Chapter 3
I returned to Shaw Enterprises Headquarters.
"Welcome back, Ms. Shaw," my assistant, Josh Moore, greeted, rushing over. He stopped short when he noticed the box I was carrying. "Did you get hurt?"
I glanced down; my hands had two cuts from the crystal ball, but the blood was already dry.
"It's nothing, help me deal with it," I replied.
Josh took me to my office, grabbed the first aid kit, and helped me clean up the cuts before sticking on some band-aids.
"Ms. Shaw, you must've had a tough time out there these past three years. Your parents talk about you every single day," he said.
"I know," I replied.
"Mr. Goodman came by yesterday and asked when you'd be back," Josh added.
I didn't say anything.
Josh put the first aid kit away. "Ms. Shaw, Lucas is downstairs calling again, saying he wants to see you."
"I'm not seeing him," I replied.
"He says he'll wait until you're willing to see him," Josh added.
I glanced out the window. Downstairs, Lucas was standing at the entrance of Shaw Enterprises, holding up a sign.
It read: [Vivian, I'm sorry. I was wrong.]
"Let him wait," I said.
I turned and walked into my office.
On my desk was a stack of files. They were all the business reports from the past three years. I flipped through a few pages and spotted the name of Lucas's ad agency.
Three years ago, Lucas had graduated and wanted to launch his own company. He went around looking for investors, but nobody wanted to back him.
I secretly had Shaw Enterprises' venture capital team give him an angel investment.
When he hit a rough patch, I pulled some strings to get him the connections he needed.
Once his company took off, I stepped back and let him believe he was the genius behind it all.
I flipped to the last page and saw the financial report from last month.
Shaw Enterprises was Lucas's biggest client, accounting for a whopping 70% of his total revenue.
I picked up the phone and dialed Josh's extension. "Cut ties with Lucas's company. Tell the investment team to end all business with them," I said.
Josh sounded taken aback. "Ms. Shaw?"
"Also, get legal on it; make sure he pays back everything he owes us," I added.
"Yes, Ms. Shaw," Josh replied.
I hung up and kept reading through the files.
Downstairs, there was a commotion.
I walked over to the window and saw Lucas being blocked by security, yelling my name, "Vivian! Come out. I know you're in there. Get out of here."
The security guards tried to push him out, but Lucas struggled, refusing to leave. "Vivian! Are you really going to throw away three years like it means nothing?"
I turned and sat back down at my desk.
My phone rang; it was Emily.
"Vivian, is Lucas making a scene downstairs at the company?" Emily asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Do you want me to come over?" Emily offered.
"Don't worry about it. Let him throw his tantrum," I told her.
I hung up and went back to my paperwork.
Half an hour later, Josh knocked and came in.
"Ms. Shaw, Lucas is still downstairs. He says he'll wait until you come out," Josh said.
"Let him," I replied.
"And Mr. Goodman is here," Josh added.
I looked up.
"Mr. Goodman came to pick you up for dinner," Josh said.
I stood up and walked over to the window.
Downstairs, a black Rolls-Royce was parked at the entrance of Shaw Enterprises. The door swung open, and a man stepped out.
It was Charles Goodman.
He wore a dark gray suit, standing there bathed in sunlight.
He looked up and spotted me.
Even from twenty-eight floors up, his eyes landed on me.
He smiled and gave me a wave.
Josh said from behind me, "Ms. Shaw, Mr. Goodman is waiting for you."
I grabbed my bag and walked out of the office.
The elevator took me down to the first floor, and I pushed open the main doors.
Lucas's face lit up when he spotted me. "Vivian!" he called out.
He rushed over, but Charles's bodyguards blocked his way.
"Vivian, you finally came out." Lucas was drenched in sweat, holding up that sign. "I've said I'm sorry; what more do you want from me?"
"Lucas, we're already broken up," I said.
"Broken up?" Lucas let out a bitter laugh. "All because of a crystal ball? Because Nina crashed at your place for a few days? Is that really all it takes for you to throw everything away?"
"It's not about that," I replied.
"Then what is it?" Lucas demanded, stepping closer. "Vivian, are you really going to make a scene over this? We were supposed to get married."
"Who said I was going to marry you?" I shot back.
Lucas was stunned.
"I'm not acting out of spite," I said. I looked at him and smiled. "Lucas, do you know whose family Shaw Enterprises belongs to?"
He was caught off guard. "What?"
"Shaw Enterprises belongs to my family," I said.
Lucas's expression changed instantly.
"So every project you got, every investment, every deal over the past three years, it all came from me," I said.
I glanced back at him. "And now, I'm taking it all away."
Lucas stood there, completely stunned.
Charles strode over and pulled open the car door.
"Get in," he said.
I slid into the car.
Lucas rushed over, reaching out for me. "Vivian! You can't do this. Don't our three years together mean anything to you?"
Charles cut him off, blocking his path. "Mr. Reed, Ms. Shaw is my fiancée. You'd better stay away from her from now on," Charles said coldly.
Lucas was stunned.
The car door closed, and the Rolls-Royce pulled away.
In the rearview mirror, Lucas stood there, frozen like a statue.