A Beautiful Creation

part 14 the visit

Part 14

First Monday of October and he's anxious already. The guy presenting a chart of electronic parts production keeps looking at him troubled. Luke was sitting on the far side of the oblong shape table, tapping his finger. There's too many rejects this month?

"What's quality assessment for if you have that number….", his growl cut off when the meeting room in their office opened. In came Christine Thomas, chin dignified on a rose printed black dress. He tried to control his frowning and saw Dianne coming to the office and looked at him with a very apologetic eyes. She mouthed 'sorry' on him and he nodded as a reply

"So, what's your reason on these lot of rejects", he hissed side looking at his ex wife as she walked at the side slowly and sat at one of the chairs. She crossed her legs and lifted her eyebrow to his side

The meeting finished after thirty minutes and he ordered everyone out. Christine didn't even blushed when his staff looked at her bewildered while they're making their way out. She looked calm and collected as always

"What's this all about Ms. Thomas?", he asked looking at the calm woman

She stand, her golden blond hair swayed as she walked towards him. Her eyes furious. She threw a small thing on his desk.

"USB, what's that for?"

"The model of the bachelor house you want. It's all in there with rendering", Tin finally spoke

He grinned at the woman, "You can't wait until Friday? Damn, I might be special, having you delivered it personally."

"I want you to take that and tell Mark that you want to take your plans into other design firm", she commanded in her angelic voice

"Who are you to order me around?"

"I want you miles away from my son. You think it will not came to my knowledge that you went in his school?"

"So this is all about my visit." He leaned on his chair with his two arms behind his head. She's still the most beautiful woman he set his eyes on. But still...., "He's my son too so you can't stop me from seeing him"

"He's not. The moment you cheated, you lose that opportunity"

"You can't stop me Christine I'll do everything to have my son. I have rights too and you hid him to me"

"You are not to see him again or else…."

"Or else what?", he stand and loomed towards her, hands in his pocket, "Are you going to slap me with your daddy's money now? Well guess what, I'm richer than all you Thomases combined"

"Then let's have it. You think you can scare me Mr. Roberts?"

"I know…", he grinned like cheshire cat. "I know I scared you. Why did you risk yourself coming here anyways?"

The anger in her grey eyes changed into something he can't read, "Just get out of our lives Mr. Roberts, please." Then she turned to leave his office

He smiled alone, "Ah, Christine you're predictable"

"Yep, that's me", Liam confirmed to Linton's receptionist his number. His brother's following his womanizing footsteps, getting a woman's number in a flash of a smile

They walked into Linton early in the morning when Liam spotted the red head receptionist and decided to talk to her first with him rolling his eyes. Christine thought he will back down with threats but instead she added fuel to his desire to get the boy. Now he has a back up. A much charming younger version of himself.

"Hi Mr. Roberts", the head architect came from the inside office. The guy looked to Luke's brother leaning on the reception table, "You have a new assistant?"

"No, that's my brother Liam. I left Dianne at the office."

"Oh. Ok, please come in to the meeting room. I regret to inform you that Ms. Thomas is still out. There's a client meeting at the site that just came out"

He walked in the office scowling, "Am I not that important to be your priority Mr. Linton?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Roberts, you are an important client too. It's just that we can't do this both so she decided to attend the other meeting. Anyway, I can also provide any information you would like to know."

But I want the other architect, he thought. So the woman is avoiding her now?

"She saw this coming", Liam whispered.

"Hi Emms, you changed you hair color", Jb said to their receptionist

"It's look good on her right?", Tin smiled. They came from  a manipulated client meeting. She pushed the client to do it on Friday morning to avoid Luke. Because Luke will come. She saw that detemination in his eyes.

Jb's not part of the structural team of that project but she took her friend to intimidate the persistent client and she was succesful. Now she was with Jb when she returned afternoon because Mark texted her on Luke's being around still. The guy knew what she did and decided to play games by postponing the meeting to afternoon. It's a battle of chess so she took a powerful piece that is a queen

"Tin! Wow, you look so damn fine", a guy of two years younger than Luke jumped on his feet to hugged her when they waltzed in the meeting hall. Shit Luke had a horse!

"Liam, how are you?", she said half smiling

The guy side looked at the taller person at her back first then stared down at Tin again, "Well, happier now that I saw you again"

"Ahm, Engr. JB Queen. Our structural consultant for the this project, J this is Liam, Luke's brother", she said and side glanced at Luke smiling triumphantly on his seat

"You know our client personally?", Jb asked ignoring Liam's offered hand

"Of course we're family once", Liam informed with a charming smile. "She's Luke's ex wife"

She heard Mark gasped in the meeting room but Jb's glanced on Luke's, and Liam's eyes never escaped her. She now realized who's Charlie's father!

The final presentation happened at the music of Jb's tapping hands. It means restraint. An anger her friend wants to burst any minute. Jb never even looked at her the whole time! The brown head was thinking of something, she knew it

Luke finally nodded the project promising an email soon to finalize their agreement so Mark exited the room to call for celebratory refreshment

"Why did you picked Linton's Mr. Roberts?", Jb suddenly uttered some words

"I heard they're specialized at advance architecture", Luke replied

"Not because you want to get Charlie?"

"Jb!", Christine yelled

"He's my son. I have the right and please exercise professionalism I'm still your client", Luke replied still smiling

She gasped, "So that's the real reason why you chose us?" Her voice came trembling

"Tin, Linton's was endorsed by Ingrid's friends. We don't know that you're part of it", Liam informed trying to calm the situation

"And you saw her here but still goes on anyways", Jb emotionlessly assumed

"And why do you care?", Luke annoyingly asked her friend

"Nothing much. Whatever you're planning Mr. Roberts please leave Charlie out of it. He's just a kid"

"You have no right telling me that", Luke pointed Tin, "even the mother didn't say a thing"

"I am not giving you Charlie!", Tin yelled

"He's my kid too. You hide him. Why? Because you want to have something to hold against me if I get back to you?"

Christine stand in a flash and lifted her hand to slap Luke, but a hand stopped her right. It was Jb and she nodded in the direction of people outside the meeting room stealing glances inside

"What's the problem sweetheart? Losing your nerves suddenly", Luke grinned

"Mr. Roberts, the only reason why I'm not punching your face right now is because you're a client", Jb informed then she faced Tin. "Tin, I think our job is finish now. Let Mark do his"