The Mysterious Chairman Keith

Chapter 23

FIRST ENCOUNTER 

“Dad?!!”

Jamie called his father, who was already walking away.

He didn't even spare him a glance or try to hear him out anymore, he only wanted his word to stand and that was final. 

“Father!” Jamie called again, louder now, but Lucas kept walking as though he wasn't hearing him. 

Lucas walked faster so he could meet up with him, but soon people started flooding his path and didn't even regard him. 

He stood and waited for them to clear from his path before moving again.

When he looked, he saw Lucas almost close to the car and he saw how the people he met on his way bowed to him and then he knew, he has really lost everything.

The car that brought them was waiting outside, the driver ready to take them back anytime they wanted. 

Immediately, Lucas approached, the car door was still locked. 

The driver was supposed to open it before he got there, but the driver's mind was absent and didn't know when they got there. 

“Why's the door locked still?!” Lucas asked, raising his voice a bit.

The driver rushed out immediately and opened the door. 

“I'm sorry, sir…” he said and then went to help Jamie too but he already opened the door by himself. 

The driver entered his seat and drove off almost immediately.

Lucas didn't look at him while they were in the car and Jamie wasn't comfortable staying that way. 

Was his father that angry?! Because he refused to marry the Nexagen technologies heiress?!

His mind started replaying all his father said.

But, under one condition.

You have to marry Ivana Lyden.

He hit his head hard with his palm as though everything was happening too fast.

When they finally got to the house, Lucas stepped out first. He removed his jacket and placed it over his shoulder as he walked inside.

Lucas walked past him, holding a file in his hand.

Immediately he stepped his foot inside, the light came on automatically. Lucas went straight to the bar first and picked up his cigarette case and slid it in his mouth and lit it up. 

The smoke curled up and disappeared and he continued until he had almost exhausted a full pack.

“Father,” Jamie called him again in a lower tone now, as he moved closer to him.

Lucas took a long drag before turning around. “Are you ready to accept the marriage?!”

The question landed like a blow to his chest. 

Jamie stared at him. “What of Lisa?!”

Lucas exhaled smoke, unbothered. “You can handle her. She’s not a threat.”

Jamie scoffed bitterly. “You don’t know her like I do.”

“I know enough,” Lucas replied coolly. “She won’t stand in the way of power.”

Just then, one of their servants entered carrying a polished tray with two glasses and a bottle of liquor. 

He poured carefully, setting one glass beside Lucas and offering the other to Jamie.

Jamie shook his head. “No.”

The servant paused, surprised, then bowed slightly and stepped away without uttering a word.

Lucas lifted his glass. “You look tensed…”

“Because you’re deciding my life like it’s a transaction,” Jamie snapped.

Lucas’s eyes flicked to him. “Because it is.”

Jamie ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room. “I want to meet her.”

Lucas raised a brow. “Meet who?”

“Ivana,” Jamie said firmly. “Before anything happens. Before any agreement. I need to see who I’m being tied to.”

Lucas studied him for a long moment, the smoke curling lazily around his face. Then he nodded. “Fine. You'll meet her tomorrow.”

He pulled out his phone and turned away slightly, dialing a number. The call connected quickly.

“Tommy,” Lucas said smoothly. “My son has one request. He wants a private dinner with your daughter.”

There was a pause as he listened.

“Yes. Tomorrow evening works.” Lucas glanced at Jamie briefly, a smirk spreading across his face.

Another pause.

“Good,” Lucas said. “Then we’re aligned.”

He ended the call and turned back, placing a firm hand on Jamie’s shoulder. “You won’t regret this, son…”

Jamie didn’t answer, he just watched him walk away, his both hands in his pocket.

****

The next evening arrived quickly.

Jamie stood in front of the mirror longer than usual, adjusting his collar, straightening his jacket, undoing and redoing the same button over and over. 

His reflection looked composed, but his eyes gave him away, he wasn't happy but he had to do it anyway. 

The Nexagen private dining hall was nothing like he expected.

It wasn’t loud or flashy. It was quiet. Intentionally so. He looked around, his hands tucked in his pocket as usual.

This wasn’t a place for comfort. It was a place where decisions were made.

He went to where was reserved for them and sat, waiting for Ivana.

Soon, Ivana arrived.

She walked in with effortless grace, dressed in a gown that hugged her figure perfectly, something impossible to ignore.

She didn’t look around. She knew all eyes would find her anyway.

Jamie stood instinctively.

Ivana glanced at him briefly, then sat down without acknowledging the gesture.

“So,” she said calmly, folding her napkin. “You’re Jamie Darwin.”

“And you’re Ivana Lyden,” Jamie replied, forcing a smile on his face.

She smiled faintly. “I know.”

Dinner was served. The conversation remained surface-level at first, polite and controlled.

Then Ivana tilted her head slightly, studying him.

“You look better than the tabloids suggested,” she said lightly. “Rehab must have helped.”

Jamie stiffened.

She took a sip of her wine. “Don’t worry. I know about the substances. The parties. The scandals. Nexagen doesn’t invest blindly.”

His fingers tightened beneath the table.

“And yet,” she continued smoothly, “here you are... Still… useful.”

A folder was slid across the table toward him.

Jamie stared at it.

“Sign it,” Ivana said softly. “It’s only preliminary.”

He hesitated.

She leaned forward, until their faces almost collided. “Don’t embarrass me.”

Jamie picked up the pen and scanned through the folder and then he signed it.

Ivana closed the folder, satisfied, and finally met his eyes properly.

She smiled faintly, leaning forward.

“Now, we can talk business… where do you think our wedding should be held?!”