Anthonio's head snapped around again, anger pouring through him, at Lucas' casual disregard. He hadn't even cared to fix another date for a board meeting after the first was cancelled.
Matthew traveled abroad on a political assignment, leaving him confused on what Matthew's problem was. He felt he was handling too many things all at once.
Sonia had declined the invitation for a meeting. She wasn't going to sit at a table discussing who was fit to take over BlueBird. She had said no one could do it better than her nephew.
Anthonio had been enraged by their excuses, while Lucas didn't seem bothered at all.
He was at Lucas' office for the third time in two months and honestly he didn't find this stress funny.
He was at the door,his fist already curved to open without knocking, but he quickly stopped himself. Lucas was a grown ass adult, the faster he realizes it, the sooner this cold war between them ends.
The door rapped twice, Anthonio was surprised at his own courtesy.
He waited, wondering why Lucas was slow in answering.
Anthonio knew Lucas knew it was he who knocked cos BlueBird had CCTV everywhere. Was he gloating over the fact he knocked or simply being a fool?
Anthonio lifted his chin to face the camera.
"Lucas, l know you are in there, l suggest you open this door in peace or l make my self the CEO."
He waited for an answer, and when none came, he turned to leave.
"I thought you breathed pride like air Anthonio Thompson. I wasn't expecting you'd be this courteous to knock on my door." Lucas gloated.
Anthonio bit his lip.
He had come for something more important than his usual fight with his Grandson. He was too focused, to be tempted into a harsh brawl with him. He didn't attempt to salvage his pride in the face of his nephew's disdain.
He still hated him. Nothing could change that, but for the sake of BlueBird, he'd ignore him this once, and maybe by the time he's made CEO, it would be his turn to gloat his victory, while Lucas drools in misery.
"The board will sit tomorrow, with or without Matthew, you or Sonia. Enough of your selfishness already."
Anthonio tried not be overly upset,so Lucas doesn't have another reason to be rude.
"And who would take orders from a self-appointed leader, doesn't that sound foolish to you Grandpa?"
"If foolishness would be all it needed to keep BlueBird, it works pretty well with me."
Lucas had expected a clap back, but he wasn't gratified.
Chilled by his expression, he rebelled. "No one would bother coming in less than twenty-four hours of prior notice."
"4pm. De Leon Hotel." Anthonio turned away from him, and strode across the hallway.
"Nothing will ever make you CEO Anthonio. Nothing!
Anthonio stopped and glared back at him, his face white with anger. "Sonia should have left you to rot in your vomit. You are as useless now as you were then."
Humiliation filled Lucas. The constant reminder of his past from this man, made him regret ever knowing him as his family.
"It still doesn't make you better Anthonio. You won't have the final word, l promise you. You won't have BlueBird."
Anthonio kept walking.
"You hear me, you won't win!"
Anthonio yanked the door to the reception and slammed it behind him.
************************
True to his words, Anthonio arrived De Leon Hotel fifteen minutes early. Opening the door to the exclusive private dining, he gave instructions to the Head Chef on his lunch preference after the meeting.
BlueBird owned this place. His heart beamed with pride on how successful his Grandson had been. The need for a new CEO was no longer negotiable, and it had to be done today.
The elevator opened into the large boardroom, Marcus had designed for discussing serious matters. The air was cool, but tense. He could feel it.
The door opened automatically into a large room, exquisitely furnished in full luxury.
Anthonio closed his eyes for a moment, determining in his heart, that the outcome of this meeting would be to his favor.
"Welcome Anthonio." Stunned by the greeting, he opened his eyes to see Matthew. Beside him was his daughter, Sonia, and Lucas to her left.
"Well!Well!Well!" Anthonio started, pleasantly amused and surprised to see the very people he wasn't expecting and thought never cared about BlueBird, seated at the far end of the room.
"Can we just start and get this over and done with?" Lucas looked visibly irritated.
Anthonio said nothing.
A strange strength came over him. It filled him with hope and courage, that things would work in his favor. He turned his thoughts away from the plight against what he could not control, to something more truer, that he could be the next CEO.
Sonia whispered something to Lucas.
"Sooonia!" Anthonio mumbled. His only surving child, whose loyalty to Lucas grieved him, yet he preferred her to that low life of a Grandson.
Lucas got up and searched for the ballot papers prepared specially for today. The papers of six, had only two names written on them.—Anthonio and Matthew. He and Sonia, were required to raise the paper with the name of the person they wanted for a CEO. It was a simply and less stressful vote.
Anthonio noticed Matthew's calm and confidence, but wasn't at the least worried about anything going wrong. Matthew might be a Billionaire, but he wasn't family. His instincts that he might have bribed Lucas and Sonia were high, and very possible, still, he felt confident that he would win.
Sonia made an announcement regarding the vote.
Nothing bothered him.
Anthonio was sure that voting for him, might be the only right thing Sonia and Lucas may ever do in their lifetime, still he couldn't help being fearfully concerned about Matthew's calm.
"We are ready to cast our votes!" Sonia announced.
And in a moment of anxiety and assurance, the cards Sonia and Lucas raised had a name which almost shook Matthew to convulsion...
Anthonio had emerged winner.