Chapter 36: Chapter 36

I get up, throwing the comforter on one side and groaning like a maniac.

I don’t want to do this. Besides, it’s only a matter of time before Lucas finally brings the company down. He is influential and determined enough to do that.

I’ve been so busy, I barely have time to think and I’m glad about that.  At least it keeps me away from the fact the I’m pregnant. I don’t ponder about it much, simply because I didn’t have the time to.

It takes me some time to prepare breakfast and feed it to Tim. I head to the office. In between the journey, I think of Tim. I have to get him enrolled in a school. He can’t just stay home. He is reaching his age to be in school but I have such a huge mess to deal with.

I can’t give Tim a better life, how will I deal with this baby. I would even think about aborting it if I could give it a better life but I’ve failed awfully with Tim.

I finally reach the horrific building. My imagination goes wild and I imagine the building as a fiend, ready to swallow me down as a whole.

I sigh, then take a deep breath and finally step in. I can’t stand in front of the doorstep for eternity, I have to go in one way or another.

Reaching Noah’s office, I am greeted by John and Stacy.

“ You guys are here earlier than me? “ I ask, confused.

“ No, we’re on time. “ They reply back in union.

“ Oh, I guess I am late. “ I reply dejectedly.

“ I’m sorry, it takes a lot of time to reach here. Especially if you have to catch the bus. “ I blurt out.

“ The bus? But you can afford a car. “ Stacy points out.

“ I can, but none of this feels like mine. I can’t use whatever wealth Noah left. It doesn’t feel like mine. I didn’t work for it. “ I explain my bizarre feelings towards the whole ordeal.

Normally,  someone wouldn’t think like that but I can’t help feel this way.

“ What about the investor? “ John asks and I recollect yesterday night.

My exchange with Lucas did not go so well.

“ I’ll talk to the investor personally. Can you please get me his phone number?” I ask Stacy.

She nods her head and comes back with the phone number while John leaves.

I dial the number and to my surprise, he picks it up. Must be his personal number I guess.

“ Hello, Mr- “ I star but I’m cut off.

“ Ah, I was expecting a call. Things like this can’t be discussed over the phone. How about we meet somewhere. I’m sure we can find a way to continue the investments. “ He replies slyly.

I find his tone a little off but then ignore it. I soon cut the call, noting the fact that I have to meet him at a restaurant.

“ Do you know where it is? “ I ask Stacy, telling her the name of the restaurant.

She nods.

“ It’s quite far from here. When did he invite you for lunch? “ She asks.

“ At 5 pm. “

“ That’s more like dinner. Odd timing. “ She comments.

“ Odd man. “ I reply and we both end up giggling.

“ You should change the setting, that’s too far. You’ll have to leave at 3 pm keeping in note the traffic hours. “ She reminds and I nod.

I text the investor to meet me at a nearby restaurant.

I then get occupied with my work. Stacy helps me through almost everything and I am able to understand it to some extent.

The day goes on and at 3, almost everyone leaves for lunch. I decide to call Tim and check on him.

We share a small conversation and I can tell by his tone he isn’t happy with all this. I miss him too.

I look at the wall clocks and then at the bundle of papers in front of me. I’ll be going for lunch at 5 anyways, I can control my hunger for a little time.

I don’t have it in me to go fetch a coffee and neither do I like asking others, it feels rude to me. I am not used to it. In short, I starve myself.

Finally, at 4:30, I leave the office and scurry to the restaurant. John offers to drop me but I deny him politely.

I reach the restaurant and do not spot the investor at all. I take a table and decide to order since I’m starving.

I look through the order and I’m met with disappointment. They have Italian dishes yet no fries!

I order a fruit salad with dressing and a sandwich. I’ll be getting some real food later on.

After I happily place my order and wait for my food my eyes spot a notorious presence.

I find Lucas sitting at one of the corners of the restaurant with a woman.

Before I can quickly divert my eyes, he spots me and smiles in my direction. He excuses himself and starts walking towards me.

I lift the file of papers I carried with me to hide from him by he just takes the seat in front of me.

“ You can put that down now. “ He comments and I put it down, rolling my eyes on the process.

“ Why are you here? “ I ask, annoyed.

“ I’m with a business associate. “ He replies, referring to the woman.

“ A woman?” I ask, rasing my brow.

“ Well, that’s quite sexist of you to say. “ He replies back chuckling. His deep husky voice radiating in my ears.

“ I’m not being sexist, I’m just well aware of your reputation. “ I comment dryly.

“ Now get aside, my order has arrived. “

The waiter serves it on the table and I smile seeing my food. The aroma hits me and I grab the sandwich about to take the first bite.

“ This one has mushrooms. “ He points out.

I ignore him and take the first bite. I immediately sense the enormous amount of mushrooms present in it and leave it on the plate.

“ Told you. Why’d you order it if you don’t like mushrooms? “ He asks.

“ I didn’t read through the ingredients. It’s not my fault I was extremely hungry. “ I claim, eating my fruit said grumpily.

“ Haven’t you eaten anything till now? It’s evening now Emma. Did you even have breakfast? “ He bombards me with these questions, scolding me like a child.

Before I can answer him, the investor arrives.

“ Why is he here? “ He asks eyeing the investor suspiciously.

The investor in return greets Lucas warmly but Lucas just shrugs it off not paying much heed to him.

“ He is here to discuss some important thing with me. Things related to business. Things that do not concern you at all. “ I point out so that he can finally leave.

“ With a woman? “ He asks, scoffing.

Using my dialogue on me. I can’t even get offended on it now.

“ Get your brain cleaned. “ I utter.

“ I’m saying this because I am well aware of the reputation he carries. “ He states, right in front of the man.

“ Just leave. I asked you for help. Remember what you did? “ I remind him of how he touched me in the lift, of how he was no different than other men

He looks down, somewhat ashamed, and then finally leaves.

“ I’m sorry for that. “ I say, to the investor.

“ No worries. Do you know Mr Knight? Are…are you related to him in any way? “ He queries with uncertainty.

“ No, I do not know him. “ I lie.

“ Well Emma, I’ll be honest with you. No one sane enough will invest in your company. “ He states, disappointing me.

“ But I understand your situation. I feel like I can reconsider my decision…if you make some arrangements. “ He implies.

“ I’m sorry, what? “ I ask confused.

“ Let’s benefit from the station. You help me, I help you. It’s not new. A lot of women do that. “ He asserts, extending his hand forward to touch me.

Finally understanding his words, I look at him disgusted.

Without saying anything, I leave.

I go straight out of the restaurant and the pig follows me.

“ Don’t you dare come near me or I’ll call the police. “ I threaten, getting my phone out.

Everything right now disgusts me.

The pig doesn’t step back and I call the cops. Before I can say a word, the pig snatches my phone.

“ Give me my phone back, because if you don’t not only will you be charged for harassment or even theft too. “ I threaten, but it has no impact on him.

It’s like he isn’t even afraid of the legal actions.

“ Give her phone back. “ A voice booms from behind. I look back to see it’s Lucas and this is the first time seeing him actually makes me happy.

He steps towards me and blocks that swine’s path.

He hugs me to comfort me and he turns back.

“ What do you think you were doing? “ He asks, extremely bothered.

“ I..I was..I thought she wasn’t related to you in any way. “ He stutters.

“ Even if she wasn’t, a no means no. Get that? “ Lucas asks, grabbing his collar in a threatening manner. Not posing any physical damage yet.

“ She didn’t say no. She just scurried away. “ The man exclaims.

“ Oh, and you are too dumb to comprehend what that meant. Don’t fucking test me you dick. Now pass me the fucking phone. “ Lucas grits out.

The man passes my phone to Lucas with shaky hands, and Lucas hands it over to me.

“ Make sure you sanitize it. “ He states, eyeing the man with disgust laced in his voice.

He grabs me and leads me away from him. We walk two steps away before Lucas stops. I can feel his whole body shaking in anger. It’s like he is controlling his outrage with much effort.

But alas! He failed.

He sharply turns backhand punches the man right on his face swiftly. It happens so suddenly that I am not able to comprehend it.

When I look back, all I see is the man knocked out I the cold concrete.

“ Is he dead? “ I ask scared.

“ No, I wish though. The motherfucker is only knocked out cold. Let’s go. “ He states.

He again grabs me and leads me to his car. We both settle in.

“ You shouldn’t have gone there. I warned you, Emma. “ He scolds, still angry.

“ Did I have any other option, Lucas?  “ I ask, with tearful eyes.

“ I was suddenly thrown into a world I knew nothing of. Everyone is after one another, after money and the new information I learned is if you’re a woman the only way you can climb up the ladder is by sleeping with random men. “ I state, weeping.

“ It’s not like that Em. I’m sorry you had to see the wrong side of this but not everyone is like that fucker.“ He says trying to calm me down.

“ It…This must…make you very happy. You wanted to see…me suffer didn’t you Lucas? “ I ask.

He shakes his head in negative.

“ I didn’t want this to happen I you Emma. I love you. “ He repeats those awful words again.

“ You don’t hurt the ones you love Lucas. You put me through this hell. You made me go through it and you knew exactly what you were doing this is all your fault. “ I exclaim.

“ I am sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. It’s not like I wanted this to happen to you. I wanted to punish you for trying to abort my baby. But I’m a possessive man Emma, I wouldn’t want any other man to look at you. This isn’t the end of it, just wait and watch. I will make him suffer. “ Lucas promises me with determination in his eyes. I do not doubt that he will do exactly that.

“ I just want you to leave me alone Lucas. “ I mutter, defeated. I’m tired of this.

“ That’s not happening and you know that. You’re mine. “ He says, still adamant.

“ No, I’m not. “ I scream in frustration, I open the door to get out when suddenly my vision gets blurry.

Lucas gets out behind me, but I am able to handle myself.

I take a step away from the car when the world turns black for me and I go unconscious.

Before I completely blackout, the last thing I see is falling back into Lucas’s arms.