Part 2

Luc’s POV:

I blared the horn at the truck in front of me. Everything was worse from the morning. My sleep was disturbed by the old memories, and I woke up late. I had already sent James to the office with all the necessary documents. I had to be at 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 were one of the top manufacturers in Air Crafts and recently stepped into Helicopters. It was Jack's idea.

Thinking of Jack made me zoned out, and I came back with a start when I heard someone honking from m back. The truck was nowhere to be seen now, and I cursed myself for getting distracted. I then saw her smiling and waving at me. It was the same female from the restaurant yesterday and was wearing an oversize sweatshirt and stone-washed denim. The sweatshirt was oversized. I know she was not those skinny females. Why can't she dress appropriately?

I saw her running towards my car. Ha, another Gold Digger trying to catch me. No, my girl, this direct approach would never work. I rolled down my window to tell her to find someone else. She crossed and went to the other vehicle behind me. I snapped back to see her hopping in that car. She was smiling at the guy in the other vehicle. How stupid of me! Oh God, this could have been embarrassing. But I was surprised to feel the pang of jealousy shook me seeing her laughing with another guy.

I eased my car inside the parking lot. My driver was waiting, ready to drive the vehicle to my private parking lot. I loved driving. Recently that was the only way to ease away my worries and tension. So I started to go to the office in the morning and made my driver wait in my office to pick up the car once I reached the office.

James was already in my room. He looked severe and mouthed that it was ten already. I nodded my head to show that I understood and reached my seat. My phone rang as soon as I sat on my desk. I signalled James to do the usual and pressed to answer.

"Lucian Alastair." I snapped.

"Good morning Luc, baby. I know it is you. Did you dream about me? I know you were. You look zoned out for the whole ten minutes in the middle of traffic. Don't worry, darling, and your dream will come true soon," she cooed on the phone.

How the hell did she know? Was she watching us the whole time? James's alert eyes were on me immediately. I understood that he was also thinking on the same line.

"Who the hell are you?" I shouted at her.

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

James mouthed me to continue the call as he needed more time to trace it.

I mentally counted to ten to calm myself.

"What do you want?" I asked in a controlled tone.

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

I crushed the phone hard that it hurt 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 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 was disconnected. I kept staring back at the phone when James stood in front of me. I looked at him but already got the answer in 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 questioned James, knowing he was also equally puzzled as me.

I saw James booking a Suite in Mandarin. "What the hell are you doing?" I shouted at him as I finally realized his actions.

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

I slumped in my seat, understanding that he was correct. Who was it? Why suddenly coming into the picture after one year? How did she know about Jack and Diaz? Was there any mole inside my office?

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

I nodded and left to the conference room where my board was waiting for me. I felt that I got up on the wrong side of the bed. It was going to be a long day.

Three hours later...

"How was the meeting? Were they able to accept your demands?" James queried mildly.

"Negotiations completed. Our Eurasian COO is traveling tomorrow for the final agreement. All set to go." I smirked back. For me, it was always either my way or none. No adjustments ever. But I should say I was slightly worried as I was not entirely into the meeting today.

I was zoned out towards the call today, but mainly on one specific smile. Was it a coincidence that I saw her twice consecutively? I was intrigued to find about her, but how to? What will James think if I instruct him to find about her. He probably thought that apocalypse was near because I asked to check about two females in two days, especially when I did not know one thing about them. I chuckled, thinking about his reaction.

"Any progress from your side?" I asked in a severe tone.

James hesitated 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 barked back.

"Just listen out," James sighed. "We still don't have an idea on what is she having with her. I am not asking you to comply with her demands. We need to catch her in person, and so we need to act as if we are accepting her demands. We still 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 shook my head, still not able to accept 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 could not tackle my conscience. The least I could do was not disturbing their peace of mind.

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

"Mr. Alastair, you need to check on the final list of gearbox manufacturers for the next two years of the contract. Our old alliance 'Worth Manufacturers' is also on the list."

"Thanks, Mitch. I will look into it."

"Yes, Sir. To remind you that our next batch starts in another 20 days, and we need to finalize the contract by Monday." Mitch left the room immediately. She was always like that. Be specific on your point, and no-nonsense was her motto.

"Why are you looking for a new one? We never had any issue with our old suppliers. They are supplying gearboxes for the past six years. "James asked in a curious tone.

"I know. It's not I am unhappy with them. But there is no harm in checking on new alliances."

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