Chapter 4 I looked forward

Lucas appeared serious as he stared at his laptop screen, lost in thought, until the arrival of his secretary went unnoticed.

"Sir," Carlos said for who knows how many times. And this time, he managed to catch Lucas's attention. Carlos walked closer to Lucas's desk and placed a brown folder on it.

For a brief moment, Carlos stole a glance at the flat screen that his boss had been staring at intently. Carlos could clearly see, even for just a few moments, that it was a picture of the top model Luna Estrada, who would eventually become his boss's wife. Carlos finally understood what had distracted his boss for a while.

"Here's all the information you requested," Carlos said, taking a step back. Lucas opened the envelope and pulled out several documents and photos.

"So, she's his girlfriend?" Lucas said, looking at each photo in his hand.

"According to the information I gathered, they are in a relationship."

"For how long?"

"Two years, and it's still ongoing," Carlos replied, causing Lucas to look at him momentarily. Lucas tossed all the photos and documents that Carlos had provided onto the table and leaned back in his oversized chair. Carlos could see Lucas slightly curling his lips.

"So, she's into gentle and romantic men, right? She's a pianist who's not very famous. I guess she's only driven by her feelings for him," Lucas mused.

"Do you need any other information?"

"Arrange a meeting with my future wife. I can't wait to meet her," Lucas said with a smile that was hard for Carlos to interpret. Carlos simply nodded and went to carry out his boss's orders and plans. He had to start rearranging Lucas's schedule to meet the top model with a busy schedule, which wouldn't be easy, especially since Carlos had found out that Luna Estrada was a bit complex in her demeanor.

After Carlos left the room, Lucas picked up his phone from the table and began trying to contact someone.

"Hello," Lucas said with a bright smile, a warm expression he rarely showed to anyone, even to Adams.

"........."

"So, how are the kids?" Lucas asked again, turning his oversized chair to face the large glass wall that showcased the city of Los Angeles. The Alvarez building, his current location, was the tallest in the city. No wonder Lucas felt like he towered over everyone else, making them seem like ants.

Lucas seemed enthusiastic as he listened to someone on the other end of the phone, occasionally responding and smiling as if the conversation was genuinely enjoyable, something that rarely happened when Lucas talked to anyone.

"I'm getting married. Well, of course, Grandfather is forcing me, but before the wedding day, I'll definitely meet you and the kids. I miss you all," Lucas said, briefly looking melancholic but then returning to his warm smile when talking about the children he referred to.

"Tell them, Carlos will send the gifts they asked for. Maybe everything will arrive by tomorrow, and I'm sorry, it's still difficult for me to meet you all right now. I still have some important matters to attend to," Lucas said regretfully, as if he didn't want to disappoint the person on the other end of the phone.

"Alright, I'll hang up now. Don't worry about me, I can handle everything," Lucas added before ending the call and pressing the intercom on his desk.

"Carlos, come in!" Shortly after, Carlos entered and briefly lowered his head.

"Have you prepared all the toys I requested the other day?"

"Yes, sir, everything is ready."

"Good. I want you to send them immediately, and by tomorrow, all those toys should be in their hands," Lucas requested in his usual flat and cold tone that he typically used with people. It was quite a departure from the warm and smiling Lucas from a little while ago.

"Alright, I'll send them as soon as possible," Carlos said, then lowered his head before turning to leave and carry out his tasks. However, his steps halted when Lucas spoke up again.

"Oh, and one more thing, arrange a meeting for me at one of our hotels, and I want to be accompanied by the sound of a piano during dinner with my future wife!" Lucas said with a grin on his lips, causing Carlos to furrow his brow. Could it be that his boss's plans were exactly what he was thinking?

"Do you want Albert, the pianist that I_____"

"Carlos, that's too cruel. Aren't they a couple? How could I introduce them when I'm the one who will eventually be her husband?" Lucas said, confusing Carlos and making him rethink whether his previous assumptions were wrong. But then Carlos truly praised himself for understanding his boss's nature so well, having followed him for over eight years.

"But in my opinion, it's not a bad idea. Who knows, my future wife might be proud to show me off to her lover. Alright, arrange everything, and we'll see how they react," Lucas said, then reached for the folder on his desk that he hadn't touched since morning due to being preoccupied with his upcoming plans.

"Very well, sir. Excuse me," Carlos said before leaving Lucas's presence.

Once Carlos was gone, Lucas began to imagine how enjoyable it would be to play around with his future wife. He wondered what kind of reaction Luna Estrada would give him. Lucas knew she was a top model who was quite arrogant and conceited, not unlike himself. The only difference was that Lucas could control his emotions and behave without exploding, unlike Luna Estrada, who always expressed her emotions and dislikes openly, displaying her arrogance to anyone who underestimated her, even deliberately provoking those around her.

Lucas was convinced that a woman like Luna would prioritize her genuine feelings over being forced into a marriage. He could already guess that Luna wouldn't easily agree to this arranged marriage. However, one aspect of Luna's personality that she couldn't deny was her desire for luxury and maintaining her status in her career. By marrying Lucas, Luna could retain all of that, and perhaps she might be willing to let go of her romantic feelings for her lover.

"I'm eagerly awaiting our meeting," Lucas mumbled as he looked at his laptop screen, which still displayed the image of a top model who would become his future wife, Luna Estrada.