บท 10: Confrontation
He prepared for battle as he got ready to face the Manicks. Only the thought of seeing her was a consolation to his restless heart. He wished for nothing more than to lay his eyes on her. He knew that would be close to impossible today. He read up the folder his assistants prepared on the Manick family.
Manick : founder and CEO of Manick Enterprises
Vince Manick : current VP of Manick Enterprises
Aryan Manick : CEO of Geo Bank
Shane Manick : CEO of Sterling Corp
Ash Manick : CEO of Starline Hotels
Ray Manick : CEO of MKR Corp
Each Manick the CEO of various companies and the folder went on to list their other ventures and their net worth. Lucas memorised every single detail in file, preparing to use it against them if needed.
He knew he would never hurt Maya in a million years hence he decided to be civil with her family as they would be his too in the future. He walked into his garage and drove off in his Silver Lamborghini Huracan. He sped through the city towards Manick Residences. The largest mansion in the city centre.
They were expecting him as he had called Manick's personal secretary and demanded a face to face meeting. Surprisingly Mr Manick agreed. As he reached their house, the opulence did not interest him. He was guided in to the formal hall. He was a man on a mission. To win over his future in laws. Every Manick other than the one he yearned for was present.
Aryan scoffed as Lucas searched around for Maya, " You really think we would let you see her that easily?!" " You must have a lot of guts to demand a meeting with my dad," sneered Shane.
" Let's hear what he has to say boys," advised Manick calmly. Everyone quietened down. Irene Manick was the only one who smiled at Lucas. He smiled back even though the feeling of maternal love was foreign to him. He saw Maya got her features from her dad but inherited her mother's beautiful ebony curls. Just seeing her features in them caused an ache in his chest.
He got straight to the point. " I want to meet Maya, there was a misunderstanding between us and I need to clear it," he solemnly declared. He could see the varying degree of anger in each of Maya's brothers' faces. Vince being the eldest was slightly calmer than the rest.
" How can we believe that you are not using her?" questioned Vince rationally. " I love her," Lucas confessed to the entire room, looking at each of them in the eyes to convey his sincerity. "I want to marry her," he continued.
" So did every other guy who took her for a ride," scoffed Ash in anger. "We know how much of a player you are, every single tabloid has written about you with different girls every single time. How do we trust that you are worthy of Maya?" asked Ray.
" I know I have had a past, but it is the past and it will stay that way. I don't intend on cheating on Maya. I never have and never will," he answered. He knew that they cared for Maya as much as he did hence he curbed his frustration at their inquisition and answered each question calmly.
" She is not here at the moment," said Irene with a small smile on her face. She could see the blatant look of love Lucas had for her daughter. She knew that he was honest and true about his feelings.
"Where is she?"he asked impatiently. Manick who was silent the entire time spoke up. " Does your father know your pursuing my daughter boy?" he asked with an expressionless look. My father? Why would it matter to him thought Lucas. " Why should this matter affect my father?" asked Lucas. " Well you should speak to him before you enquire about my daughter's whereabouts," he said nonchalantly.
Lucas was not pleased to leave without obtaining information regarding Maya's whereabouts but he had no choice. He could not go against Manick's words. He quietly stood up and left their house. His heart more disturbed than before.
He thought he was done with his father when he left his house 5 years ago. He didn't think he would need to discuss his love life with him. The minute he got into his car, he called his father.
"Where are you father?" he enquired. " I am at our house," he answered blandly. Our house? It was never our house scoffed Lucas internally. " I am coming there now," he stated before hanging up the call.
As he drove to the other end of the city, his mind kept trying to figure his father's role in all of this. Why would Manick ask me to talk to him about it? He was extremely unhappy about the outcome of the evening but he had to pull through. That would be the only way he would get what he wanted.
As he walked into the house he grew up in. he saw his father and step mother sitting in the hall, drinking their tea. " How do you know the Manicks?" he got straight to the point. " Why are you asking me this?" asked his father back. " I went over there to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage, but Mr Manick asked me to talk to you first," he explained concisely. " What?!" sputtered his father, nearly scalding himself with the hot tea. " You can't marry a Manick! I forbid it!" declared Derick Damien angrily. " I am not asking for your permission, I just came here because I wont get the information about her otherwise," said Lucas bitterly.
His father was never the loving kind. HIs only concern was his business, hence Lucas had no love loss towards his father. " I will marry her, with or without your permission!" he proclaimed. "I will cut you out of my will if you marry a Manick," blackmailed his father.
" Do I look like I have been living on your wealth all this while?" scoffed Lucas arrogantly. " I never needed your money before and I won't need it after this!" he declared in anger. Derick was fuming at his son's nonchalant attitude towards his threats.
" I have nothing further to say to you," he stated calmly while walking out. Lucas never looked back once. " Breathe honey, don't stress yourself out. Relax," soothed Mrs Damien. " Don't worry he will come back running once he is broke," she ranted on.
Lucas went on to set up a meeting with Mr Manick as soon as possible. Irene laughed at this news when her husband conveyed it to her. " Looks like he really can't wait to see her," chimed Irene. " Do you think he is sincere," asked her husband sincerely. He valued his wife's instincts more than anything else in the world. She was never wrong. " I do actually, I can see that he is serious about Maya," she answered with a smile.
" Okay dear," replied her husband and kissed her forehead lovingly. He loved his daughter more than anything and he needed to be sure people were done hurting her. With someone as powerful as Lucas next to her, she would be protected as well as she was by him. He knew Lucas had the capabilities to stand toe to toe with each of his sons. Lucas was a perfect match for his daughter.
" Well now it will be interesting to see if he can win her back, your daughter is stubborn as you," chuckled Irene. Her husband just glared at her.
Lucas met up with Mr Manick alone the next day. He solemnly declared that he didn't care if his father hated the Manicks. That would not change his feelings for Maya. He didn't need anyone else in the world other than her. Manick was convinced with Lucas' declaration but at the same was amused with his stubborness. He laughed thinking how two stubborn heads were going to work things out.
Mr Manick didn't know that Lucas may be stubborn towards the rest of the world but he would give in to anything Maya wants. Her happiness was the only thing that mattered to him.
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