Next To His Grave

Luke's POV

A WEEK EARLIER,

I held the doctor's report in my hands, darting my eyes from what I couldn't believe I was reading to the doctor. It was unbelievable.

“I'm sorry Mr Lexington, but you have approximately twenty two months left, based on the growth of the glioblastoma tumor. If we had detected it earlier, it would've been avoided.”

“Is this some type of joke?” I asked, letting out a dark chuckle emanate from me. The doctor had to be joking.

“No Sir, I have no reason to make jokes here as you're an important patient here and–”

“Are you saying there's nothing you can do? I have money, doctor.” I said, cutting him off and trying to make him see reason with me. I was in the middle of making an innovative gadget. I can't just die all of a sudden. What would happen to my legacy, my company?

“How much do you need to remove this tumor? I can't be dealing with this right now.”

I was in the denial stage. All my weird seizures, headaches and off and on vision problems all pointed to this. I already suspected something serious but now that it was actualizing, it was a hard pill to swallow.

“I'm sorry Mr Lexington. We can place you on radiography and chemotherapy. We can also place you on steroids to avoid brain swelling, anti-seizure medicines, pain management and cognitive rehabilitation.”

All his words echoed in my ears for a while before flying through my head. There was no point delaying the inevitable. It was one thing I knew.

“Will they stop me from dying?” I asked, already certain of the answer.

“I can't say but–” He smiled awkwardly. He fidgeted with his pen and could barely meet my eyes.

“That's all I needed to hear. Have a nice day doctor.” I replied, cutting him off as I stood up to leave his office. It would be my last time.

 No one could find out about this. Multiple appointments and visits to the doctor would rat me out so I won't go with any of the treatments except the drugs.

How would the world react if they find out that the richest CEO was next to his grave? The world is evil, so all they would think about is my successor, not my health. 

I would never let it happen. I would protect the company I created from scratch till my last breath and carry on my legacy in the best way possible.

A plan came to mind as I walked to my car. Things were finally looking up now even in the midst of death.

2 DAYS AGO

“Where are the documents of the renowned authors I asked you to compile and leave on my desk?”

I asked the minute my tiny secretary walked into my office. I pay her enough to look good but no one can convince her to get rid of her worn out heels. She's the best so I can't let her go just because she won't listen to me.

“I have it with me, Mr Lexington. I'm so sorry that I forgot to drop it on your desk earlier.” The steady clicks of her shoes scratching the ground always infuriated me, but there was nothing I could do.

“Hand them over and wait. I need second opinions.” I said as she handed them over.

“You should learn to do things by yourself, Sir.” She sat down, basically calling me a handicap.

Laura was the only one that could talk to me like that. She's the only one brave enough to walk side by side with a man like me after all. I was a bit too much over the years, but she stayed, and now she's reaping the rewards.

“Just listen.” I snickered at her sharp mouth as I removed the files from inside the brown document that bound them all together.

Going through the first couple ones, I wasn't so impressed. As I continued on, I asked her questions and she explained more about the authors. We kept going and going until I stumbled upon one.

A familiar pretty, pretty face. It caught my attention and she wasn't the first pretty author I came across, so what was it about her?

“I recognize her. Isn't she the author that had the issue with the beta reader?” I asked, raising her file upwards so my secretary could see. 

Instead of replying to me, she hastily gasped, covering her mouth with her hands like she was shocked for some reason. Sometimes I felt like she was putting on an act when she acted scared because I knew she had no single respect for me, but it was okay.

“I'm so sorry I put it there. I didn't realize, I thought I–”

“Calm down. Just confirm my question.” I seethed, so over her fake display of fear.

“Yes, that's Alyssa Waters. The renowned Author. I don't know how much you know but her career ended last month because a beta reader read her latest book and saw chapters about heavy incest and rape. Mind you, this has been her oldest beta reader. Personally, she should've told her to change it instead of accusing her and saying she supported child molesters.”

“Hmm.” I replied, stroking my chin with my hands and my eyes were fixed on Alyssa's picture on the document.

“So that was what happened? And now, she's cancelled and done?”

“Yes sir.”

“Okay, great. I want her for the job.” I let the words out of me before I even thought of them, equally startling myself.

“What?” A gasp escaped her lips, her eyes widening in shock.

“You heard me” I said with an air of authority, ignoring her shock. There was nothing she could do to change my decision.

“Where is she now? Did she hide somewhere?” I inquired, genuinely curious.

“As far as I know, since I've shamelessly been following up with the whole drama, she announced a book signing event a couple of days ago. It's in the next two days.”

“So she's still going to do what she wants anyway. Good.” I said with a boyish grin.

Now I wanted to meet her. To see her. To understand her. Her arrogance was hot. I felt it inside my pants.

“Book me a flight. I'll attend the book signing

event and offer her the job myself.”

“Mr Lexington, you can't be serious!” Her panicked, high pitched voice barely moved me.

“Trust me on this one.”