20

LUCAS' POV.

I was taken aback by the question. I hadn't expected it at all. Was she trying to impose it on me to say something nice, or was she really asking for my honest opinion?

I sighed, ready to speak. Being honest was always the way to go. I parted my lips to begin, but she was faster.

"Let me make it easier. What do you think of her, as a person, business partner, and as a marriage partner? You know if we join forces through marriage, we'll be formidable. We'll conquer both the home, and international market easily. We won't have any competitors." She said.

I was well aware of that fact. Marrying Stephanie and taking over her companies, and adding them to mine was definitely going to skyrocket me to immeasurable success, but…

I wasn't that greedy.

"As a person, Stephanie is beautiful, she's smart, graceful, and eloquent. As a business partner, I think I'll admire her wits and confidence. She can make potential business partners feel like they're on the losing side if they don't join hands with her, and as a marriage partner… I'll be honest. A marriage made for forces alone is nowhere enough to keep me. I'm searching for something more." I said, and expected to see a frown cross her face, but instead, she gave a little defeated smile.

"I guess my granddaughter isn't lucky enough, is she?"

"She is. Having me will only make her unlucky." I replied, and she chuckled lightly.

"I wanted to know what you truly thought about her. She's been attracted to you before she even met you." She said, getting to her feet. "Now are you ready for our first step outside New Zealand for business? Let's scan the streets, watch the people, relax, and think of what they need." She said, with a calm smile, and I returned it.

"Honey, hurry up. We're leaving." She called out, and Stephanie burst out of the kitchen.

"It's okay to do the rest when I return, right?" She asked, bounding up the stairs.

When she returned, she had a red coat around her shoulders, and a purse.

"Okay, I'm ready." She replied, and the three of us left the house.

New Zealand was a beautiful place and indeed, I felt a great sense

Of peace.

Mrs. Mayer and I watched the passersby, and came up with lots of ideas, jotting down on notepads. Unfortunately, most of them were canceled after giving it a thought or two.

It was not as easy as we had thought it would be. We knew people had problems, but only little of them showed the problems they had.

The only good thing that came out of walking around was relaxing, and getting closer to Mrs. Mayer.

Shortly, we stumbled on a park, and Stephanie pointed to a Ferris wheel.

"I've never ridden that before. What does it feel like?" She asked, and I tried hard not to roll my eyes. I couldn't help questioning everything she did.

All her actions seemed to be backed with ulterior motives.

"I wouldn't know. Granny doesn't do heights. I've never been a fan of anything that doesn't allow my feet to feel the ground beneath me." Mrs. Mayer said with a chuckle.

"Can you go with me?" Stephanie asked, and I could see where she had been driving it to.

She knew things were going well between me and Mrs. Mayer, and I wouldn't want to make Mrs. Mayer feel sad by acting harsh to her sweet granddaughter.

"I don't know if we have the time to spare for…" I began, and she turned to Mrs. Mayer.

"Gran, do you think we have time to spare?" She asked.

"It all depends on Lucas." She replied, and I had no reason to say no, since the choice had been pushed to me completely.

Minutes later, we were in the ferry, and all was quiet. I wondered who'd want to ride a ferry with someone who didn't like them. To me it seemed like a waste of time, and when we were high up, I began to wonder what was the use of it.

It was going to take a while before we'd return to the ground, and being in there with her made me angry, and impatient by the second.

Finally, she opened her mouth to speak.

"I asked for this ride on purpose." She said, and I turned to her.

She looked serious. Other times, she always looked light, and ready to smile, but her expression was different, as I watched her.

Great. It was time to knock the truth into her, and let it sink.

"I heard your reply to Granny, and couldn't be more confused, as to why you wouldn't want me." She said, and I smiled.

"I believe I said at the end that being able to join forces with your Granny wasn't enough to keep me."

"Then what's enough? You said I'm beautiful, smart… you are right because that's what everyone thinks of me. Every man seems to think I'm the perfect woman for them. I can make light jokes, my smile is priceless, I'm rich, but not clueless, and I make a formidable business partner. Who won't want me? If all these things isn't enough to keep you when I've been watching you from afar for years, then what would be enough?"

"You don't have it. And you never will because you weren't born with it. If you truly watched me from afar, you should know women don't interest me. Stop being a fool, and grow up, Stephanie. There are some things you want, but can never have, and there are also some things you can have, but will never want. I will be honest, because honesty is always what I stand by.

"I do not think twice of cheap girls, who go out of their way just to grab a man's attention. I do not like girls doing the job meant for the man to do. I do the chasing, not you, but what do we do when you were obviously born to chase? You're attractive, but can you understand when I say I do not in any way find you attractive?"

Stephanie began to take deep breaths. It felt like she was trying to hold her anger.

"I… I want to get down."

"Unfortunately, I don't know how to stop it. This is my first time in one, and I think we wait until we get back to…"

"Take me down! It's too small…. I want to get out! I want to get out!!" She said, with her breath coming out short, and fast.

It was only then that I realized she wasn't getting angry, but was finding it hard to breathe.

She was having an anxiety attack.