A Dark Saviour
1279 Words
Emily’s POV
I felt something was off the moment I stepped into the conference room.
The kind of thing that your gut tells you something might go wrong.
Even though the weather forecast had said the temperature was -2°C, the room felt colder as I entered.
My eyes scanned the room.
Adrian was seated, relaxed like he owned everyone in the room.
Lucas stood beside the projector screen, flipping through the files, his facial expression unreadable.
He didn’t look up or at me…and it hurt me a little bit.
My chest tightened slightly.
I had expected a warm gesture from him.
It felt like he couldn’t care if I was in the room or not.
“Emily!” Adrian’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I looked at him.
“Come sit,” he said, tapping the chair beside him.
I slightly pulled the hem of my shirt, as I walked slowly.
The meeting with the investors started.
There were three men and a woman sitting across the table.
They were the investors. They had a thick German accent.
One of the men, Mr. Klaus, leaned forward with his fingers interlocked.
“The proposal seems interesting but not convincing enough.”
Lucas finally spoke.
“All of the reports are realistic. The branch hasn’t been performing well. But with this Merger and total reconstruction, there should be at least 45% increase within the next two quarters.”
Mr Klaus exchanged a look with the woman beside him.
“Your confidence is top-notch but we fear some other concerning issues.”
Lucas leaned backwards in his chair, his fingers interlocked. “What issues?”
The woman spoke this time. “There are inconsistencies in the report and most importantly financial gaps.”
Lucas didn’t look fazed, but composed. “The inconsistencies and any other issues are being handled. It shouldn’t be a problem at all.”
Mr Klaus slightly chucked. “Handled?”
One of the other men cut in. “Based on what we are seeing, it looks nothing like being handled but covered.”
The air felt heavy and tense.
The automatic freshener at the center of the conference table was the only thing making a sound.
The Woman amongst the investors tucked some strands of hair that fell to her face behind her hair.
The big polished conference room suddenly felt smaller.
Adrian hit the table with the tip of his pen in a rhythmic way, all eyes now focused on him.
“Easy there,” he said teasingly. “You should consider the choice of your words carefully.”
“It doesn’t negate the fact.” The woman said.
I took a glance at Lucas.
His shoulders were a bit tense, his eyes filled with a calculating gaze.
His jaw tightened as he grabbed his pen, like he was trying to control some anger.
He stepped in.
“There are some gaps that need to be filled, hence the reason we made sure to include everything in the report.”
“What matters most, is the future growth this partnership will bring.” He added.
Mr Klaus spoke up this time. “We are not looking for some promise.”
“What do you need then?” Lucas asked.
“We want control.”
Adrian laughed manically. “Control?… You want us to give you the rights to decide and manage our company.”
At this point, it was no longer a partnership, they wanted control.
There was total silence in the room. The investors looked calm yet their presence was threatening.
The tension in the room was rising.
Lucas' eyes darkened.
“We can’t do that.” His voice was steady and firm.
Adrian looked at him. “Why can’t we?”
I now understand why Lucas was sent down instead of him.
Was he always this dumb?
“We can’t give outsiders control over the company.”
Mr Klaus leaned back into his chair. “Well, the meeting’s over.” He closed his tablet and reached for his briefcase.
This wasn’t going as expected.
I looked at Lucas, but he didn’t look bothered or like he would say anything to stop them.
He looked calm and didn’t make any move.
He looked like he had something building in him.
Adrian stood up immediately.
“The meeting isn’t over. There is no need to be in haste.”
His tone was now serious and sharp.
They looked at each other and nodded.
“So where are you standing now?” The woman asked.
“We will give you partial access,” Adrian said.
Lucas' head snapped immediately at him.
His eyes bored into his head.
They looked at each other and smiled.
“Sounds like a good idea.” Mr Klaus said with a smile on his face.
Lucas’s demeanor was cold, his fingers holding onto his pen tightly like it could get broken anytime soon.
Adrian’s intervention stirred something in him. He sure wasn’t in support.
But something was off. Why did they agree to it so quickly?
Why did it feel like they had some hidden agenda?
And Adrian may or may not have caused trouble.
***
The investors left and we were left in the room. Lucas dismissed the team, leaving him and Adrian.
I was the last to leave, just as I was about to close the door I heard Lucas’s angry voice.
“What do you think you are doing?” Lucas snarled at him.
“I was saving your ass! Where is my thank you?”
“Saving my ass? Your stupid self couldn’t see they had something up their sleeves. They want to use us for their selfish interests and take control.”
Adrian sighed loudly. “So because Father had always been putting you at the forefront. You now feel you are some genius.”
“It is a shame you went to a Business school and yet you failed to recognize the tactics they played.”
Adrian didn’t say anything. Maybe he realized his mistake.
“You‘ve always been dumb!” Lucas retorted, his voice full of rage.
“You…you don’t have to talk to me in this manner. I am your older brother.” Adrian’s voice was now shaky, as if he were close to tears.
“Then act like one!”
With that, Lucas walked out of the conference room.
The door opened and he met me - my mouth wide openc.
He didn’t say anything. He walked past me like he didn’t just see me.
I felt a pang of pain in my chest. My shoulders shuddered, tears filled with tears as I watched his back walking away from me.
Maybe I was nothing but a nuisance to him.
I stepped into the conference room. Adrian had his back turned to me, facing the glass windows as though lost in thought.
I stepped closer until I was a few inches away from him.
“Mr Adrian?” I called out softly.
He didn’t answer or say anything.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes Emily,” he said as he turned to face me with a smile plastered on his face. “You should stay away from him.”
Him.
He meant Lucas.
He took some steps forward and walked past me, then suddenly stopped and turned back.
“He is not who you think he is.” He warned, before walking out.
My heart froze.
I suddenly remembered the message I had received about his Mother.
There was something dark about Lucas Reed.
Was I prepared to find out?
…And was I falling for the wrong man?
- Writer
