Chapter 75 Another crack
Lucas wanted to ignore the call but the buzzing seemed to make their situation worse.
“Sweetheart, check who is calling, it might be important.” Alex encouraged him.
He checked and it was his sister. His stomach tightened instantly.
She rarely called during work hours unless something was wrong.
He answered. “Hey, Em.”
Her voice was tense. “Dad knows.”
Lucas stopped breathing first before he mouthed, “Knows what?”
There was a pause from the other end before she responded. “About you and… him.”
The word ‘him’ was heavy. Lucas walked over to the couch and slowly settled down.
“How?”
“I don’t know. But someone mentioned seeing you at the resort with your boss and not just your boss but with another man.”
Emily lowered her voice. “Luc, he’s furious. He said he can't let you ruin his legacy.”
Lucas closed his eyes. “Of course, that's all he cares about. Legacy, honor, reputation.”
He shook his head in disbelief. His father had built everything on an image and status. On the idea that the family name had to move upward, not sideways, not scandalous.
Emily’s voice came in again. “And it’s not just that,” Emily added quietly. “He says the Benson family isn’t clean.”
Lucas’s head snapped up. “What?”
“He says Alex’s father ruined partnerships years ago. That their name drags problems behind it.”
Lucas muttered within him, “Old business, old rivalry, old resentment.” He felt the weight of it instantly.
“This isn’t just about you dating someone he doesn’t approve of,” Emily whispered. “It’s about pride. I just want to give you a heads up, so be strong, okay. ”
With that, they ended their call. When Alex asked if everything was okay, he said it was for the meantime.
Immediately after Lucas closed for the day, his father called to see him in his office. He nearly refused but went.
That evening, Lucas faced his father. The office felt colder than usual. His father didn’t respond to his greeting or even ask how work was or how he was faring.
He simply stood in the office hands behind his back.
“Why have you chosen to embarrass this family?” He asked without shouting because he knew that would be worse.
Lucas swallowed. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“You’re involved with your employer and he’s a Benson.”
The way he said it sounded like he was dealing with a stain.
Lucas stiffened. “Is this about business?”
“This is about legacy, honour and reputation.” His father said as he stepped closer.
“Lucas, I didn't build this family name for you to attach it to a family that thrives on scandal and instability.”
Lucas’s jaw tightened. “You don’t even know him.”
“I don’t need to.” His father interjected coldly. “You will end this now and it's not a request.”
Lucas’s voice came steady, but strained. “No, I won't do that.” The word echoed louder than any shout.
His father’s eyes darkened.
“You think this is love?” he asked sharply. “You think men like him settle? You think he chooses permanence over advantage?” His father thundered.
The doubt Zenith planted flickered faintly and Lucas hated that it did. However, he responded courageously, “This isn’t your decision, it’s my life.”
“It is my decision when it affects our name. So end it now or you will regret it.”
And there it was. Not Lucas’s happiness but the name. In annoyance Lucas left the office without another word, his heart aching with disappointment.
Meanwhile, while Lucas was at his father's office, Alex was called into his father’s office as well.
“Dad, you sounded serious. Is everything okay?” He asked as he entered.
“Alex, everything is not okay. I heard you’re entangled with the Westman's boy.”
“Entangled?” Alex didn’t flinch. “His name is Lucas, Dad”
His father’s expression hardened.
“You’re aware of his father’s history.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Unstable alliances, failed contracts, questionable negotiations, and greedy to the core”
Alex listened calmly but as his father paused, he said, “Dad, that was years ago.”
“Reputation doesn’t expire.” His father snapped. “End it, son.”
A silence before the real blow came.
“If this goes public, it will complicate upcoming deals. Investors don’t like personal attachments tied to rivals.”
Alex’s jaw tightened slightly. “This isn’t a merger.”
“No. It’s a liability, son.”
Another silence as his father leaned back in his chair. “You are free to entertain yourself privately. But you will not risk the Benson name for sentiment.”
The word was intentional and Alex didn't like the sound of that. His voice dropped a degree colder.
“Dad, Lucas is not entertainment.”
“Then you’re being foolish for choosing him. The earlier you end it the better.”
“I can't do that.”
“You have to Alex.” The father barked, his anger obvious.
He turned to leave but at the door, he paused, “He is not the same as his father.” With that, he left and drove home.
It was almost night, and Lucas and Alex hadn’t spoken. Not because they didn’t want to or because of the crash with Nathan, but because both had been hit from different sides. The issue of legacy, reputation, history, pride, and so on.
After Alex got home, he recalled Nathan telling Lucas not to come home. He became worried and dialed him several times but there was no response.
He texted him, “Sweetheart, where are you? Please call me back or at least tell me that you're alright.”
Lucas was sitting at a bar as the text entered. He read and slid his phone back in his pocket. His thoughts spiraled without getting anywhere. When Lucas finally called Alex, he said, “We need to talk, where do I meet you?”
Alex responded instantly. “Yeah, we need to talk. Take a cab to 46 Bornar Avenue.”
Neither of them mentioned why.
They didn’t need to because the situation had gotten serious. It wasn't about jealousy or about Zenith. It was about choosing each other when to stand by their decision meant war.
When Lucas arrived, he realized it was Alex's place. He was waiting for him even before the taxi dropped Lucas off.
Lucas admired the big building and even complimented him. Alex smiled and said, “Feel free to come around any time. It's yours too, okay”
Lucas didn't say yes or no, he walked over and stood near the window overlooking the street, instead of sitting.
Alex noticed Lucas's worry and asked immediately.
“Did you talk to your Dad?” Alex asked quietly, standing close to him.
Lucas nodded.
“And?”
Lucas let out a slow breath. “It’s worse than I thought.”
Alex didn’t interrupt.
“He claimed this will ruin the family name. That I’m… attaching myself to instability.”
The word tasted bitter. Alex’s jaw tightened slightly. “My father said something similar.”
That caught Lucas off guard. So he turned to stare at Alex.
“He called you a liability,” Alex added flatly.
Silence stretched, then Alex chuckled, “Two people with the same pressure even when their happiness ìs at stake.”
Lucas looked down at his hands.
“This is exactly what they warned me about.”
Alex’s gaze sharpened. “Warned you?”
“That you don’t settle. That this would be temporary for you.”
“What?” Escaped Alex's lips.