Chapter 18: Chapter 18

2019

Lucas’s POV

You smell nice! And you look amazing! Those were the two statements that were at the top of my tongue as Pearl walked out of the other room in my penthouse. She had shown up as I told her much to my surprise and the stylist I’d hired had immediately taken her away from my sight while I also tried to get ready.

I’ve been done for almost thirty minutes but I had to wait for her to get ready. I was angry but all that dissolved when she walked out looking like a bag of gold. It was worth the wait. The stylist had asked me to select my preferred dress and I’d dismissed him, telling him to do whatever the hell he wanted and now, I don’t regret trusting him with her.

“So, what do you say, Mr. Anderson?” The stylist asked.

I swallowed hard while trying not to take another good look at her. “Let’s go. The driver is waiting,” I told her.

She nodded and collected her small purse from the stylist. I walked to the counter and gave the stylist his check, balancing his payment before I urged him to leave the house so I could leave as well.

As soon as he left, I turned to Pearl, “What are you waiting for?” I asked her.

She heaved a sigh, “I don’t want to do this,”

“Do what?” I asked sternly.

“I don’t want to go with you,” She replied.

“Why? You regret going with me instead of Sebastian,” I asked her.

“Yes,” She replied, closing her eyes as the words came out of her mouth. Disappointment clouded my senses and I clenched my fist, trying to control my anger.

“Do whatever you want, Pearl,” I pulled at my tie, removed my suit, and reached out for my shoes. Her hands suddenly held mine, stopping me.

“What are you doing?” She shrieked.

“Get away from me,” When she didn’t listen, I yelled, “MOVE AWAY AUGUSTUS,” She shook visibly as she took two gentle steps away from me. She was scared. I looked down at her shaky hands and I immediately grabbed them.

“What? Did you think I was going to hit you? Am I now a monster to you, Sil? Don’t act like you don’t know me more than anybody else?”

“No, I don’t really know who you are. It’s been seven years,” She responded.

I dropped her hand and this time, it was my turn to move away from her. She was right, it’s been seven years and that means, I can’t even trust her as much as I’m trying to do.

“People are already waiting for you, I think we should go,” She suggested.

“I don’t want to see your face, Leave, Pearl,”

“I’ll leave but I think you should go. Don’t disappoint your parents,” Her statement made me laugh so hard my stomach ached.

“You just gave me a reason to actually attend that party. My parents, yeah, why did I forget I was attending for a reason like that,” I stared at her. “You’re going with me and I won’t take a no for an answer,”

I grabbed hold of her hand and I was surprised she didn’t fight me off, probably she believed I was going for the benefit of my parents. I didn’t ask them to throw the prodigal son a welcome party and I hope they regret it.

The limousine I hired was waiting outside and as soon as the driver saw us, he opened the door and we both got in. During the ride, I could barely look away from her, her cologne had occupied the entire space and it was like I could smell her everywhere.

“Next time, don’t use such a strong perfume around me,” I warned.

“Don’t worry, there won’t be a next time,” She replied confidently. I rested my head against the seat and smirked.

“Don’t deceive yourself, Sil,”

she cracked a knuckle, “I’m to be engaged to Sebastian,”

When I didn’t give a response, she spoke up, “I guess you’re aware,” She whispered. I closed my eyes trying to get away from the talks about what I already know or not. I knew from the start of the arrangement. An arrangement that’ll never be possible.

We got to the party and walked in side by side, there was no need to hold hands or walk hand in hand, having her beside me was enough. They knew not to mess up with her. I walked closer to where both of my parents were standing, my father with a big smile on his face, holding out his hands.

“Stay here and don’t move until I tell you to,” I whispered to Pearl.

“Why?” She asked. “I’m not a mannequin” She spat

“Please,” She stared at me and nodded, making me at ease.

I moved closer to my parents and smirked. “You got what you wanted, a good advert for your business. The prodigal son is back, you’ve thrown him a party and that will put such an amazing good light on your image,” I said immediately.

“This is a public place, Lucas,” My father’s wife added.

“Ooh, my apologies Racheal, I almost forgot we love doing things in secret, I mean dark things,” She arched her brow and looked around.

“What is wrong with you, Lucas? Have some respect for your father,”

“He knows better than to ask for my respect because he lost that years ago. To hell with you both,” I spat. Keeping up with the pretense of the happy home that they wanted, I kissed both of her cheeks before walking away.

As I moved closer to Pearl, I saw her attention fixated on the other side of the room. I turned to check what it was and I frowned, realizing it was Sebastian. My frown relaxed when I saw a replica of her standing beside Sebastian. I almost smiled when I finally saw her as well after a very long time. It was Aurora and it was good to see her again.

I urged Pearl to walk with me so I could go talk to my old friends, it’s been seven years since I last saw them, and avoiding them would have been the better option if Aurora had not been standing there.

Before we got closer to them, Aurora had walked up to meet with us.

“Hi, I’m Aurora. Her twin sister” It seems as if she couldn’t recognize me.

“I can see that” I replied.

“Can I talk to her for a moment?” She asked. I turned to Pearl and whispered some words in her ear before I left her with Aurora to talk with the guys.

She nodded gently.

I took that moment to walk toward the boys. I could foresee how the conversation would end up. It’s been a while and I don’t expect things to be the same. As I moved closer to them, I could see Derek’s fist was clenched as he placed his hand on the counter table next to him. Good, let’s get the plan stated. I needed to capitalize on Derek’s anger.

“It’s been a while, Lucas,” Sebastian stretched out his hand for a shake with a small smile on his lips. I stared at his hand in disappointment because I was expecting a friendly hug or pat and a handshake was the last thing I expected. A frown appeared on my face as I stared at the three of them.

They looked different from when I’d left, grown and even Henry groomed his beards. Derek still look like a motherfucker who couldn’t wait to beat my ass up but Sebastian, he looked like something was missing from his life. I left them for seven years and two looked fucked up already. What an Irony!

I smirked.

“What’s funny?” Derek asked, angrily, his jawlines clenched as he took a step towards me. Of the ten thousand people who knew about my disappearance, Derek was the only person who had a clue as to why I left.

“What do you think? Looking at your pathetic face is supposed to make me angry but seeing that you’re pathetic gives me a sense of satisfaction, traitor,”

He closed his eyes for a second before throwing a punch at my face. I happily let him push him to the floor and throw punches at me while I landed just two on his face. As we got separated, I looked at my father fuming in anger and that was it. I successfully destroyed this one hell of a party.

I began laughing. Derek was in a moment of rage while every other person was in bewilderment.

They might think I’m crazy and truly, I am. I’m Lucas Anderson, the one crazy hell of a man.