"We were close... We were so close!" Lara slammed the nearest surface.
"Why don't you calm down and try to think about something, we shouldn't wait till the worst happens you know." Thierry said firmly.
"We? There's no we here. And guess what? The worst has already happened and you need to clean up your mess because all this is your fault."
"En quoi est-ce ma faute? (And how is it my fault) Anyways, forget it." He sighed as Lara glared at him widely.
"Sorry to interrupt your meeting ma'am but your visitors are growing impatient and they request your presence." Vittorio Moretti, Lara's butler announced.
"Hmm." Lara waved him away giving him a signal of what to do.
"You seem to have grown a falcon's wing, but just a short reminder that I can always break them at any convenient time." Lara turned back to Thierry. She smirked in relish before walking out with Thierry trailing her like a proper bodyguard should be.
***
"Gaël, how are you?" Lara smiled as she took a seat opposite Sir Gaël.
"Very well, I suppose," Gaël replied calmly
"There's surely a lot to discuss!" Gastrus interrupted. He was sitting like a gentleman next to Gaël.
"Of course there is..." Lara smiled, "And I hope all is well with you?"
"Not when my company is going down and your scheming look alike son is planning to buy it." Gastrus blurted in what seemed like anger but mixed with some tasty sadness there.
"Ohh...I see," Lara managed a smile. "So if I may ask, why the shocking visit — especially, my two favourite people."
"Oh... We just came to say hi — and know what else you and your pathetic —"
"Humm what he's trying to say is that we came to talk business." Gaël chipped in before Gastrus could let out his mind.
Gaël (POV)
I felt like exploding when Gastrus started to speak. I knew he was sort of stressed but he should be more careful with whatever comes from his mouth when before Lara at least for the fact that we were here to beg.
Gastrus was a close kin of mine and I knew him well as well as understood him. He's very bad at sugarcoating hateful speeches. He was just too blunt and I'm guessing that's the very reason why his company was at the edge of closing down.
"Okay, I see. Business you said?" Lara cleared her throat.
"Yes, business it is!" Gastrus replied impatiently.
Lara signaled for us to go on.
"The Dion family is well known for their oneness and over the years, the power of working together has brought numerous good results to the name of Dion." I started.
"That we all know." Gastrus sighed and I knew he was already out of patience.
"Lara my dear, you are very wise and that is one of the reasons I'm forever grateful to Mikel for choosing you to be his wife. You know, over the years, I once thought to myself, how is it that a woman can be so schem... I mean skilful, I must say you are very outstand—"
"Oh Gaël, you're still in the habit of flattering people," Lara laughed softly and I could feel that even though she wasn't moved by my flattering, she looked sort of ready to listen to what we actually came for.
"No of course ma'am, this is no flatter," I grinned in excitement.
"Then I would prefer you hit the nail on the head."
"Yes, yes, very well Lara. So as I said, we are here to talk about business and not just any business, but one that has to do with a Dion," I said seriously.
"As long as it includes me, I'm in. Let me hear it." Lara smiled.
"It doesn't include you!" Gastrus interrupted before I could decorate my next clause.
"What he's trying to say is that, it doesn't include only you but also another member of the Dion family." I smiled assuringly.
"Oh well, tell me about it then." I could see through Lara's eyes that she was obviously getting bored and I could guess what was playing in her mind. She probably had a lot to do.
"So, it's about Gastrus. He's having issues with his company." I finally let it out.
"Okay, so how is that my concern?" She asked curiously.
"You know, like I said, the Dion family is know for —"
"Can you just stop this Dion family brainwashing thing and go straight to the point?" Lara broke in. "I thought you said you came with good business talk?" Lara shook her head in disappointment.
"Ma'am, your drink is served just the way you like it. Cool with strawberry on the side." Lara's butler announced as two maids brought two trays of drinks. The first tray had a decorated glass of strawberry juice on it while the second tray had two plain looking glasses of what looked like a different strawberry juice, obviously because it looked plain but it was definitely the same strawberry juice.
"Thank you Vittorio — it was needed at first but I think it's all useless now." Lara sighed deceitfully as the maids turned their backs to go back with the trays of juice.
"Huh — I'd definitely be needing that." Gastrus stood up to take the specially decorated strawberry juice and took a gulp while I just stared like a thirsty beggar and the place fell silent. I could imagine what would come next as I stared at the shocked maid who was now holding the tray with trembling hands, Gastrus who put down the glass in satisfaction, Vittorio who was glued to his spot with his eyes bulging out, Thierry standing tall, head up like nothing serious happened and Lara who stood up dramatically.
"Vittorio!" Lara raised her voice in steaming anger.
"Yes ma'am," Vittorio ran like a confused bird — hands and legs seemed to be trembling to me.
"You know what to do!" Lara said as she glared at the maid who had held her tray of juice.
"S'il vous plaît, madame, je vous prie de m'excuser, ayez un peu de pitié, madame. Je vous en supplie, accordez-moi une autre chance — juste une seule chance de plus. Je promets de ne plus jamais laisser une telle chose se produire, madame, je vous prie de m'excuser, madame." ("Please ma'am, I beg your pardon, show some mercy ma'am. Please I'm begging for another chance — just one more chance. I promise never to let such a thing happen again ma'am, I beg your pardon ma'am.") the young woman went on her knees with tears streaming down her eyes. She looked familiar, of course she was. She had worked in the Dion mansion for almost a decade. Though not the oldest and trusted servant, she had built her life and family on all that she got from the Dion family and now her job was flashed away before her very eyes.
I stared as she was dragged away, her knees still on the ground with bitter agony. The other maid took her flight behind Vittorio leaving us back to our discussion and that was when it hit me that Gastrus had fuelled the fire that had just burnt down that poor woman's life.
"Back to our discussion!" Gastrus said unapologetically.
"Did you come here to humiliate me?" Lara frowned.
"I beg your pardon Lara but I was thirsty and you didn't need the drink." Gastrus said as he sat down comfortably.
"So I've had enough and for the last time I'd ask what business did you come to discuss?" Lara said hurriedly as she sat down .
"Seriously? Even after Gaël had said everything, you still want us to repeat ourselves like a billion times before you can understand. My company is running down Lara and guess what? It's because of your son Lucy or Lucian — whatever it is!" Gastrus was fuming and I couldn't help but allow him fume.
"Lucien you mean," I corrected him absentmindedly.
"How do you mean Gastrus?" Lara said too conveniently for me as if what she just heard was old news, she was literally waiting for this moment I guessed.
" He terminated his partnership with the company." Gastrus sighed in frustration.
"So how can I be of help sirs?" Lara grinned with glee.
"You know you can help us Lara, just help us talk to Lucien," Gastrus added as I stared at him.
"What's the big deal, are you saying without Dion Biotics partnering with you, there's nothing your company can do?" Lara smirked. I could tell she was feeling very powerful at the moment.
"Woman, we are going through loss of market shares and brand erosion — this is leading to a liquidity crisis and day after day I watch the company I worked so hard to build go down the drain. It's all because of that good for noth—"
"Are you here to actually seek my help or talk nonsense?" Lara bursted out.
"Calm down Lara, just look at what's in for you if you help us," I said without thinking.
"What's in? What is in for me by the way?" Lara smiled like an overcomer.
"Don't forget you're a shareholder and you're benefitting if you help us too." Gastrus said convincingly.
"Am I?" Lara asked cunningly.
"Lara please!" I broke in again.
"You mean a minority shareholder with a blocking stake?" Lara picked her words one after the other.
"Oh Lara, can we just talk like normal business people should?" I said assuringly.
"Okay, so what's the thing actually?"
"So, Lucien backed out and then he's now circling with a predatory acquisition offer. All we want you to do is to talk to him so he will change his mind." I replied calmly.
"What's in for me boys?" She asked again.
"The golden share." I replied again without thinking. Gastrus started at me, eyes wide as if I had committed a gruesome crime before his eyes.
"We have a deal then," Lara smiled. "Right?"
"Oh yeah, we have a deal." Gastrus stretched his hand towards Lara for a handshake while he glared at me at the same time.
"I'd see to it that your company is back on it's feet." Lara smiled assuringly but something in me knew that thi
s was going to be a tough one for Lara — I just felt it would.