LUCAS BLAKE

  

  “It’s nice doing business with you, Mr. Kong.”

  

  “Like I said, Mr. Blake, may our partnership last long,” he said with a smile.

  

  “There’s probably no problem between us. Let’s continue eating,” I responded.

  

  “Of course,” he replied. After finishing our meal, I mentioned that I had to leave in the afternoon. “I don’t have time to stay here and have fun in the meantime.”

  

  My private jet landed at the airport in Australia, and my assistant, Simon, picked me up.

  

  I took out my phone to dial my dad’s number, knowing that calling Mom would be a different issue I wasn’t ready to deal with.

  

  “Hello, Dad.”

  

  “How are you, Damon? How did the deal with Mr. Kong go?” he asked.

  

  “Everything went well, and he signed the contract.”

  

  “Good, I knew you would do great; you are the best.”

  

  “I’m coming home to have dinner with you and Mom.”

  

  “That will be wonderful; We’ve missed you a lot.”

  

  “Damon…”

  

  “Is that you, Damon?” Mom’s voice chimed in softly under Dad’s.

  

  “Yes, Mom, it’s me. I’m coming home for dinner,” I replied.

  

  “Okay, so Damon, are you bringing your wife with you so we can make preparations?” she asked.

  

  “No, Mom, but don’t worry; It will just be a matter of time.”

  

  “What do you mean by ‘a matter of time,’ Damon? You are not getting any younger; You’re 27 years old, for crying out loud. Almost 30!” Mom exclaimed.

  

  “I know, Mom, but…”

  

  “I thought you had feelings for Daisy before you announced your relationship with Clara. You and Daisy are childhood friends; You grew up together to the point that if you don’t see her in a day, you will lock yourself in your room without talking to anyone.”

  

  “That doesn’t concern me. The thing is, when are you going to bring your wife? Do you want us, your parents, to pass away before you get married? You know we are already getting old.”

  

  “Mom, calm down... I...”

  

  It seemed she had snatched the phone from Dad.

  

  Then Dad came back on the line. “Damon, I know you do everything I always say, but this time I have something important to discuss.”

  

  “What do you mean, Dad?” I asked.

  

  “Like your mother said: Get married, or you won’t inherit anything,” he stated.

  

  “What? Are you kidding me, Dad? Have you conspired with Mom?”

  

  His tone changed; It became fierce, revealing he was dead serious. “It’s time to accept that Clara has broken up with you for a long time. I know you’re still in love with her and hoping she will come back, but it has been three years. You’re not getting any younger.”

  

  I sighed. He was surprised when Clara left me, but he didn’t understand my struggles. He had no idea about my situation.

  

  “Dad, is this an ultimatum?”

  

  “You heard me right. You won’t get anything unless you get married within a month. I don’t care if it’s a temporary relationship, a brief marriage, or even a contract marriage. You need to have an heir for this family. Do you understand?”

  

  “Okay, I understand. I will take your words into action. Take care, Mom and Dad.”

  

  I hung up and took a deep breath. How can I bring an heir into this world when I can’t even perform? I’m not sure Daisy would agree to a marriage contract with me, let alone give me an heir. I don’t think my childhood friend would agree, even if she understood the situation. But I’ll try to persuade her because I don’t want to be in trouble.

  

  I noticed my assistant, Simon, looking at me through the car’s front mirror.

  

  “Sir, where are we going?”

  

  “Take me home. I need to rest; I’m no longer visiting them.”

  

  “Okay, sir.”

  

  “Good morning, Mr. Lucas.”

  

  “Good morning. Today is the board meeting, isn’t it?”

  

  “Yes, sir. Mr. Gabriel is already in the conference room. They might be waiting for you.”

  

  “Okay, let’s get going. We usually have a board meeting every month to discuss the growth of Ray Tech and other plans for the business.”

  

  “Good morning, Dad, and everyone else as well. I’m sorry for being late.” Then we started the meeting immediately.

  

  DAISY LORNE

  

  Today is my birthday, and it’s the day Lucas wants to see me. I wonder if he wants to give me a present. I decided to wear a simple yet stylish dress that Mom bought for me last month. I was planning to order a cake when I heard a knock on my door.

  

  I opened the door and was shocked to see my family standing there.

  

  “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Daisy! Happy birthday to you!” Dad, Mom, and John sang.

  

  “Now blow out the candle,” they said.

  

  Puff... I blew out the candle on my cake. “Thank you, Mom, Dad, and John!”

  

  “Wow, you guys came here to surprise me! You shouldn’t have stressed yourselves. I was planning on coming over,” I said.

  

  “Dad, John, I hope you guys aren’t disturbing Mom,” I asked.

  

  “No, not at all; she is doing fine,” Dad replied.

  

  “Okay.”

  

  “Mom, I promise you will get your kidney transplant done before your upcoming birthday. I won’t let anything happen to you. Please hang in there,” I reassured her.

  

  “Okay, I heard you. You know Mom is also a strong woman. That reminds me, I promise to cook meals for you, so let me go prepare that as an additional birthday gift,” she said.

  

  We all laughed, and with that, my day was beautiful. I was happy celebrating my birthday with my family.

  

  After finishing dinner, my phone rang. I had taken the day off today, so I knew it was Mira. She said we would go to a nightclub later that night to help me find a boyfriend.

  

  “Hello, Mira,” I answered.

  

  “Don’t forget our date later. Let’s meet at the bus station in the evening, okay? Anyway, happy birthday! You’re now 23!”

  

  “Yes, thank you! But I wish I could go. Can we postpone it, please? You know I told you Lucas wants to meet me, and I think it’s today,” I explained.

  

  “Okay then, see you later. Love you!”

  

  “Love you too,” I replied as she ended the call. Just then, my workplace called, canceling my day off and requiring my presence.

  

  As I entered the company building, I was not expecting who I saw.

  

  Lucas...