The partnership

LUCAS’S POINT OF VIEW

“Sir, we need to leave, we have had a very rough and exhausting journey, you need to rest, sir”

One of my guards said while looking directly at me. I looked at the operating room and the light was still on. ‘Should I leave now? Maybe check back later.’ I asked myself quietly.

I dropped all my details with a nurse, and then I left with guards. When I got home I could not stop thinking about the lady. Why would she be lying unconscious on the road under the rain and bleeding profusely? Did she get run over by a car, or could have happened?

When I came out of the shower my phone rang, and I quickly answered it thinking it was from the hospital..

“Lucas, I have great news”

“Who is this?” “Tom.. Tom fontane.. You put me in charge of looking for your mother, remember?”

“Oh.. So how is it going?” I said and ran my hands through my hair.

“I am sorry, sir, but I think your mother got married to another man, after abandoning you..”

“What do you mean abandon? Did I ever tell you she abandoned me?!!!” I screamed and ended the call angrily.

I sat on my bed reminiscing, about how my mother left when I was only 3, and how my Nana raised me all on her own. I don't even know if my father exists or not.. I went to sleep with tears gushing out of my eyes.

(ONE WEEK LATER)

The car was ready to go, and I was dressed in one of my best suits my Nana gave me. ‘I flew down here to Los Angeles from Australia just for this meeting. Hopefully, it goes well.’ I thought to myself as I got into the car.

When we got to the building it was more than I expected. ‘Now this is what I am talking about’ I said and smiled at my guards. I got into the building and someone directed me to the office of the boss.

"I walked into the luxurious office, my eyes scanning the room until they landed on a man sitting behind the desk. He was younger than I had expected, with a smug expression that immediately put me on guard.

“Logan,” I said, my deep voice firm. “Thanks for agreeing to meet” I needed to sound like a man who knew what he was doing.

Logan looked up, his eyes tightening narrowly as he took in my imposing figure. “Lucas. I've heard a lot about your...business dealings”

I smiled, my eyes glinting with amusement. I felt proud of myself. “And I've heard about your family's...reputation” ‘Well I have not heard good things about the Blackwood family, but I wanted to give it a try’ I thought to myself while still smiling.

The air was thick with tension as both of us sized each other up, our words piercing through each other’s hearts.

“So, what can I do for you, Lucas?” Logan asked, his tone dripping with false courtesy. ‘I have heard from my other colleagues that Logan is a mama’s boy..Thankfully he didn't bring his mother to the meeting”

I leaned forward, my hands clenched together. “I think we can help each other, Logan. I have a proposition that could benefit both of us”

Logan raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. “I'm listening”

He said sharply and I smiled.

I leaned back in my chair, feeling like the boss, as I pressed my fingers “I have been looking to expand my oil company's reach into the US market. I believe we could work together to create a new venture”

Logan raised an eyebrow. “I'm not sure how my textile company can help with that”

I smiled. “Ah, but that's where you're wrong. You see, I've been looking into sustainable materials for oil production, and your company's creative textiles could be just what I need”

‘Just like the saying goes.. Tell people what they want to hear.. He should be impressed by all I have been saying, right?’

Logan’s eyes narrowed, intrigued. “Well, you are right, we are the best, of course, Go, on”

‘Felt like I was talking to a child with the way he kept smiling and running his hands through his hair.. Such an amateur’

I leaned forward again. “I propose we create a joint venture, using your textiles to create more efficient and sustainable oil production methods. In return, I'll provide funding and resources to help expand your company's reach into the Australian market”

‘Now, this should have him locked him’

Logan’s eyes widened as he grabbed the potential. “That's a bold move, Lucas. But I like it”

I nodded. “I thought you might. As a token of our new partnership, I'd like to offer you a deal on a shipment of rare Australian wool. It would be perfect for your high-end textile lines”

Logan’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Now that's something I can work with”

I stretched forth my hand to him, but before he could take it the door burst open and a woman walked in angrily. ‘She looks familiar’ I thought to myself.

“Logan, what is going on here?”

Logan looked held and kissed the woman on her lips. Then he looked back at her.

“Harper, this is Lucas. He was telling me about partnering with me”

I stretched forth my hand to shake her, but she hissed at me. ‘Wait, I know this lady.. Harper.. Harper Leigh? Fuck!’ I rolled my eyes, and I wanted the ground to swallow me.

“You are working with him after what he did to me, Logan? Why?” she hit him on his chest, and he held her hands. “Do you know Lucas?”

“Ah, Harper. I see you are still holding onto that grudge, right? That was years ago, please let it go”

I said with a faint smile on my face, and I rubbed my fingers together.

“Grudge?! He toyed with my feelings back then in Harvard!” she said to Logan who looked at me with rage in his eyes.

‘Of course, the universe had to bring in my ex from way back! I thought this suit was for luck. Fuck it!’

“Lucas, you seemed like a perfect gentleman. I am sorry but I can't work with you” Logan said without looking me straight in the eyes. “Harper, I thought we were both having fun back then..”

“Fun? You knew my feelings for you were real but you decided to play with my emotions and humiliated me.. Tell him to leave Logan or better still go down on his knees and apologize to me” Harper said to Logan who held her by her waist.

“Knee before you? I did what I had to do then. And I'm not apologizing for it” I said and immediately walked out of Logan’s office.

My phone rang when I got into my car, and it was a call from the hospital.