Transfer of ownership

Alora

A sudden, sharp pang struck my heart at the realization staring me in the face.

Lucas had his eyes buried down, as though there was something he wasn’t telling me, something I wasn’t aware of.

Which looked greatly odd.

“Get your arms off this minute!” I turned to the security. Levi’s hesitation was mirrored, but then the other gripped tightly, pulling me out of the conference room even before I had the time to bring my phone out of my purse.

I felt a rush of anger, pain, and something more as he led me toward the elevator but then let go. I was sure going to leave him jobless by the time I placed a call.

“Madam, I’m sorry, but I would advise you to leave now. I wouldn’t want to apply pressure,” Levi spoke, and I could picture him summoning all his courage to put it into words.

That look on his face already told me everything, but I looked away instead, bringing out my phone from my purse and dialing a number.

“I’ll get back to you shortly,” he replied over the phone, and it hung up on me, still pretty much in my arms and ears.

I glared at the phone and then back to the two security men who stood glaring with impatience. Everything wasn’t alright.

Why did he hang up the call on me just like that? But something else flickered in my thoughts. Why was Lucas seated at the top executive seat alongside Sonia?

I didn’t dwell much on those thoughts as I stormed into the elevator and pressed the floor number, making sure to keep my breath unhitched as I tugged the strands of my hair, putting them in place and tapping my face slowly to adjust my makeup, ignoring the two securities behind me.

Each minute ticked faster, but whatever it was, I was so sure Nathan wasn’t going to pull my legs.

Shortly, I was seated in the car, the air increasingly hot despite the full air conditioning as I awaited his call.

“Ma’am, is everything alright?” James asked for the umpteenth time, but each time only earned a smile that didn’t reach my heart.

After a few minutes, with someone’s lingering eyes glued to the entrance, I finally dialed his number again, but this time, it went straight to voicemail.

What the heck was happening?

I turned to James. “Take me to Bretfords.”

He looked stunned but didn’t say a word as he started the engine and drove out of the company.

On the streets, my heart tugged with unease. I had imagined that by now, Sonia and Lucas should be covering their faces in shame by the time I executed my plans. But right now, seated in the back seat, driving toward the family law firm, I didn’t even know what was going on in my thoughts.

Why was Nathan’s number suddenly unreachable? That had never happened in the last two years. He was my personal adviser, the same I had kept hidden.

Shortly, we arrived at Bretfords, and I alighted. Soon, I was seated in the office across from Mr. Lawson, our family’s company lawyer.

His head was crouched low over the files on his table, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

“What brings you, Mrs…?”

“Maxwell,” I chimed in abruptly.

He leaned back on his leather seat, tapping his fingers on the desk.

“I need to know what the heck is going on in Stabic Groups,” I said, interrupting his glare, but he pushed a file toward me.

I looked at him, then at the file that held the company’s logo. I remembered that file.

Without delay, I opened it and flipped through the pages. My eyes widened as though they could pop out of their sockets.

“Same reaction when I first went through those files a few minutes ago,” he said, snapping me out of my daze.

“What were you thinking, Alora Maxwell?”

“There’s a mix-up somewhere,” I said abruptly, turning to retrieve my phone from my purse.

I called, but it redirected, and on two occasions, it went through but got no reply. My eyes flickered with dread between the phone in my hand and the file before me.

I never signed this. There’s certainly a mix-up somewhere. How could I have signed my own death warrant? No way.

My phone beeped, and I grabbed it quickly, but my heart dropped when I saw it was a text message.

‘I’m waiting by your car.’

Lucas.

Something rumbled in my chest instantly, and I stood up, heading toward the door.

“Mrs. Maxwell!” Mr. Lawson’s voice hit my back as I slammed the door shut behind me.

I stormed out of the office toward the main entrance door, a top-to-floor glass panel. My fingers curled into fists as I glared at him in the distance through the transparent glass.

Lucas didn’t look much different from two years ago, though he had clearly lost a few pounds.

I walked out toward my car, making sure to avoid him as I took the alternate door to the passenger’s seat.

“Please, hear me out,” he pleaded, but I yanked his arm and shoved into the seat, slamming the door shut.

Before then, I heard him start, “We could sort this whole…” The rest of his words were muffled as the door closed.

I pulled out my phone to call Stanley. That was when a mail notification dropped. I opened it.

Sender: Nathan Hanson

Stabic Corporation

Transfer of Ownership

Attached below are the original signed documents.

Best regards.