January 5, 2024 Chapter 1-2.
Instinctively, alone with a man in an elevator with no power, Shauna frantically took out the pepper spray from her bag. She warned the Tree Guy, "Stay away from me!" No one can blame Shauna. She was nearly violated at a club, so after that experience, she equipped her purse with pepper spray, and she has never gone out with anyone since. The Tree Guy looked at her with a complicated expression and asked, "Why are you waving that thing at me like I am a bad guy?" "Well, for starters, it looks like you had been through a fight. You have a cut on your left cheek and your bottom lip." Yes, it was dark now, but earlier, she had seen the wounds on his face. She explained herself, "I'm just being on the safe side." "You'd be happy to know that I am one of the good guys," The Tree Guy said. "I don't know you at all." Shauna leaned to the further corner, as far away from the man, saying, "So, I'm staying here, really far away from you, Tree Guy." "Why are you calling me a Tree Guy, Mis
All in all, the Thompson Group of Companies has twelve major shareholders who were board members. Three of them were all Lucas' uncles. They were Keith Henderson, Wendell Franco, and Sean Ross. They were best friends of his father, Evan Thompson. The other board members were Steven Ford, Warren Ellison, Alice Walton, Jane Koch, Giovanni Ortega, and Alexei Petrov. Four of them supported Walton Reed. Some took neutral grounds. Of course, Lucas and his mother, Shantelle, also held relevant shares within the company. Over the years, expansion required more investors. Evan had always explained that more investors reduced the risk of losses. In front of the long table, the board members had found their seats on the left side. The executives took most seats on the right side. Lucas and Ryan stood before them, waiting for everyone to arrive. Evan and Shantelle came and took the remaining seats on the right side of the table. "Now that everyone is here, Let us begin this meeting," Luca
Lucas relished how the three previous shareholders seemed envious to the point of being enchanted. Their jaws were dropping, and they repeatedly blinked, trying to fathom whether or not their eyes were playing tricks on them. "This - this can't be. I thought the Wrights and Thompsons had no relationship!" Jane remarked, her lips rounding in disbelief. Standing before them was the CEO of the Diamond Hotel, Liam Wright. He said, "Good day. I come here to represent our mother company, The Wright Diamond Corporation. I am here to buy shares and to bring back the former ties of the Thompsons and the Wrights." Liam smiled at the familiar people in the room. He was teary-eyed as he said, "It's good to be back here." Those who did not know Lily never connected the dots. None of the board members and executives were interested in learning Lucas' bodyguards. Thus, Liam's appearance was a complete surprise. With the vice president locked up, including his assistant and identified coconsp
"Lucas?" Axel walked into Lucas's office. "You called for me?" Ryan was standing next to Lucas. He was smiling as Axel walked in. He encouraged, "Take a seat, Axel." Behind his desk, Lucas pushed a brown envelope in Axel's direction. He said, "This is for you. I did not know when I could give it to you, but now is the time." Axel's brows met as he sat in front of Lucas' table. He opened the envelope and saw a stock certificate for Gravity Ventures worth more than two million dollars. Axel muttered, "Woah, what is this?" "Remember your death gratuity pay with Alpha Vipers? Well, Ryan and I had taken that out of their corporate account a long time ago and added a little extra," Lucas revealed. "We saved that up for you and invested in Gravity Ventures under your name."x "What? But you didn't even know if I was alive," Axel reacted. Lucas and Ryan looked at each other. Ryan was the one who revealed, "We were going to give it to your parents if we did not find you." "When the Alpha
It took seconds for Shauna to say something. She was still taken aback by the compromising position they were in, and then she realized that the man's hand was holding her thigh. When she turned to her legs, she gasped. Tree Guy quickly moved his hand away, saying, "Oh, sorry. I - It was an accident -" "No," Shauna carelessly got off him in a way that she accidentally kneeled on his groin. She screamed when she recognized this, "Oh, my god!" Axel grunted in pain. He curled to his side as he said, "Lady, you really are something." Finally standing next to the Tree Guy, she said, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She fixed her dress properly and offered her hand. "Let me help you up." She pursed her lips, looking in varied directions as Tree Guy soothed his pain. Eventually, he took her hand, mumbling, "First, you did not thank me for helping you back at the elevator. Then, I took a fall for you, and you repay me by kneeling on my dick." "That was not my intention. I'm sorry," Shauna said w
Shauna was shocked beyond words. Her mouth remained open, yet no words escaped her lips. A picture of her and Axel in that compromising position in the parking area was on the table. The funny thing was how, from the camera's angle, they looked like they were on a heated makeout session on the ground! The camera did not even catch the scattered grocery items around them. There was no other photograph explaining the situation. "I know that dress anywhere, and I am confident that is you. That is your hair, and that is definitely your back!" Reese declared. "You cannot lie to me. I gave birth to you!" "And the fact that you are now clad in a man's oversized shirt tells me that the makeout session went overboard!" Reese said, shocking her husband. Shauna gasped. Her mother had such an imagination! Her father, Sean, coughed for a second. He said angrily, "Shauna, you need to explain this! Are you seeing someone? And of all places, the parking lot? I thought you were better than thi
"Don't you see a good opportunity when you see one?" Abner Green said to his son. "Haven't you heard the saying, strike while the iron is hot?" "Pops, what are you talking about? I just met her. How is the situation even hot?" Axel reasoned. Since Shauna left the condo, his father had been talking him into going after her over lunch. Abner turned to his wife. Martha filled in, saying, "Because she is hot, so you should strike!" "Not you too, Mom," Axel said before a laugh escaped his lips. Although he had to admit that Shauna was beautiful, dating women while protecting Lucas was not part of his initial plan. Besides, he just got his life back! Thus, he pointed out, "Am I even ready for that?" "Oh, Axel, son. No one is truly ever ready for love and relationships; you just keep fighting to keep it," Martha remarked. "why don't you go down to the restaurants and find her? She might still be there." "She said she is going to return your shirt. How will that work if you are not here
Axel gave the signal through his earpiece, "All clear all the way to the waiting courtroom." He had two members of the Black Hawk men follow him around since he entered the Supreme Court. Lily and Lucas were entering from the back. Since Lucas was the first witness to be called to the stand, the court requested that he remain in another empty courtroom as a waiting area. There were already military personnel around, and they all nodded to give regard to Axel's arrival. "The local police have already cleared the courthouse for bombs and weapons," one soldier reported to Axel. "Thank you, Lieutenant," Axel acknowledged. Next, he stood outside, waiting for Lily and Lucas to arrive. Just as he did, his private phone rang, which surprised him. His parents knew not to disturb him at work. Axel canceled the call, seeing that Lily and Lucas were coming from the far end of the hall. "All good, Axel?" Lily asked. "All good," he replied. "Thanks for checking the area ahead. Ryan s