Business magnate

Episode1

Lucas just got to the door of his rugged apartment after a 9 to 7 shift, he could hear murmurs of a man and a woman mixed with heavy breathing. He halted, placing his ear on the door to confirm what voices he was hearing.

The cake and gifts he got for his wife fell from his hand.

The voice he was hearing belonged to his wife Ashley and the manager of the company where he works, Robert flynn.

“Do you think he will come back early today, munchkin?” Robert asked.

“He won’t,” jessica responded

“He is working extra hours just to get me a gift,” she continued.

“Gift or no gift. I am not impressed,” she shrugs.

Yesterday was their fifth year wedding anniversary and today is their birthday. He worked extra hours just to be able to afford her birthday gift, hoping they would be able to celebrate their birthday.

“I think I heard something fall,” he heard Ashley say.

“I should check out,” she said and stood up. Lucas heard her footsteps approaching the door.

When she opened the door, he saw Robert standing in the middle of their room with only a towel. He knew that the voice belonged to him.

“Lu…cas..” she muttered.

“Son of a b**ch!!!” Lucas yelled, his anger boiled over as he approached Robert. Lucas's fist connected with Robert’s jaw, knocking him backward.

“Lucas!!?” Robert said like he had just seen a ghost.

“You should be delivering cakes.” his eyes widened in horror.

Fuming angrily, Lucas swings his fist at his face again, making them fall on the floor. Ashley rushed over to them, pulling Lucas away from Robert.

“Have you lost your mind!!” She yelled.

“He is your boss, do you want to go back to being unemployed?” she said and rushed to Robert's side.

She helped him up. His face was a battered mess, with swollen cheeks, a split lip, and eyes already blackening.

“You're angry?” he scoffed. “ I did you a favor by sleeping with your wife!”

“You should thank me for taking care of your wife's needs! but you dare to hit me?”

Lucas ignored Robert and faced Ashley, “how could you do this to me? Why did you cheat?”

“Why?” her lips curled into a scornful smile.

“You are so clueless,” she sneered. “I don't want anything from you, especially not some thoughtless gift reeking of your sweat. Yesterday was our anniversary. What did you get for me?”

With a low, condescending smirk, Robert's hand grabbed Ashley's breast, his touch brazen and possessive. “You heard her, f**k off!!” he growled."

Lucas's eyes blazed with fury as Robert's brazen smirk ignited a fire within. “You think you can waltz in here, disrespect me, and tell me to f**k off?” he laughed, his laughter was laced with venom. “This is my house, you sick bastard! You're the one who should leave.”

“Sleeping with my wife,” he muttered to himself. He felt his dignity being trampled on over and over again, he could not take it anymore.

Lucas was furious and attacked Robert. He lunged at him. Robert, drunk and disoriented, tried to defend himself but was no match for Lucas.

Lucas tackled Robert to the ground and kept hitting him. Robert tried to fight back, but Lucas's anger was too strong.

Robert's struggles weakened, and he took a beating, with Lucas's punches landing on his face.

Ashley rushed forward, desperation etched on her face, she cannot let Lucas ruin the future she had planned for herself by killing Robert, "Lucas, stop! Don't do this!” she pleaded.

Lucas's eyes blazed with fury, his fist clenched, he turned deaf hears to her plead. She grabbed Lucas's arm, trying to stop him

Lucas jerked free, seeing her plea was not working for him. Ashley frantically scanned the room and spotted the wine bottle.

In a panicking state, she took the bottle and swung it at Lucas. The bottle shattered on Lucas's head, wine splashing everywhere.

Robert seized the opportunity, and moved away from him.

Lucas stumbled, blood streaming down his face from the gash on his head. He felt his legs wobble beneath him, but he gritted his teeth and refused to pass out.

Ashley stood frozen, her expression unreadable. No hint of remorse could be seen in her eyes.

“You're lucky I didn't hit you harder,” she said, her voice cold. Lucas's gaze locked onto Ashley, shock and anger warring within him.

“You did this to protect him?” Lucas spat, bitterness and betrayal lacing his tone..

“I did what I had to do, you were going to kill him.” she said.

“You're protecting him?” Lucas's voice was laced with disgust. His eyes were fixed on Ashley's face as if searching for the woman he once thought he knew.

“All these years,” Lucas whispered, his voice cracking with pain. “I loved you, Ashley. I gave you everything.”

Ashley's expression remained obstinate. She scoffed

“You never really knew me, Lucas,” she said, her tone was nonchalant.

Lucas's laughter was laced with bitterness.

“No, I suppose I didn't. I thought I was married to a woman with a heart, not a stranger who'd kill me to save her lover.”

Ashley's eyes widened as Lucas's face darkened, his glare piercing through her. For a moment, fear gripped her. She had never seen him like that before, but she swiftly pushed it aside.

She knew Lucas loved her, he could not hurt her.

“What's wrong, Lucas?” Ashley taunted, “Why are you so angry? You're always so quick to blame others, but maybe you should look in the mirror.”

Lucas's eyes flashed with hurt and anger.

“You have no right to say that,” he growled.

Ashley sneered.

“No, right? You're always struggling, always failing Lucas! You're useless."

Lucas's face crumpled, as if Ashley's words had physically struck him. He did everything to please Ashley, he took on menial jobs just to get her the jewelry and bags she wanted.

“You're cruel, Ashley,” he whispered.

Ashley shrugged. “Cruel? You want to know what's cruel? Living in poverty, watching you deliver cakes for your friends because of your incompetence. That's cruel.”

The thought of everything he had done and sacrificed for Ashley cut through Lucas like a knife. He felt his heart bleeding, his soul crushed.

Ashley's voice dripped with disdain as she spat out her words.

“You're so pathetic, Lucas. You can't even provide for me. I want a life of luxury, of romance. I want candles that burn with expensive scents, a car that purrs with elegance, bags and shoes that make my friends green with envy.”

Lucas's eyes stung as he listened to her.

“You're telling me that's what you want?” he whispered, his voice cracking. “That's what you've always wanted?” he said, almost breaking down.

Ashley's smile was cold, like Lucas was a stranger..

“Yes, Lucas. And you can't give it to me. But Robert can.’ The mention of Robert's name was a slap in the face, a harsh reminder of Lucas's incompetence.

“You're throwing away our love, our life, for material things?” Lucas asked, his voice laced with despair.

Ashley shrugged.” Love doesn't pay the bills, Lucas. And Robert does.

Lucas stood up and walked to the door. He paused, gazing down at the gift he had bought for Ashley's birthday, now abandoned on the floor amidst the scattered cake.

Ashley's laughter cut through the air, a cold, mirthless sound.

“Do you think you can win me back with that cheap gift?” she sneered.

Lucas's eyes lingered on the gift, a mix of sadness and anger burning within him.

“This gift,” he said, his voice low and even, “was originally yours. But you no longer deserve it.”

He picked up the gift, his fingers closing around it like a vice.

“You've made it clear what you value most,” Lucas said, his gaze locked on Ashley's. “And it's not me, or our love, or our life together.”

“What a joke!”Ashley said, rolling her eyes. “Do you think I need this pathetic gift? Robert can get me things worth much more than that.”

Lucas scoffed, “Worth more?” He opened the small bag, revealing a box inside. He opened the box.

Inside, he found a short letter and a card. The letter read: “Happy Birthday, Mr. Carlton.” Lucas's eyes softened; the gift was from his family, the Carlton.

A tradition instilled in Carlton's family was that men were to venture out and earn their own keep from the age of 16,

Once they are 25, the family will begin to financially support them, welcoming them back into the fold. They would claim their shares in the company and receive monthly dividends from the family's vast assets.

The letter, written in elegant script,

“Dear Lucas,

Happy 25th birthday! Today marks a significant milestone in your life and our family's legacy. Your hard work and determination have prepared you well for this moment.

As you reclaim your rightful place within Carlton Industries, remember our family's values: integrity, innovation, and philanthropy.

Welcome home, Lucas. Your legacy awaits.

With love and pride,

The Carlton Family”

Lucas took out a black premium card from the box. Ashley's eyes widened in awe, she had heard about cards like that.

“Is that a Centurion card?” she asked, staring at the box.

“It is,” Lucas replied.

“I've heard cards like that have no upper limit, but a lower limit of $20 million," Ashley said, without taking her eyes off the card.

Does Lucas really possess such immense wealth? She thought to herself.