Chapter 13 He struck gold
CHAPTER 13: He struck gold
Silas
Lucas was exactly as I remembered him…tall, immaculately put together, a bespoke three piece navy suit, silver threaded subtly through his dark hair, that he kept trimmed very low at the sides.
I had to admit his posture was disciplined and deliberate.
I had known Lucas since we were little. Our parents were friends. Although we were almost the same age, with him being two years older than I was, I was often irked with how he always acted like he was more mature.
We were never close friends, but we had a cordial relationship between us that extended into business.
“Silas Rutherford,” he said warmly, extending his hand. “An honour, truly. I must say, I didn’t expect an invitation to your home at this point.”
I shook his hand firmly. “The pleasure is mutual, Lucas. Welcome.”
His gaze drifted around the space.
He nodded once, impressed.
“You have an exceptional home,” he said. “It suits you.”
“Thank you.”
Natalie stepped forward seamlessly, ever composed.
He smiled courteously.
“Natalie. As elegant, efficient and formidable as ever.” He chuckled. “If you ever tire of keeping this one in line,” he inclined his head in my direction, “you know Luther Corp would gladly take you.”
I caught the remark instantly for what it was: polite banter, lightly probing.
Still, it didn't sit well with me.
Natalie, as expected, expertly diffused it with grace. “I enjoy working with old friends, Mr Luther. Especially the demanding ones.” She looked at me and added, “It keeps things interesting.”
Lucas chuckled. “I can imagine.”
His attention returned to me.
“So,” he said, clasping his hands behind his back, “should I assume this invitation has something to do with our… pending partnership?”
“No,” I replied evenly. “Tonight isn’t about business.”
That caught his interest.
“Oh?”
I glanced over his shoulder.
“I don't see Pauline. Are you alone tonight?”
Pauline was his fiancée. You'd always see her beside him…almost like a shadow.
He smiled.
“Unfortunately the engagement has been called off. We're no longer together.”
Natalie's expression softened slightly. “I'm so sorry to hear that.”
“That’s a pity.”
Lucas nodded once.
“Thank you. It was…necessary.”
The word carried weight, and a faint, almost mistakable trace of bitterness.
“Shall we?” I gestured towards the living room.
He chuckled, then glanced between us. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
I arched a brow.
“About what exactly?”
By now we had settled in the living room.
“Word travels fast when Silas Rutherford does something unexpected,” he replied lightly. “An engagement, of all things.”
Natalie shot me a glance.
“News does travel fast,” she replied, turning back to Lucas.
Of course news does travel fast, and gets to its target audience when it's carefully planned.
Having the same jeweler who made his ex fiancee's ring make Vera's was very strategic and intentional.
Especially when the said jeweler was his sister.
I wanted him to learn about it, before I broke the news to him.
It seemed more believable that way.
“I can assure you everyone was quite surprised,” Natalie said. “I've known Silas for a long time, but I never saw it coming.”
Lucas’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Including me.” He looked at me. “I was beginning to think commitment was a language you simply refused to learn.”
“I learned it when it mattered.”
“Fair enough,” he said. “Given my own recent…circumstances, I won’t pretend I’m not curious.”
At that point, Vera walked into the living room.
I blinked.
She looked…beautiful, composed. She was nervous, I could tell. But her posture was more graceful than practiced.
The dress fit her perfectly. A burgundy silk dress that hugged her and sculpted her upper body in a flattering manner, then flowed gracefully from the waist.
The ring on her finger caught the light as she moved.
I felt something tighten in my chest. And for a split second, I went blank…just staring at her.
And I wasn't the only one.
Lucas was too.
I approached her,
“This,” I said, resting my hand lightly at the small of her back, “is my fiancee. Vera Bennett.”
Vera didn't tense up. She leaned in to me, a courteous smile on her face.
Lucas’s brows lifted, genuine surprise flashing across his face.
“Fiancee,” he repeated, his gaze dropping briefly to the ring. “Well. I guess the stories are true then,” he said, rising to his feet.
He offered a polite nod, then extended his hand.
“Lucas Luther. You can call me Lucas. And the pleasure is all mine.”
“Likewise,” Vera said softly, taking his hand.
“You’ve clearly been hiding a treasure, Silas. She's a beautiful young lady.”
I pulled her closer to my side. “Of course.”
A maid appeared at the doorway.
“Dinner is served, sir.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
We moved into the dining room, the atmosphere shifting subtly as we took our seats.
Vera stuck to my side, holding my hand like it was her only anchor.
Lucas sat across from me. Natalie beside him. Vera at my side.
Wine flowed, the plates and dishes were being set.
A maid was about to pour Vera a glass of wine, I halted her with a wave of a hand.
“Don't,” I ordered. “Get her an orange juice.”
Natalie barely reacted, folding her napkin on her lap.
Lucas silently observed, but didn't comment.
Vera managed to keep her smile on her face.
A short silence stretched across the table until,
“So,” Lucas said, folding his napkin neatly, eyes flicking between Vera and me, “how did the two of you meet?”
I felt a flicker of unease.
I knew where this was headed, and the reason for the question.
Vera didn’t look like the women who usually occupied my world.
Lucas noticed details. He would question this.
Everything I had carefully would all be for nothing if he perceived that it was all just a ruse.
“She doesn’t strike me as the type you typically associate with,” he added mildly.
I resisted the urge to answer for her.
“I mean, forgive my curiosity, but how does a woman like you end up with a man like Silas Rutherford.”
It was asked without malice. Without judgement. Simply curiosity.
I was about to change the topic, then Vera spoke.
“We met by chance,” she simply, turning to me, before turning back to Lucas. “At that time, I wasn’t looking for anything… and he wasn’t either.”
She glanced at me briefly…just long enough to make it believable.
“I was in a very bad place and he helped me. He helped me even when he didn’t have to,” she continued. “And that's so much more than I can say for a lot of people that I've known my whole life,” she said, squeezing my hand on the table. “Because of that, I learned very quickly that beneath the Silas that you see…the reputation, there’s a man who takes responsibility seriously.”
She sounded so convincing and real. I would've believed her if I didn't know the truth myself.
“That was surprising. But beautiful,” Natalie said.
Lucas nodded slowly, clearly intrigued.
“I didn’t expect that,” he admitted. “Silas isn’t exactly known for… permanence.”
I met his gaze evenly. “People change,” I replied. “Especially when you meet the right person,” I finished glancing at Vera, with tenderness.
Natalie smiled softly. “I have to agree.”
Lucas studied Vera for a long moment, then let out a quiet laugh.
“Well,” he said, lifting his glass in my direction, “it seems you’ve struck gold, my friend. Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you, Lucas,” Vera replied politely.
Natalie's gaze flicked briefly to me, but I ignored it.
The food was served.
The aroma hit the air.
Vera stiffened beside me. I noticed immediately.
Her face paled subtly. Her fingers tightened in her lap.
Something was wrong.
“You alright?” I murmured quietly.
She nodded too quickly, pursing her lips tightly. I didn’t believe her though. I knew something was wrong.
Lucas took a bite, clearly pleased, dug into his meal. “So,” he added, “when’s the wedding?”
“In a week,” I replied.
His brows lifted. “That soon?”
“Certain circumstances require efficiency,” I replied.
He hummed thoughtfully, but didn't say anything further.
Suddenly,Vera stiffened.
Her hand went to stomach. Her chair scraped softly as she stood abruptly.
I hesitated, confused, then I got up. “What’s wrong?”
“I—excuse me,” she said, already walking away from the table.
She barely made it two steps before bolting from the room.
Natalie was on her feet instantly. “I’ll go check on her.”
They disappeared down the hall.
Silence followed.
My gaze trailed to the food on the table, then I realised that it was possibly the smell that made her nauseous.
Simone used to be that way too.
Something bitter crawled up my throat at the reminder
Lucas slowly set his fork down.
His expression shifted… from confusion, concern, calculation, then recognition.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then leaned back in his chair, his demeanor calm.
“She’s pregnant,” he said quietly.