Chapter 6

The silence in the background wasn't enough to calm his nerves. As Lucien sat back, his swivel chair turning sideways, his fingers drummed on the desk. A thought creeps into his mind.

The first was about Aurther Sterling. The second was the mysterious lady.

Despite their marriage being based on a contract. A mere piece of paper. Guilt crept into his mind, overwhelming him deeply.

Lucien tries to shrug it off, under the excuse of not being in his right mind. He concluded that he had been taken advantage of, and there was no need to tell her.

The other reason was their marriage. The contract was a sheer reminder of how fake it was. The guilt he felt died down. Just like that. Vanished with just a snap of a finger.

Lucien opened his eyes slowly. Sounds of footsteps approached. He didn't need to guess. He recognized those footsteps anywhere.

Without warning, his father barged into his office. His eyes burned with fury. “Lucien,” his voice thundered. He shuts the door loudly, the sound echoing through the background.

Lucien had to check swiftly if it was still working, and it was. His father walked towards him. His steps slowed and were deliberate.

“What's this I heard about you not furthering your marriage with Evelyn?” He asked, his voice rising with each sentence.

Lucien had prepared himself already. At least he thought he had. He had the speech ready. His reasons, and they were justified.

But seated in front of his father, he wasn't intimidated. But intrigued.

His father was a businessman. One to never act recklessly. Sterling was falling and would collapse in time.

He knew his father like the back of his hand. There was no way he would get involved in a business, unless it didn't favour him.

Lucien sat up straight, his body settling on the chair. His attention was on his father now. Completely. “You could've just called,” he said, dryly.

His father's face almost turns red. “Call? This isn't a matter that requires calling?”

He shrugged. “You set up a meeting and I attended it. What else is the problem?” He retorted, trying to keep his tone controlled.

His father takes another step forward, pressing his hands on his desk. He stared straight at Lucien, his voice low and rough.

“Why don't you want to extend your contract with Evelyn?” He inquired. “It's just three more years. What's three more years?”

Lucien stared at his father in utter disbelief. He prides himself on not being a people-pleaser, but at the start, he did it because he saw potential in the company.

But they failed to prove themselves. And were of no use to him anymore.

“You say three years like it's nothing, father,” he scoffs. “My life needs to move forward too. I can't be tied down to her due to her father's incompetence and negligence. He had his chance and he failed.”

His words were sharp and blunt.

But that's how he's always been.

His father didn’t even move when Lucien finished speaking. He just stood there like he was waiting for him to calm down, like his words were nothing but noise in the air.

Then he let out a slow breath. “Done?” his father asked, voice cold.

Lucien leaned back slightly, jaw tight. “I said what I said.”

For a second, there was silence again. Heavy one. The kind that made the room feel smaller than it was.

His father finally straightened up, adjusting his suit like nothing had happened. Like Lucien didn’t just insult years of decisions in one sentence.

“You’re still going to meet her,” he said simply.

Lucien frowned immediately. “What?”

His father turned slightly, looking at him properly now.  “I already set it up. Tonight. Private restaurant. Just you and Evelyn.”

Lucien blinked once. Then twice.

He almost laughed. “You did what?”

His father didn’t flinch. “You heard me.”

Lucien stood up from the chair now, pushing it back slightly. The sound scratched the floor but he didn’t care.

“You don’t just set up my life like that,” he said, his voice lower now. Controlled but sharp. “I said I’m not extending anything. I made it clear.”

His father walked closer again, in slow steps, like he wasn’t afraid of anything Lucien would say. “And I heard you,” he replied. “But I also made my decision.”

Lucien scoffed. “This is ridiculous.”

His father stopped right in front of the desk again, hands behind his back.

“You think everything is just business, Lucien. Contracts, numbers, deals. But some things need face-to-face interaction. You don’t hide behind emails for everything.”

Lucien shook his head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“There is,” his father cut in quickly. “Three year extension. That’s what I want. That’s what Evelyn’s father agreed to.”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed a bit. “So this is already arranged behind my back?”

“It’s called negotiation,” his father said calmly. “You’ll sit, you’ll talk, and you’ll behave like a man, not a boy running from responsibility.”

That hit something, but Lucien didn’t show it.

He just let out a dry laugh. “So you’re forcing me now?”

“I’m not forcing you,” his father replied. “I’m giving you direction. There’s a difference.”

Lucien turned away for a second, running a hand through his hair. He was getting irritated now, not loud angry, just that slow-burning type.

“I’m not going,” he said finally.

His father didn’t answer immediately. That silence again. It was worse than shouting.

Then he spoke. “She will be there.”

Lucien paused.

He slowly turned back. “What?”

His father nodded once. “Evelyn agreed. She’ll be there. You just need to show up.”

Lucien stared at him like he couldn’t believe it.

“So you already told her too?” he asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

“Yes.”

Lucien let out a breath through his nose. “You really don’t think I get a say in anything, do you?”

His father’s expression didn’t change. “You always have a say. You just don’t always like the consequences.”

Lucien walked back around his desk now, hands resting on it, leaning slightly forward.

“This marriage was already fake from the start,” he said quietly. “I only did it because it benefited Sterling at the time. That time is gone.”

His father nodded slowly. “Maybe. But ending it like this without proper discussion is careless.”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” Lucien repeated.

His father finally stepped back a little, adjusting his cufflinks now like the conversation was already decided.

“You’ll go,” he said again. Not as a question this time.

Lucien looked at him, completely still.

His father headed toward the door, stopping only once with his hand on the handle.

“Tonight. Eight PM. Don’t be late.”

Lucien didn’t reply.

The door opened, then closed again with a sharp sound, leaving the room even quieter than before.

Lucien stood there for a moment, staring at nothing. Then he exhaled slowly, like he was holding something back.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath.

And for the first time that day… he wasn’t sure if he was more annoyed about the contract. Or the fact that Evelyn would actually be there.