Chapter 82: Chapter 82

CHAPTER 39

Everyone is seated, including Luke. Caleb has arrived too, and I can't help but try to peer into his soul. He was hiding something, I was sure of it. The tension seemed to have gotten stronger. I look at Mr. Keats. He looks at me, understanding what my eyes are saying. He needed to support whatever would benefit me today.

"This meeting was called for one purpose; to pass the bill that Lucas Carrington here, may be terminated as C.O.O, and relieved of all his duties." I say, my eyes falling on him. He looks calm, his hands joined together.

"Natalie, please. We need to talk. Can everyone excuse us? Don’t do this.” He asks.

"My apologies, mate, but I can't leave this one here. Not even for a second." Alex responds.

"You've no right to tell me when to speak to my wife!" I hear Luke respond, and I freeze in my chair. Wife? Did he just say wife?

"She's not your wife. She's not your wife." I hold Alex's arm. What the hell was wrong with him today? He was being too defensive and I didn't like it much.

"Ex-wife, Carrington." I say, raising my hand up. My ring finger is visible. I feel some type of way the moment I see Luke's facial expression change. At first, it's fear, then shock, then hurt and then shock again. "I'm married to another. Alex here, is my husband, and as such," I say, looking at all the board members present. "He's given me his 33% share as a wedding gift."

Someone walks in. "I believe, this is the board meeting? I apologize for my tardiness." Judge Lahey says. I try to avoid eye contact with him as I look on. "Reporters are outside, it's all over the news. That's how I found out about this meeting."

"What's all this drama about?" A member of the board asks. Oh, shut up, with your 2 percent shares.

Caleb begins, "You May begin casting your votes in the ballot box."

"Before we begin— Natalie, I really need to have a word with you. Please.”

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Then, he, he has no right to be here! He's not a member." Luke barks, anger visible on his face. His eyes were red. He was upset.

"Alex, pleas—

"You're not asking me to leave, are you?"

"Please. This, this important to me." I say to Alex. He has a blank expression on his face. He gets up, picks his coat and heads out. I look at Luke. I look away, annoyed.

"We may begin." Caleb says.

The votes have begun. My eyes are fixated on Caleb, although I know he's not going to try anything funny. However, I had a strange feeling about him. There was something awfully wrong about him. He wasn't loyal to Luke, I knew that, but there was something, my instincts told me that there was something more to Caleb's identity. My mind drifts off to Jennifer and her last moments.  Jennifer had mentioned Caleb helping her with her debts and overhearing Caleb multiple times. Could Caleb be—

"Ms. Richardson?" I'm jerked out of my thoughts as soon as I hear my name. "It's your turn." Caleb says and I get up, with my paper in hand, my name already ticked. I walk to the ballot box. I look around the room, and at the people present. I'd come a long way. It was still so surreal, that I'd become this person so thirsty for revenge. I cast my vote into the ballot box. Luke reaches the spot where I am. I can feel the tension between us. It's strong. He casts his vote, and I can feel his eyes burning holes into my body. I ignore, and head to my seat.

"I'll begin counting." Caleb says.

****

I'm on the first floor, walking towards the ground floor. I smile as I reminisce the moment the results were announced.

"For the dismissal of Lucas Carrington as Chief Executive Officer, forty eight percent agreed, two percent abstained and forty percent disagreed. The dismissal of Lucas Carrington has therefore, been accepted." Caleb says and the room goes quiet. There are silent murmurs. I look at Luke. He looked defeated, his face expressionless. The very men that stood against me for his sake, betrayed him. I wondered how he felt. I get up, "Thank you very much, for your cooperation, gentlemen. I'd like us to have another meeting, at 8, tonight. Seldson Meester. Please, be there. I have a very generous offer."

***

Someone grabs my hand from behind as I'm walking. "What the hell?" It's Luke. "Let me go." I say through gritted teeth.

"Why did you do that to me?" He asks. His tone is calm. He doesn't look upset.

"Do what? Let me go!" I yell, trying to drag my hand out of his grip.

"You're so stubborn! I begged you, I had something to say! You've no idea what you've done, Natalie."

I laugh, amazed at his audacity. "You begged me? You're a hypocrite, Luke. I begged you that night! I was carrying your child, yet you threw me out in the rain! I begged you!" I say, finally freeing myself. I give him a tight slap. "Don't you ever play the victim, ever again."

Now, his eyes are red, although, they look watery. His shoulders are dropped. His head, hung down. "I was wrong." He looks at me, this time his eyes are really watery. "I'm sorry, Natalie. I'm sorry, my love." He says, and I take a step back, my heartbeat increasing drastically. He continues, "I know you didn't cheat, I should have listened to you, I should have believed you. I-I, Rocky told me. He told me everything, and I know, I know he's my son, Natalie." I'm unable to say a word, as I stand there frozen. He gets on his knees. "Please, Natalie, forgive me." He continues, this time, crying. I blink my eyes, unable to process what's happening.

"Forgive me, Natalie. Please, forgive me. I was horrible to you and our son." I hear him say. I turn around and begin to walk away. I couldn't tell what I was feeling. My mind was blank. He rushes behind me and holds my arm again. "Please, Natalie. Please, I just need one last chance. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, my love." My phone vibrates in my hand. I look at it. It's a text message. It's from Caterham. "Your ward left some of her belongings behind. Please we would love you to come get them." I see, and fear enters my spine. Bloody hell. Laurel had left the hospital. With whom? I begin to panic, ignoring Luke who's still talking behind me. Just as I'm about to continue going my way, the cops rush in. I freeze again, my heart racing and my stomach, tied in knots. I look away, trying to pull myself together. I needed to play it cool.