Chapter twenty-five ( Mr Lucus )
Ashley
I could hear noises coming, but all I saw was darkness. I forced my eyes to open but it was suddenly painful, I Pushed it more hard and my eyes opened
All I see is white ceiling, and murmurs of people around, I look around to see a doctor, talking to an elderly old man
"Where I'm I?" I ask nobody in particular
I watch as the fine old man gave me the best of his smile as he walk towards me and sat down beside the bed
"How are you feeling now?" He asked smiling at me all through
I sighed, not knowing what to say, I held onto my head as I tried to recall the last thing that happened. I remembered leaving Nicklaus's company in tears after seeing him with an unknown lady, I was caught in the middle of the road when I suddenly blackout
My eyes widened in fear, as a thought crossed my mind, I look at the old man and asked
"Hope I'm not dead?" I asked in panic and watched him smile before flicking my nose
"Silly you…." He smiles looking at me with admiration
"I'm I…..?" I asked in panic
"How can you be dead and talking?" He asked back giving me his best smile, I must have said his a fine man, I wonder how he looks in his young age, girls must have liked to flock around him
"Where I'm I?" I ask again looking around the whole place
"You are in Paris"
"What???!" I screamed in happiness filled with mixed emotions
Paris has always been my dream home to leave with my kids, though New Caledonia is also my dream place
"How did I get here," I ask sitting up on the bed,
"My driver nearly hit with my car, with take you into the car and since we are flying out of the country and my home doctor said you didn't sustain much injury, we placed you on a first aid before getting here"
Wow…for doing all this to me even when I'm a stranger, he must be a very nice man.
A thought crossed my mind and I sighed as my shoulder slumped down in disappointment
"Sir I'm sorry, but I don't know anybody here and besides I've not been to Paris before, I don't have any place to stay," I said lowly looking down at my fingers like they are the most interesting thing in the whole world
"You don't have to worry, I have many houses here in Paris"
''Thank you so much sir I appreciate" I said to him and made to kneel on the hospital bed but he pulled me back
"You don't have to do that dear, are you hungry?"
"Yes.." I nodded my head desperately and my embarrassing stomach added to it when it growled loudly
"My guards are not here at the moment, but I will get you something," He said and stood up immediately making me think about who he is….?
"Is he filthy rich like Nicklaus?" I ask myself
"Don't think too much, I'll explain everything to you later when we get home"
''Alright" I blush looking away wondering how he knows that was on my mind
I heard the slamming of the door, and look to see he's out
"Hmmm…Ashley just how much your life changed in a minute" I said to myself, recalling everything that happened
Tears gathered in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall, I just regret not saying good to Bianca, the little time we met she's been nothing but awesome towards me and Rex? He's nothing like he's a friend. He's nice, kind, and loving
And my dear Nelly, I know probably right now, they must have gotten the news that I'm missing. She will be damn angry with me, but like things the way they are now
Los Angeles is not for me, Nicklaus Baldwin has succeeded in breaking me, he destroys everything… it's all his fault
But I promise him, I will destroy him a thousand times that he did to me, just let him wait and see how I destroy every of his hard work bit by bit
He must feel every inch of the pains I felt, he must shed every bit of the tears I shed, I will make him regret ever meeting me that night
"You destroy me, Nicklaus Baldwin, you broke the good woman in me now I'm just the outcome of your brutality and cruel action.
"Just want and see how much I'll destroy you"
I wipe the tears that have succeeded in dripping down my eyes and look up to see the old man who saved me
"You know you don't have to shed tears while I'm here" He muttered dropping the food he bought on my bedside table and sitting on the chair aside
"Thank you" I muttered collecting the food from him
"What's your name?" He asks
"Ashley Brooklyn" I answered mentally reminding myself, I was just a Baldwin for a moment
"What of you sir"
"I'm Lucus Bonifacio, the owner of the largest Jewelry company both in Paris, and England"
"Ouhhhhhhh…" I choke on my drink,
"Are you okay dear?" He ask in panic as he rushed forward to me
"I'm…I'm…. fine" I stuttered looking at the man again, damn! No wonder he looks filthy rich, and handsome even in old age
I wanted to ask a question when he shook his head at me
"Eat up, we will talk better at home"
"Ohhhh…. okay" I replied
I finished my food, and watched as the Doctor came in minutes later, he prescribed drugs for me and gave Mr. Lucus my discharge papers.
His guards came in minutes later and escorted us outside the hospital, my eyes stocked to the ground looking at the fleet of cars lining before me, I look back at the man and saw him smiling
Most of the cars here are the latest brand. We entered while the driver drove off and the guards were driving behind us, making me wonder why he has to take so many guards along?
They are much more than that of Nicklaus
The drive stopped before a magnificent mansion which is almost more superior and exotic than that of Nicklaus,
A week later
It's been a week since I arrived at the mansion, everybody here has been good to me including the maid and the guards, Mr. Lucus leave alone, I haven't seen his family making me wonder if they are in another place
I was standing on the balcony enjoying the cool breeze of Paris when I felt a presence beside me, I turn to see Mr. Lucus smiling at me,
"Good evening" I blush as he continues smiling at me
"You must be wondering what happened to my family?"
"Yeah sure" I nodded my head
"I lost them…in a plane crash"
I could see pains in his eyes as he reminisced on his past, but those frowns faded immediately like they weren't minutes ago
"I'm sorry for your loss"
"Ohh… it's nothing it happened forty years ago"
"What?!!!" I screamed wondering how he coped
"You are wondering how I was able to stay alone right?"
"Yeah…." I whispered slowly
"It's love, I love my wife and two sons so much, that I can't see anything else but them"
My heart shrink in despair, as I know he was once like me, I might act tough but deep down that bastard has stolen my heart away with him
"I understand" I smile at him encouraging
"But I'm getting old, I need a lady who will love and appreciate me, not for my wealth but for who I am," He said looking at me, my mind was already accessing where this is going…
"So….?"
"Please marry me"