Part 2

Luc’s POV:

I blare the horn at the truck in front of me. Everything seems worse from morning. My sleep was disturbed with the old memories and I woke up late. I had already sent James to office with all necessary documents. I have to be in my office in another 30 minutes for a cross continental meeting with my Japan office. We recently acquired a heavy industry and some issues prevailed still on the merger. We are one of the top manufactures in Air Crafts and recently stepped into Helicopters. This was Jack’s idea.

Thinking of Jack make me zone out again and I come back with a start hearing someone honking at back. The truck is nowhere seen now and I curse myself getting distracted. That’s when I see her smiling and waving at me. The same female from the restaurant yesterday. She is wearing an oversize sweatshirt and stone washed denim. The sweat shirt is literally over-sized. She does not look like those skinny females. Why can’t she dress properly?

I see her running towards my car. Ha, another Gold Digger trying to catch me. No my girl, this direct approach will never work with me. I roll down my window to tell her to find someone else, but she crosses my car to the vehicle behind me. I turn back to see her hopping in that car. She is smiling at the guy in the other car. How stupid of me! Oh God, this could have been embarrassing. But I am surprised to feel the pang of jealousy that shook me seeing her laughing with other guy. I start my car and drive towards my office.

I ease my car inside the parking lot. My driver is waiting ready to take over the car to my private parking lot. I love driving. Recently this is the only way to ease away my worries and tension. So I started to drive to office in the morning and made my driver to wait in my office to pick up the car once I reach office.

James is already in my room. He looks serious and mouths that it is 10 already. I nod my head to show that I understand. My phone rings as soon as I sit in my chair. I signal James to do the usual and pressed to answer.

“Lucian Alastair.” I snap.

“Good morning Luc baby. I know it is you. Did you dreamt about me? I know you would have. You were zoned out for whole ten minutes in middle of traffic. Don’t worry darling, your dream will come true soon” she coos in the phone.

How the hell does she know? Is she watching us the whole time? James alert eyes on me says that he is also thinking in the same line.

“Who the hell are you?” I shout at her.

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Do you still want to provoke me even after seeing the picture?”

James mouths me to continue the call as he need more time to trace it. I mentally count to ten to calm myself.

“What do you want?” I ask in a controlled tone.

“Sweetheart, I told you already. I want you. Let’s meet Thursday evening 8:00 at Mandarin. Book us a Suite like a sweetie, will you?”

I crush the phone hard that it hurts my palm. One more squeeze and it might break.

“And Lucian, don’t you dare to act at my back. All the magazines are eagerly expecting for my next hint. I hope you are smart to understand. Tell James not to sweat on finding me. Coz, you cannot.”

And suddenly the line is disconnected. I keep staring back at the phone when James stand in front of me. I look at him but already guess the answer by his expression. No luck.

“She is watching us the whole time. She should have been near us in the restaurant too. How the hell did she know my schedule?” I question James knowing he is also equally puzzled as me.

I see James booking a Suite in Mandarin. “What the hell are you doing?” I shout at him, finally realizing his actions.

“Luc, we have to be careful. Since this female knows all our actions, she might also check if we are complying her demands. We cannot risk her taking serious actions. I don’t want to risk, in case of she is checking with Mandarin if any Suite is booked.”

I slump in my seat understanding that he is correct. Who is it? Why is she suddenly coming into picture after 2 years? How does she know about Jack and Diaz? Most important, is there any mole inside my office?

James shakes his head gravely when I ask the same to him. “I too am equally puzzled like you Luc. But, I will try to break this puzzle. Your meeting with Japan team is in another ten minutes. You go ahead for the meeting. Let me dig into this issue.”

I nod and leave to the conference room where my board is waiting for me. I feel that I got up on the wrong side of bed. It is going to be long day.

Three hours later....

“How was the meeting? Were they able to accept to your demands?” James queries mildly.

“Negotiations completed. Our Eurasian COO is travelling tomorrow for final agreement. All set to go.” I smirk back. For me it is always either my way or none. No adjustments ever.

My thoughts are zoned out towards the call, but mainly on one specific smile. Is it coincidence that I saw her twice consecutively? I am intrigued to find about her, but how? What will James think if I instruct him to find about her. He will probably think that apocalypse is near because I ask to find about two females in two days, especially when I do not know one thing about them. I chuckle thinking about his reaction.

Coming back to reality, “Any progress from your side?” I ask in a serious tone.

James hesitates a second too long for me to guess the answer. “No luck so far. You have to go ahead with her demands on meeting her on Thursday”

“Cut it. I am not going to dance on some cheap *****’s tune.” I bark back.

“Just listen out” James sighs. “We still don’t have an idea on what kind of data she is having. I am not asking you to comply her demands. We need to catch her red handed. So we act as if we are accepting her demands. More than that, we don’t know if it is a single female or a group acting on our back. And don’t forget about the mole. Else how come she knows so much about you?”

I shake my head still not able to accept on his words.

“Think about your parents and Thea. They have just recovered from Jake’s death. I don’t think they can face another controversy soon.”

God! My parents and my little sister Thea. I have distanced from them since Jake’s death. I know they didn’t blame me for that, but I cannot tackle my own conscience. The least I can do is to not disturb their peace of mind.

Mitchel enters the room with a tap on the door. She was the chief assistant for my father the past ten years and now mine.

“Mr. Alastair, you need to check on the final list of gear box manufacturers for the next two years of contract. Our old alliance ‘Worth Manufacturers’ is also in the list.”

“Thanks Mitch. I will look into it.”

“Yes Sir. Just to remind you that our next batch starts in another 20 days and we need to finalize the contract by Monday.” Mitchel leaves the room immediately. She is always like that. Be specific on your point and no nonsense is her motto.

“Why are you looking for new one? We never had any issue with Worth Manufacturers. They were supplying gearboxes for past 6 years. “James asks in a curious tone.

“I know. It’s not that I am unhappy with them. But there is no harm in checking on new alliances.”

“If you say so.” James knows when to close the conversation. “And, Luc I will be your chauffeur till Thursday as I cannot rule out anyone in benefit of doubt.” James leaves the room with a nod.