Matthew Wellington slammed his fist on the table and rose. "How dare you betray me!"
"This is my business."
"BlueBird is my sweat."
"I have worked harder than any of you here. Marcus tried to help you three, make a living with the roles you play in his company, but l invested eeeeverything here."
"My trust."
"My wealth."
"My relationships. My family. My company in Baltimore?" Everything!!. I invested, in Marcus' dream. At the end, a denial to lead is all l get? Matthew was enraged. His voice vibrated so high a pitch, that the noise detector, picked it as unsafe and very dangerous. It took security to caution him.
Now, he was in tears.
Matthew Wellington was in his mid fifties. He had started his tech company in Baltimore, but his services fell short of excellence. His clients wanted something he could not offer at that time, so one by one, they left in search of a permanent solution, which they found in NewYork.
Marcus impressed all of them, leaving no crumbs.
So rather than be humiliated by the people he insulted and betrayed while building his company, he chose to leave it in the care of his step-son, not that he trusted him to make something out of the mess he caused, he only did it, to save his face. Matthew sought Marcus too, but in a very desperate way, even Marcus was ashamed of...
"Stop throwing tantrums old man, or re-telling your boring history to gain sympathy." It was Lucas' tongue lashing out at Matthew, stopping his pity plot abruptly.
"You sold your birthright Matthew, remember? You were as desperate for a seat at Marcus' table as Esau was for a meal, you fool!"
"Lucas?" Sonia called, sighing heavily. "Watch your mouth. I will not have you call anyone here names.l don't care how upset you are. You need to stop this childish nonsense."
Silence.
A long one.
Lucas considered the two men infront of him for a moment, trying to think of something to say, that will drive pain straight to their hearts, and hope, could possibly cause a heart attack immediately.
He wanted to curse this Matthew some more as he was deperately tempted to pounce on his Grandfather too, but he loved his mother too much to dishonor her. She was his backbone.
When life hit him hard, she stood alone with him, till the end.
In life, and in death, Sonia had his loyalty.
Lucas said nothing more.
Glancing up, he saw Anthonio laugh mockingly. His face, set in a very annoying look.
"Son of a bitch!!!" He murmured, resisting the urge to face him. Who did he think he was anyway, he was no better than Matthew in every way. It was Sonia who suggested, they vote him, cos Marcus loved him greatly.
"Soon, you'll see the beast l am." Lucas swore inwardly.
"We must vote agai..."
"Matthew," Sonia, already bone weary, she didn't have the strength for another hour of argument. Without a hint of fear in her eyes, she locked her gaze against Matthew's.
"It would be more honorable to accept your defeat now, than the embarrassment, of trying to bribe your way to the..."
"Fine!" Matthew ,said hastily, suddenly eager to end this conversation. He knew what he had done. That it would be better Sonia held her mouth, from speaking further. He should have known that his strong plea to the Thompsons, to get them on his side, before the meeting would be pointless, still he had taken a chance...
"Bad idea Matthew !" He muttered breathlessly, and walked out of the room, daring not to look at anyone.
Sonia saw she had wounded him ,and immediately felt sorry for him. She wished she could alter the past, and fix everyone in it—happily, but unfortunately she couldn't. All she had was a future, one she wished she never witnessed.
Straightening properly in her seat, she looked at BlueBird's new leader. A man, covered in age, history and experience, but not in resilience or doggedness or even innovation, just like Marcus Thompson.
Sonia pressed her lips together, fighting against the gloat of Anthonio's pride.
"Father, now you have BlueBird to yourself." She managed to say. You have a responsibility to run it, like Marcus would. You owe him that much."
"I doubt that."
"Don't doubt anything l tell you Father." Sonia felt her voice trembling. She couldn't wait to leave the room. Marcus' death had left a huge vaccum, no one, including her father could fill.
"BlueBird's been safe for years, with Marcus, with me it's safe forever." Anthonio suddenly blurted out.
Sonia wished she could believe him.
As she rose, Lucas quickly took her hand in his,helping her steady as she walked. Her gaze moved over her Father's body and back up to his hollowed eyes.
"Seventy- Six Papa. That's how old you are."
Sonia drew in her breath at what she saw so clearly in his face. He was grey and old, weak in will and strength, still he wanted to lead BlueBird.
"How deeply certain are you to keep BlueBird successful?"
"We did it together, before Sonia, l'll be needing someone who thinks like him to work with."
"Where do you hope to find him?" Sonia asked, really impressed her Father could reason this way.
"I have no idea, it's going to be a daunting task, but l will find him."
Lucas scoffed softly. It was time to tell this man he was a complete joke.
"You're getting tired already to work alone. You haven't even started. A huge difference between you and Marcus."
Anthonio glowered at him. This Grandson of his was more foolish than he assumed.
"Everything Marcus knew before he started BlueBird, l taught him. And if l say l'll look for someone like him to work with, it should tell you something—That you are u..." Anthonio bit his lips. This boy was grating on his nerves, that sometimes he wish Lucas could disappear away from him, and live with people that behave like him. He clearly did not belong here.
Sonia had seen the rage in Lucas' eyes. and she knew her son was ready to hit her Father, had he completed what was on the tip of his tongue.
This rebellion Lucas held against his GrandFather, made her sick sometimes, she wished it never started.
Sonia walked to the door, her hands still cupped in Lucas'. She turned briefly to face Anthonio fully.
"What you have to do, do it quickly. BlueBird's rivals don't sleep."