What is Lucas doing here? Why is he here of all places? Donald panicked despite himself.

He instinctively grabbed the file and tugged it into his jacket even though he doubted the ingenuity of the plan. On a normal day, he would have shrugged off Lucas's appearance as coincidental but this was not a normal day. He wouldn't be here right now in a run-down bar in the middle of the slums just because he needed a drink. He must have suspected him for snooping around confidential files and the bar was too much of a dead giveaway. He was toast, and they both knew it.

His eyes still locked on the man, he pushed his chair backward instantly and stood to his feet, hoping to make a dash for it. His life really depended on it. From his peripheral vision, he almost did not see the large burly man hold him back down into his chair, effectively trapping him in place. He swallowed hard around the lump in his throat, still clutching his jacket tightly.

"I can give you money, how much you need. I have lots of it." He heard himself stammer helplessly and realized he was nervous. He gritted his teeth sharply to prevent it from clattering.

The burly man kept mute, obviously having been instructed to not talk to him.

Lucas stood from the bar stool and walked in purposeful strides to come take the seat opposite him, unbuttoning his jacket. Making sure to sit comfortably, he stared at the young man in front of him in disgust.

"You don't scare me, Caspian-Asiegbu," Donald scoffed, trying to appear brave despite still clutching his jacket in a death grip.

Lucas smirked at him. "Really. Tell me, why should I scare you? I'm a businessman not a mafia leader."

Donald glared at him defiantly. He would not cower under this man's stare. He had nothing to hide.

"May I see those files?" He asked, stretching out his hand. "They are the confidential files from my office, right? The ones I hoped would remain top secret."

Sadly, he did not share similar opinions with the man before him. "Go to hell!" He spat out. The nonchalant vibes rolling off Lucas irked him.

"You first!" Lucas retorted, trying to appear calm. "You were working together with that stupid man to swindle and steal from me. Right now, I'm writing a case that you'll send your ass off to jail the minute we step outside of this bar, first for selling company secrets and second for stealing confidential information from me."

Donald's eyes widened at the information. That stupid old man had let himself get caught, and hence led Lucas here to him. He would not go down that easily, he thought frantically. He decided to play coy.

"Information that should be out there, you mean? I read that document, Lucas and I must commend you on the tight hold on your money but don't you think Sara deserves to know she's a very rich woman?"

The man in the suit was unfazed by his outburst. "Please, enlighten me."

The man was trying to sweep the matter under the rug, Donald realized with rage. "Does Sara know she owns ten percent of your whole company shares? Something that she should have a hold of right now, living in luxury because of it. I'll also bet she doesn't know the real reason why you let her easily into her son's life is because you don't want to lose so much money if she were to demand for custody rights. A custody battle will bring to light every single kobo you owe her and you don't want that. So you allowed this ridiculous arrangement every Saturday so you'll have enough ammo to use on her when you finally decide to fight for custody. You don't fool me, 'cause I know everything!" He finished, smiling smugly.

He expelled a heavy breath at this admission. "I must say, you really did your research well. Frankly, I thought you had found a way to run me and the whole of CAPPEL bankrupt. Mr. Archibong made it sound like you did."

Donald was bewildered resoundingly. "What?!"

The billionaire lifted his brows in mock perplexity. "Did you think the issue about the shares is a secret? Every board member at CAPPEL knows that my ex-wife, Sara Amadi, owns some shares in my company. My grandfather doted on her, you see, so he made sure I added her to our company's shareholders without her knowledge. It was supposed to be her birthday gift, three months after the birth of our son. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to let her know about it. I didn't tell her about it later for her own protection, not because of some dumb custody battle."

Donald realized with a pang that he was officially doomed. Of course it became clearer, now that he thought about it. If Lucas had talked to Mr. Archibong, it was because of the contract he stole, and not about loosing company shares to his ex-wife if the information got out. He probably had enough money to buy out her shares if it eventually came to that.

He wanted to smack himself now that he understood the reason Lucas had shown up here was because he assumed Donald had gotten hold of important trade secrets he could sell to their enemies. He had been so foolish to go about blabbering about company shares like it was such a big deal and sinking himself further. The man was very sly, he admitted dourly.

"I am innocent of the bid issues, I swear. Mr. Archibong came to me and said he'll make me rich if I helped him go over you. I didn't want to help him but I was desperate!" He blurted out suddenly. It was useless now to act tough. If Mr. Archibong talked, they were both going down and Sara's money would be of no use to him anymore. He would grovel at the man's feet if need be.

Lucas eyed him again, wondering how pathetic this man was. And to think he actually trusted him at one time. He saw the file popping out from the jacket and his curiosity was lifted.

"Let me have those files now. Who are they meant for?" He insisted.

Donald eyed him, considering the importance attached those files or on the information they contained. Perhaps if he were a little corroborative, Lucas would pardon him. Pulling it out, he slid it across the table to the man. "They are for Sara, your ex-wife. I thought she should be made aware of her wealth. We were supposed to meet in an hour."

He clenched his fist in anger, barely holding himself from smashing the guy's face. "I am seconds away from killing you right now. It is because of people like you and Rocky that I purposely didn't tell her anything about the shares. Rocky used her naivety to swindle her, convincing her through her sisters to invest in grand schemes and elephant projects. I found out about it too late to stop it. So I knew I had to take drastic measures to prevent it from happening again."

She was too naïve, too trusting for her own good, but that simplicity of mind, that pureness of heart was what drew him to her, like a moth to a flame.

"What's going to happen to me? I'm innocent, Lucas. I can prove it!" Donald cried, startling him.

He frowned at him. "I think I'll let the judge decide when he sees the evidence presented before him." He made to stand only to realise something. His frown deepened when his mind caught up on his words.

"Where is she meeting you?" He quizzed suddenly.

++++++++++++

Sara was apprehensive as she contemplated Donald's call from earlier, wondering the authenticity of it and the impact it would have on her decisions. He had said something about knowing why Lucas had been so eager to let her meet her son. Although she had her doubt initially, she chose to believe his change of mind was because he realized she had as much right to her son as he did seeing that she didn't sign him away when they got divorced. But still, Lucas could not be trusted. He was completely ruthless when he conducted business and their arrangement was definitely business.

So that was why she, dressed in a crop top and skinny jeans, had agreed to come meet Donald at the last venue they had met. Whatever he wanted to tell her was probably the secret file she needed for her leverage on Lucas and knew he wouldn't want anyone else to know about it. He worked for Lucas and his job could be on the line if anyone at CAPPEL especially their CEO knew about this clandestine meeting.

Slowly, she waited for the elevator to make its way to the seventh floor, Donald's signature suite. She was nervous, asking herself if this was a good idea, as she made her way along the hallway to his room. It was just like it had been on the night of the house warming party, she recalled, remembering also that the party hadn't gone so much in her favor. She had a flickering thought to go back, but it evaporated once she saw the door in sight.

Releasing a ragged breath, she knocked. Quietly. Their signature knock and waited. The door opened and the man left her to go stand in the middle of the room.

Hurriedly she rushed into the room to avoid curious glances and shut the door before turning around. The air in her lungs left her lips in a gasp and she struggled to breath. Standing a few feet away was Lucas looking smug at startling her.

"Fancy seeing you here, Sara," he greeted and she noticed he stood next to the king size bed in the centre of the room. She felt heat rise to her cheeks when she remembered the last time she and Lucas were alone in a room with a massive bed.

"What are you doing here? Where is Donald?" She asked in one breath and then realized her folly when his brows lifted at her words.

"So, you and Donald are partners in crime. Now I have one more suspect to add to my list," he stated, strolling to come stand in front of her with a scowl on his face.

She shook her head in confusion. "Partners in crime? What are you talking about?"

"Fraud, stealing confidential records, selling company secrets. Five years ago when Martin told me my wife was stealing from me, I wanted to strongly believe Rocky was to be blamed but I'm not so sure anymore," he explained, the scowl getting darker.

At the mention of Rocky, she understood what he was driving at. Donald's plan was to steal confidential files which she had to sell to prospective clients. Yes, he had proposed that idea to help her get back her son but she was not party to that. Besides, that's not why she was here. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He raised a brow at the blatant lie. "You don't? Let me explain it to you then. When Rocky used my own wife to embezzle funds from me, I let it slide because I loved you and I love my son. Once bitten, twice shy, they say. Donald, your partner and Mr. Archibong may be facing serious jail term if found guilty of company fraud. I won't like to be in the papers, or have my shareholders lose faith in my capabilities because of you," he explained, glowering at her.

"I'm meeting Donald here because he has some information on why you were so eager to let me be with Freddie. If he stole from you, I had nothing to do with it," she insisted, not giving in to his insinuations.

"That is not what he said. I know you're working with him to use unconventional means to get custody. Riddle me this, did you not learn your lesson the first time?" He was beyond incensed.

She sighed sadly, realizing he didn't believe she knew nothing about Donald's plans. "I told you I know nothing about any of this," she tried to play ignorant but knew it was futile anyway.

"Those were your exact words the first time around," he stated, unflinchingly. "Play me the fool, if you must, my dear."

She eyed him in exasperation. "What will I gain from stealing from you? I can prove I'm innocent."

He angled his head at her in his characteristic manner before nodding. "As far as I can see, you have no proof of your innocence in this matter. In fact, the way it is, it's your words against his. The first time around didn't favor you much, did it?"

She felt like she had been slapped. "How can I agree to work with Donald to steal from you again and risk loosing my son? Don't you think I learnt my lesson hard the first time around?!" She cried indignantly.

"No need for theatricals yet. We haven't even begun to digest this issue. I'm still going to carry out a thorough investigation later. Pray that I don't find you guilty by association as that looks like the case here." He was remorseless.

She had nothing to say to that. They had ended things on a bitter note because of that embezzlement case. Heck, she had lost her son because of it, so she supposed he was skeptical when her name and large sums of money appear in the same sentence.

"Tell me truthfully if you are in cahoots with Donald..." he began uncertain.

She threw her hands in the air in resigned defeat. "Fine. What else do you want me to tell you? He promised to help me get full custody if you refused joint custody. He said he knew a way and I trusted him. He didn't explain to me what that way entailed."

He glared at her, completely taken aback that she'd let herself be used so easily again. "I can't believe you can actually be this ignorant! What is wrong with you, Sara?"

"I was desperate!"

"Does this 'desperation' arise because you didn't want to see me anymore? You know we could have reached an agreement if you had talked to me!"

"You weren't forth coming the first time I tried," she reminded him.

He nodded. "I agree but it was because I wanted something more. I thought I could use the custody agreement to win back your trust, to win back your love." Even if he had failed woefully at it but he would not give up so easily. "I still want to win back your love, beautiful."

"We are not here to talk about us." She stubbornly shook her head, trying to not let his words get in. They would only lead to heartbreak eventually. "Donald said something about shares that I supposedly have in your company," she said, changing the topic.

"He's a manipulative maniac. Don't pay attention to anything he says as he was only trying to use you," Lucas replied dismissively, hoping to steer her away from that issue.

"Are you sure? Or are you trying to sneak out from telling me about the supposed shares that I should have but know nothing about?" She queried, cutting him off sharply.

He visibly swallowed and lowered his gaze indicating that he was tired. And that she was speaking the truth. "That is a delicate matter. I had planned to tell you about it."

"When?" She demanded hotly. She was both angry he would think she would betray him and work with Donald to steal from him and that he kept such a vital piece of information from her for five years. "When you're sure I can't fight back or perhaps after you've taken my son away from me in custody battles?"

"I would never do that to you!" He denied vehemently. It was absurd to even think he was capable of such a ridiculous notion. "I would never take Freddie away from you because I know he needs his mother. I know he needs you."

"You took him away for five years, remember?"

"But I brought him back and agreed to your demands, didn't I?"

She clamped her lips shut then, her arguments were nullified but she was still in doubt.

He reached out and cupped her face gently, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Tell me, why do you think I didn't bring the custody papers for you to sign when you said you wanted to be away from me because of what I did? It was because I hoped you would change your mind eventually and come for him. I wanted you to come asking for him. That was why I agreed when you insisted three months ago to be a part of his life. It was my wish come true."

She sniffed at that, trying not to break down at his words. It really made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing he was waiting for her to come find their son.

"Why?" She asked, knowing assuredly there was a reason.

He smiled, stroking her chin amicably. "I wanted you to come find me, also. I hoped you'll come looking for me too," he said simply, and bent his head taking her lips in his.

The surprise at knowing he was waiting for her to come home to him lifted her on her tiptoes as she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer, asking, no, demanding more of his kisses which he was happy to give out in large measures. Like Hansel and Gretel in the cottage made of candy, they explored each other's bodies, never quite finding or having enough. Hungrily, they broke apart breathing hard.

Lucas stared into her eyes and croaked obviously aroused. "I want you, Sara. I really need you. Damn, I've missed you these past weeks. Tell me, did you miss me too?"

She nodded eagerly reaching for him again. There was no need pretending anymore. This past few weeks had shown her what she craved but was too stubborn to admit. She was still attracted to him, heck, she might even be in love with him but that was a matter for another day. Now was for the fire burning between them. The need to satisfy it greater than anything else, greater than the need to breath. Heck, he was her breath.

"I missed you. I want you too, Lucas," she admitted, moving into his arms.

~~~~~~~~~

Eh well, I think they handled that issue pretty well. I know he's supposed to be angrier, I mean he was almost loosing money (again) but that is hardly the point of this book. (It's also because I'm a lazy person) 😩😌

Disclaimer: I know I said in my Author's note that I will not warn you guys when R18 scenes come up but some of my readers are nowhere near 18 and I'm a good person obviously 😛😝.

Why am I saying this? It is because the next chapter is titled "Rated 18" and I meant it literally, so kindly jump it and proceed to Chapter 40. The adults here may take a sneak peek only if they want. You're advised to go with holy water just in case. 😎😛

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Thank you 😍😙