickly, adjusting his pace to walk alongside him.
"Please arrange a flight to Indonesia. My grandfather requested to be taken there immediately."
"Very well, Sir. I will see to it right away," Lexus replied without hesitation.
Their steps quickened toward the lobby. The large glass doors automatically opened as they approached. The cool outside air mixed with the evening breeze hit Aegypt's face.
But unbeknownst to them, not far away, a man dressed in a cleaning service uniform was pretending to mop the corridor floor. His movements were slow; his eyes peered out from under the worn cap he wore.
When Aegypt and his entourage passed, the man bowed low, feigning busyness. But his ears were focused on hearing every word.
"Indonesia..." he murmured softly, a faint smile on his lips.
As soon as Aegypt and the guards were far away, the man stopped mopping. He pushed his cap up slightly, revealing sharp eyes that glinted with purpose.
He deftly pressed a small button on a hidden microphone beneath his work uniform.
"Report, Sir. Target plans to leave for Indonesia today," he said quietly but clearly.
The connection was established with a dark, luxurious office, its location unknown. The room was filled with the scent of cigars and the faint glimmer of a crystal chandelier.
Behind a large, carved wooden desk, a man sat leaning back in a black leather chair. His face was obscured by shadow, but a thin, cynical smile was clearly visible.
"To Indonesia, hmm?" the man muttered, his voice heavy, full of irony. "What are you doing, Aegypt? Taking a vacation... before you die?"
He gave a small sneer, his fingers tapping the desk surface in a slow rhythm.
An assistant stood not far behind him, awaiting orders.
"Prepare a few men. Send them to Indonesia immediately. I want them there before Aegypt arrives." The man's voice sounded cold, piercing like a knife.
"As long as they don't fail, make sure everything goes according to plan," he added, this time in a deeper tone.
"Yes, Sir," the assistant quickly replied, bowing his head deeply.
The mysterious man's smile widened. "The game has just begun..." he whispered, staring blankly toward the large window with its curtains half-drawn.
An old man was standing straight in front of the door of a magnificent white house adorned with glittering gold accents in almost every corner.
Dressed in a neat dark brown suit and holding a carved wooden cane, he looked like a figure accustomed to leadership.
Antonio Lucian, he glanced at the gold wristwatch on his wrist. The hands seemed to deliberately play with his patience. His wrinkled old face suddenly scrunched up sharply.
"Where is that boy? Why is he taking so long?" he grumbled, his annoyance evident in his tone.
Shortly after, the roar of a car engine broke the silence. An elegant black sedan rolled in after the large automatic gate opened.
The smartly uniformed guards saluted while bowing slightly as the car passed them.
As it stopped in front of the main staircase, the car door opened. Aegypt stepped out in his formal gray suit, which enveloped his athletic body covered in faint tattoos.
Lexus followed on the other side, maintaining the calm demeanor typical of a loyal assistant.
Antonio immediately shot him a sharp look. "Why the delay?" he asked curtly, his voice loud in the morning air.
Aegypt gave a low snort, then stared directly at his grandfather. "I tried to be as quick as possible," he replied flatly.
Their gazes met in the air, full of tension. Neither was willing to back down.
Lexus, standing to the side, could only pretend to be busy adjusting his jacket to avoid getting dragged into the small storm between his boss and his boss's grandfather.
Aegypt then shifted his gaze, looking at the large suitcase standing next to Antonio's feet.
He narrowed his eyes. "What are you going to do in Indonesia that you need to bring a suitcase, Grandfather?" he asked with a cynical tone.
"I'm going to meet an old friend of mine," Antonio answered calmly, like a general used to facing resistance.
"Are you staying overnight?" Aegypt tried to confirm.
Antonio looked over briefly, then smiled faintly. "It's not just me who will be staying. You will too."
"What?!" Aegypt's voice rose, his expression clearly surprised. "Why didn't you discuss this with me first?"
Antonio merely tapped his cane gently on the floor, then walked casually toward the car. "I am discussing it now," he replied flatly, as if the decision was non-negotiable.
Lexus quickly stepped forward, opening the car door for Antonio. Meanwhile, Aegypt could only let out a loud snort, his jaw tight with suppressed emotion.
Lexus could barely hold back a small laugh that almost escaped his lips. Only Antonio Lucian was the one person who could make Aegypt, a respected and even feared CEO, appear so frustrated and utterly helpless.
One of Aegypt's subordinates quickly lifted the large suitcase, deftly placing it into the car trunk.
With reluctance, Aegypt got into the car and sat beside his grandfather. His face was clearly set in a scowl, but he couldn't refuse.
Lexus sat in the front seat, while his subordinate started the engine and drove the car away from the luxurious house.
Inside the leather-scented cabin, Antonio smiled warmly. "I'm glad you didn't refuse my request," he said, turning briefly.
Aegypt folded his arms across his chest, his eyes staring straight ahead. "Could I refuse?" his voice sounded bored.
"Of course not," Antonio replied casually, without an ounce of guilt.
The name Antonio Lucian was massive, not just in Italy, but in the international business world. However, to Aegypt, he was more than just a grandfather.
He was someone who always found a way to subdue him, whether with love or with authority.
Antonio suddenly took out a small paper bag and offered its contents. "Do you want some cake? Our maid brought it for the journey. It's still warm."
Aegypt turned with an raised eyebrow. "No. I'm avoiding sweet foods," he answered briefly, almost coldly.
"He says he wants to live long. But his diet is not healthy," Aegypt scoffed inwardly.
The atmosphere was quiet for a few moments. Only the sound of light rain beginning to hit the car window could be heard.
Antonio seemed to be calmly enjoying his cake, while Aegypt chose to look outside, following the traces of water drops.
"Aegypt Cardovan Lucian," Antonio said suddenly, in a serious tone.
Aegypt immediately turned quickly. "Stop calling me that. There's no Lucian after my name." His tone was full of rejection.
Antonio inhaled roughly, his face turning serious. "So when are you going to include the Lucian family name in yours?" he asked, this time with more pressure.
"Later. When I'm forty," Aegypt answered concisely, clearly wanting to end the topic.
Antonio slapped his thigh hard in frustration. "When you were ten, you said twenty years old. When you were twenty, you said thirty. Now you're thirty... and you say forty?! You keep doing this!"
Aegypt fell silent. His eyes stared blankly out the window, refusing to respond.
Behind his cold facade, his heart trembled. A burden he couldn't share with anyone, not even his grandfather. Aegypt knew why he always refused that name. He felt... unworthy.
Because the truth was, Aegypt was not born of the Lucian bloodline. He was an adopted son.
Antonio sighed deeply and then said, "Suit yourself. But I want you to promise one thing," Antonio said with a serious tone, making Aegypt turn toward him.
"No matter what, never hand over the company to your Uncle and Aunt. Even when I am no longer here," he continued.