THE PAINTER

Chapter 2

Lucas Makena looked like he would rather be anywhere else than in a board meeting surrounded by men and women old enough to be his parents. There were twelve people in the conference room, and Lucas and his P.A. were the only ones in their twenties. They were surrounded by seasoned professionals who had been working for MK Corp much longer than they had.

The only reason Lucas wasn’t relegated to the bottom of the corporate ladder with his age group was that he was the grandson of the company's owner. As the executive director of the company's hotels, MK Hotel, he had a significant position despite his youth.

Lucas watched and listened as one of the older directors explained why the woman on the projector screen was the right fit to be the model for the company’s new project. Her name was Stella McGowen, an actress who starred in the hit series "Witches of the Wild West." The men in the room gaped in excitement, mentally drooling over the beautiful actress's image.

Stella was a popular actress, but her popularity didn’t impress Lucas in the least. He tried to stifle a yawn but failed. Mr. Roberts, the man presenting, noticed. “Mr. Makena, I didn’t know my presentation was that boring to you,” he said with a forced smile, clearly annoyed. The rest of the room turned to the man seated at the head of the table.

Lucas mentally answered, **You have no idea.** Outwardly, he looked apologetic. “Of course not, Mr. Roberts. Please continue.” **Please don’t.**

Mr. Roberts ignored Lucas's mental plea and continued. “As I was saying, you can’t deny that her beauty captures attention. Look at Mr. Riley.” He pointed to one of the board members, who was staring intently at the projector screen as if he had just seen the woman of his dreams. Mr. Riley broke out of his thoughts when he noticed Mr. Roberts pointing at him.

The rest of the board chuckled, except Lucas, who was now staring intently at the image. **Why does she look so familiar?**

Mr. Roberts insisted that he had met the actress once on business and spoke kindly about her personality. **You slime,** Lucas thought inwardly, knowing the kind of man Mr. Roberts was. He was sure they didn’t meet solely on business.

“Stella is willing to work with us if the majority here agrees,” Mr. Roberts concluded.

Most of the men in the room raised their hands. Two female directors and Lucas did not agree.

Mr. Roberts was about to conclude when Lucas asked, “Why her?” Finally, he remembered who she was.

Mr. Roberts wasn’t sure if he heard right. He was certain he had explained everything. “I did explain why, Mr. Makena.”

“Yes, Mr. Roberts, you mentioned her beauty, etc., etc., and etc. If that’s the only reason you can provide, then you are not taking this assignment seriously,” Lucas paused, looking at Mr. Roberts.

Mr. Roberts had worked his way up from the bottom of the corporate ladder and felt he deserved to sit at the head of the table after so many years, not the founder’s grandson. To everyone else, Lucas was a brilliant and hardworking executive director. But to Mr. Roberts, he was disrespectful, arrogant, and lacked the experience to be in that executive chair.

“I beg your pardon,” Mr. Roberts said, clearly offended.

**Okay, it’s time to get to work,** Lucas thought to himself.

Everyone in the conference room knew there were a few expressions Lucas made when he approved or disapproved of a presentation. He would walk out without a word if it was bad. If he asked a lot of questions, he was interested. But then there was a third response, one he used rarely, which could put someone like Mr. Roberts in his place.

Lucas’s P.A. smirked as Lucas rose from his seat, knowing Mr. Roberts was about to hear it. “Mr. Roberts, it worries me that you could vouch so hard for someone like her,” Lucas said, pointing at the screen. “She is beautiful, I agree. Other than that, I don’t see why **I**…” he emphasized, reminding Mr. Roberts who called the shots, “…should let her be our model.”

The emphasis on "I" didn’t sit well with Mr. Roberts, who was about to say something, but Lucas raised a finger to hush him. “You’ve said enough, Mr. Roberts. And I am tired of listening.”

“Stella isn’t going to be our model for the new project. I wouldn’t want the company to gain a bad reputation because we chose a woman’s beauty over the fact that she was involved in some unsettling scandals last year.”

Lucas smiled when Mr. Roberts’s mouth dropped open. The rest of the room began to whisper. “Oh yes,” Lucas continued, “I’ve heard about Ms. Stella’s drinking problem, assaults, bribery, and ‘meeting’ sponsors for movie roles she didn’t deserve. When exposed, she and those involved did all they could to brush it under the rug.”

Mr. Roberts was speechless.

Lucas’s P.A. smiled, knowing Lucas wasn’t one to talk much, but when he did, he left a lasting impression.

“I assure you, Mr. Makena, you must have received incorrect information,” Mr. Roberts finally found his voice.

“No, Mr. Roberts. If you had done your homework, you’d know that using her as our model will do more harm than good for the company.” Lucas stepped closer to Mr. Roberts. “Or did you know about this?”

Mr. Roberts was taken aback. Before he could react, Lucas turned to the table. “We don’t need just a pretty face, but one with loyal fans who will patronize anything she advertises. I want fans who would follow her even if she took a trip to hell.”

Lucas signaled his P.A., who was on the other side of the table, to leave. Mr. Roberts was left shocked and angry.

Lucas walked through the hallway to his office, his P.A. trailing behind. People cleared the way for him. “How did you know about Stella?” his P.A. asked.

“People talk. I’m just fortunate to be there when they do.”

Sunlight flooded his office through tall windows, revealing breathtaking views. As soon as the door was shut, he collapsed into his chair, feeling like he could breathe again. “John, I am so tired,” he said informally.

John frowned. “I told you not to be informal with me. What if someone hears this?”

“It’s just the two of us. Why worry?” Lucas replied, pulling his chair closer to his desk. He was about to rest his head when John dropped a paper in front of him.

“This needs your signature.”

“What’s this?” Lucas asked, raising his head to see his bearded 26-year-old friend. Lucas and John had been friends since university. John wasn’t from a rich family but had helped Lucas in his studies.

Before John could explain, his phone rang. Concern flooded his face. “Hello, sir… yes, sir.” He pulled the phone away and looked at Lucas, who was waiting. “Your grandfather wants to see you.”

“Oh no,” Lucas felt uneasy.

“I should get the painkillers,” John mentioned.

Lucas rolled his eyes. “Call the ambulance if possible,” he joked. John slipped a laugh.