Page 21 of Scarlet Embrace

We were both alone in his study, and I wished there was someone else with us. I needed everyone to hear exactly what my father had thought of my business plan. It was a direct approval that would make anyone consider sabotaging this whole deal. There hasn’t been a single movement to hinder my plan, but my saboteur must be making plans to get in my way again.

“Thanks for that, Father,” I said with a smile. “I’m pleased to hear that.”

“Yeah. You really did a good one with this, Lucas.”

He removed his glasses and placed them on the table before he leaned back into his chair. He asked me how I had come up with an idea like this, and I told him that I was just trying to find ways of increasing our income.

“Is that so?” he asked with a tone of disbelief.

“Yes, Father,” I told him.

“Which means my assumption that you came up with this because of the succession war would be wrong?”

“Which succession war?” I pretended not to understand what he was talking about.

Father traced his fingertips over the table and told me he was well aware of what everyone was up to. I knew that he had a rough sense of what was going on, but it seemed like I had underestimated the control he still had. “Hannah is an ambitious lady. I am well aware of that, and it seemed like she has other plans regarding the future of my empire, and she’s not the only one.”

“Father,” I began, but he held up his hand to stop me.

“At the moment, I don’t have a successor, but that’s subject to change. I’m not promising you anything, but you’ve impressed me so far.”

Compliments were not something my father gave out easily. Either he was truly impressed by my business proposal, or there was something else I was missing out. Hearing that nothing was yet set made me both happy and a little bit saddened, as it meant that Daniel might end up getting everything I’d fought for.

“I’m glad to hear I’ve done that,” I said with a curt nod.

“Good. Keep things that way,” he said as he picked up his glasses.

That was a subtle dismissal, and I walked from the study. “Lucas,” Father called when I got to the door. “I heard about what happened with your last acquisition and how you solved it. I hope we won’t have to deal with something similar this time around.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Father,” I assured him right before I stepped out of his study.

Of course, he was going to know about the car theft. He might act like he doesn’t care, but nothing escapes my father. All I have to do is ensure that nothing goes wrong with our current shipment. I spotted Daniel and Hannah approaching the study, and it took all of my willpower not to snicker. Apparently, Daniel had gotten himself in new trouble, and Hannah was most likely taking him to meet Father.

“Someone looks troubled,” I commented, noticing how pale Daniel looked.

“Don’t you have other things to worry about?” Hannah said with pursed lips.

My stepmother clearly wasn’t pleased about my business proposition. Of course, she wouldn’t, as it meant that her son wouldn’t be able to get the position he wanted.

“Yeah, but I have my people working on that,” I said with a shrug. “Lot of time for me, unlike someone who has to worry about what Father has to say.”

“I see then,” Hannah said.

Daniel’s complexion turned paler at my statement. The sight amused me since I can’t remember the last time I saw Daniel looking all flustered. Hannah told Daniel to ignore me, and they both walked past me.

“Lucas,” Thomas said as he approached me.

“What?” I asked, noticing the look of concern on his face.

He whispered into my ears that a message had arrived from Diana LaRosa. I was surprised since I had no deal with her, neither was there any reason for her to reach out to me.

“Did she say why she wanted to meet with me?” I asked.

“According to her, she has something of yours,” Thomas filled me in.

That was even weirder. There was nothing of mine that belonged to me, and I told Thomas to shrug it off. Whatever game she was playing, I wasn’t interested in playing with her. Thomas and I walked into my office to go over our plans for the shipments. The cars were due to arrive in about five days. Once the cars arrived, I would clear them at the port and drive them to the warehouse, where my father would inspect them.

“Lucas!” Linda called my name right before she entered my office.