Free Book | Forest's Redemption

Chapter 11: Lauren's POV

The day before my seventh birthday, my dad drove me to the Greyson farm. It's the biggest farm in Oklahoma and it has so many animals that it is probably any little girl's dream to just live there.

When we got there, I got to pet the calves, ride a few ponies, run around chasing the chickens and even played around with the goats. The memory is blurry, but I remember thinking that the farm probably had every animal in the world. It was too big and there were too many animals for that place not to hold every creature ever created.

After playing with the animals, I thought I had had the best day ever until I locked eyes with a boy who had the most beautiful green eyes.

Lucas Greyson.

Before I could register what was happening, the little boy grabbed my hand and ran with me. I followed behind him, struggling to keep up with his pace, but I forced my little legs to carry me as fast as they could. And while running behind him and looking at his hand that refused to let go of mine, I knew right there and then that I would spend my whole life following that little boy.

He dragged me to his family home, the only house I had ever seen that was bigger than mine.

Once we got there, he told his mom to make some food for me and then started playing with me and his little twin brother and sister who weren't old enough to register what was happening. He let me play with his toy trucks, trains, legos and toy animals. I only liked the toy animals, but I didn't have the heart to tell him so I played with the trucks and trains as well.

He bombarded me with questions, trying to find out who I am and which animals I like the most and when I'd be visiting their farm again. Then he told me that he also likes the animals, but he likes drawing the animals and all the buildings they live in and the things used to wash them and feed them more than he likes playing with them. He told me he wants to draw things and fix things when he's all grown up, just like his dad.

I had no idea what that entailed, but I nodded my head eagerly and lied that I like drawing things too.

He smiled and ran to go tell his mom after I told him that. It was the happiest and kindest smile I had ever seen and all I knew was that I wanted to see it again.

When my dad came to tell me that we had to go, I remember crying and throwing a tantrum because I knew even then that I should never part with that little boy. I belonged with him.

Lucas was the only one who managed to calm me down with the promise that he will see me tomorrow. It was only while I stared into his gentle green eyes and stared at his reassuring smile that I stopped crying and decided I should go home so that I can look even prettier the next time he saw me.

My dad, a man who hates nature and animals, took me to the Greyson farm every day for the rest of the year after that day. I made sure of it.

"Why didn't you just leave?" He looked at me like he was disgusted with me.

I spent a good twenty minutes giving him all the reasons why appointing a new assistant right in the middle of the merger is a terrible idea. I explained how a new assistant would require training for at least a month so that they could understand the systems we use and understand that this job is about so much more than just typing memos and sending emails. Being Lucas Greyson's assistant means knowing everything that's happening in the company, its subsidiaries, affiliates, all the stakeholders and all the different industries the company operates in.

He has been through nine assistants in five years because people burn out and break down. In fact, we're currently in the process of getting two more assistants on board.

Melissa and I are going through their resumes to make sure they'll be able to handle this job. We're running background checks and creating a list of candidates to be interviewed. It's a whole process that some random guy, who doesn't even look interested in the job, is going to skip alltogether because Charlotte Ericsson snapped her fingers.

"What the hell are you talking about Lucas?" I shouted at him. "There is a strange man throwing away my things at my desk right this very second. That's what's important right now!"

"You said Friday night you came to talk to me about our kiss." His eyes were getting darker and honestly every step he took towards me felt like some vicious animal was getting too close to me.

"You said you heard me and Charlotte." He continued talking, now towering over me. "You said you saw us...naked and making love. Why didn't you leave that night. Why did you stay three days at the mansion, watching and listening to me and Charlotte being intimate?"

"What?" I muttered.

This is not a question he should be asking right now. A strange man is about to get access to our most confidential information and he's asking why I didn't leave a place I call my home?

There was a knock at his office door before I could respond to the cold and angry man who was staring me down.

"Come in." He barked while glaring at me with nothing but disgust on his face.

"Mr Greyson," I heard Melissa's voice, "I'm just reminding you that the head accountant has been waiting for half an hour now. Shall I tell her to leave and reschedule the meeting."

"No." He growled lowly, still scowling at me as if I am the one who stabbed him in the back when he's the one betraying the people who love him just so he can pleas Charlotte. "I'll go to the meeting right now."

He grabbed his work ipad from his desk and stormed out of his office.

It took me a few seconds to get my body to move. I was completely frozen when he looked at me like I was his enemy and not someone who has done nothing but stand by his side. Lucas has never looked at me like that or spoken to me in such a harsh tone.

That man is the kindest person I know, but he's changing because of Charlotte.

I grabbed a few tissues from his desk and wiped my face. I already knew I was crying. My darn tears are always ready to burst out of me even when I truly don't want them to, like on Sunday when I came face to face with Charlotte's sinister eyes again for the first time in years.

I wanted to appear strong and confident infront of her. I didn't want that woman to ever see me cry, but when I locked eyes with those light brown hues of hers, more tears started streaming down my face.

It's those f*****g eyes of hers that make me want to burst into tears. She always looks like she knows she'll be getting her way one way or the other. And when it comes to Lucas, she will always get her way.

I threw away the tissues in the bin, took a deep breath and hurried outside so I can go join the meeting.

Lucas and Melissa were already gone and so was the guy who looked annoyed to just be in this building. The man already removed everything from my desk - all the pictures I have of me, Lucas and Christian are packed in a box. The little sculptures of farm animals I keep right next to my PC have also been stashed away in the box as well, together with all my stationery, notepads and any other momentos I had on my desk.

This is really happening. Charlotte is trying to push me out of Lucas' life.

I grabbed my work ipad out of the box and walked to the meeting room as fast as I could in my new high heels. I prefer flat shoes to heels. Lucas walks really fast and one of his strides are two or three of mine. He doesn't wait for anyone once he's on the move and refuses to be slowed down by anyone. Melissa's pants suites are able to hide her short heels and sometimes make them look like really high heels ...like the ones Charlotte seems to always be wearing.

However, I'm in a predicament today because it's only noon and I already have blisters on my feet and they're so sore that I'm about to start limping.

It doesn't make any sense for a working person to be in shoes like this the whole day. They're for someone who just sits on their butt the and puts their feet up on a couch. I have no doubt that that is what Charlotte Ericsson does!

I gave my most professional smile to a male colleague I passed. The man was definitely checking me out. A lot of people were actually acting differently towards me today, and all just because I changed my clothes.

I was getting checked out, getting compliments left and right and I think I even got asked out on a date. I can't be sure because I'm terrible at flirting and ... Lucas is the only one I wish would ask me out.

I could still see his eyes from this morning in my mind.

He's never looked at me like that, like I'm a woman. He's always just looked at me like...like I'm not someone he would even have a s*x dream about. But today was different. Today he looked at me like if we kissed he wouldn't regret it.

I blinked my eyes rapidly because just thinking about his words from this morning was enough to make me want to crawl in a hole.

I'm sorry for kissing you, Lauren. That should never have happened.

His words kept playing in my mind over and over again. I know that if it weren't for Charlotte, he would have never said those words to me. Lucas has feelings for me. I am certain of that. No man would keep a woman so close to him without having feelings for her. He just doesn't want to admit that he has those feelings for me...and I have no idea why.

I knocked on the door to the meeting room gently before I stepped inside.

Lucas and the head of accounting went on discussing whatever they were discussing without checking to see who just came in. Jona, someone who is just as mean as Charlotte, if not meaner, was busy typing notes. Unlike before, he no longer looked bored or annoyed. He looked like he was actually paying attention...and was typing really fast.

Melissa stood up as I prepared to go take a seat so I slowed my steps a bit because I could tell she was walking towards me. However, my eyes weren't really on her. They were on the man who was trying to take my job.

I can't let Charlotte win again. Not this time.

She doesn't get to waltz into someone's life after being absent for five years and then just start barking orders. Lucas deserves better than that.

I started noticing that Melissa was avoiding my gaze while walking to me. She was going to tell me I couldn't join the meeting. I knew it. And yet that didn't cushion the blow when she told me the man I've dedicated my life to for the past five years didn't want me by his side all because of a woman who left him in pieces.

"Mr Greyson asked that you perhaps ...not attend this meeting." She whispered awkwardly.

I swallowed the hard lump in my throat.

Lucas wasn't even bothering to look at me. He continued with his meeting as if I wasn't standing here completely shattered.

However, one person was looking at me. He couldnt keep his eyes off me while typing like a maniac - Jona.

He had a smirk on his face and a menacing glint in his eyes, the same glint that Charlotte has whenever she's decided that regardless of any protests, she'll be getting what she wants.

He might as well be her brother.

"Sure." I swallowed my tears. "Just tell Lucas I'll be here if he needs me."

She gave me an awkward smile before I stepped out of the room.

Charlotte wins again. Charlotte Ericsson always wins.