The spacious room was filled with an unfamiliar air. Never before had any board member called for such an impromptu meeting.
The silence grew heavier, almost tangible — one could almost place a hand on it. Sir Gastrus was getting impatient. He had been resting his jaw on his left hand, glaring into empty space — so unlike him.
Madam Gloria cleared her throat, trying to spark something — a conversation, maybe. But everyone seemed just as tense as she was, even though she always wore the ' I'm fine ' attitude all the time. She sat up to straighten her posture, trying to look composed but she kept twirling strands of her hair which settled in front of her face. She was lost in thought — which was always hard to tell because she had such a calm outward appearance.
What now? She whispered to herself.
Lara does have ways of making people dance at the snap of her fingers.
She let out a sigh as she stopped twirling her hair slipping her sophisticated hands into her elegant glass purse — the one her daughter had designed herself. The quiet motion caught the attention of Sir Gastrus.
"Hmmm...I wonder why Lara would call for a meeting and she herself is not here," Gastrus complained to Gloria in a voice that sounded like whispers — too subtle for others to hear.
That's because she's up to no good as always, Gloria replied in her mind as she took out her red lipstick from her purse and touched some on her curved lips, pretending she had not heard what Gastrus had said.
The door flew open, a huge man in black suit walked in. It was Thierry Durand, Lara's personal bodyguard. He had dark shades on and as always, his five right fingers all had black rings on them, each of the rings containing rare gems that stood in line with his rare personality.
Thierry walked in and stood on one side of the room giving way for Lara to come in.
Lara walked in looking sleek and dangerously elegant as always. Her once-blonde hair, now dyed black was pulled to her back and tied with a black ribbon, she was also putting on dark shades, dressed in a tailored black suit with sharp black trousers. Her blouse was silk, jet black with a faint sheen buttoned high at the neck and tucked in with ruthless precision. A dark diamond choker circled her throat with matching studs that blinked a sort of cold fire from her ears. Her platinum watch gleamed — the kind that told beyond time — it spoke power. Her heels clicked at every step she took, then silence fell. Behind Lara came Gaël Dion — one of the board members.
Lara took her seat as well as Gaël while Thierry stood behind Lara like a protective angel.
"Good day ladies and gentlemen." Lara greeted with a faint smile. The room remained quiet as Gaël continued the conversation.
"I'm sure we all know why we are here today?" He asked not necessarily expecting any reply.
"Yes, yes — very well known." Lady Elisa chipped in with her heavy Italian accent.
"It's going to be a brief one." Gaël added.
"I'm handing over the seat of the CEO..." Lara said softly.
"You're right! It's time for a younger mind to rule...I mean take over." Lady Elisa chipped in again this time her voice sounding rough.
Gaël observed her for a while with his small eyes always hidden behind his old fashioned spectacles. "Hmm you're not being patient Elisa." He finally spoke while Gloria made a brief movement of placing her hands on the table carefully.
"I would love to hear what everyone suggests. Madam Gloria, you can start — it seems you have a lot to say." Lara said firmly.
"I suggest Dion Biotics be handed over to my son, Axel." Gloria blurted out.
"That!...I mean, No! I oppose!" Mr. Fontaine retorted loudly as other members seemed to nod their head in support.
"I agree with Sir Fontaine. Everyone here knows deep down that your son can not handle this company. He is irresponsible and unprepared." Gaël explained.
Gloria looked unshaken by the oppositions, "I assure you that my son has prepared for this all his life, he is a responsible young man and I am telling you this as a mother who knows her son."
"If he is that ready, why didn't you handover shriz-plaza to him or why didn't his Father let him take over Donion Int.?" Gaël smirked.
"He's definitely the type who could turn Dion into a dancing club in one night, cos he would literally celebrate everything." Mr. Fontaine added.
"Even defeat!" Elisa scoffed.
"That is enough!" Gastrus said angrily, his fist on the table.
"Anyone else has anything to say — any contribution to what has been suggested?" Lara asked scanning the room with her big hazel eyes.
Silence stole the moment since none of the board members had more to say.
"It seems no one has anything to say so I can now speak." Lara said staring into Gaël's eyes for what seemed to be a confirmation, as if he was the only one in the room.
"Twenty nine years ago, I got married to Mikel...may his soul rest in peace..." Lara started calmly. " I gave birth to a son a year later."
On hearing this, there was some chattering in the room. Everyone was puzzled.
"What? What trickery is this?" Gastrus burst out angrily.
"You don't mean it!" Lady Elisa added.
"Then where is he?" Gloria asked with a devilish smile.
"Can we just be quiet!" Gaël roared as the room instantly became filled with silence again.
"Eight years later, the boy child was sent out of this country for his protection... because I couldn't keep him any longer without someone noticing." Lara continued ignoring the vague expressions on the faces of the board members.
"That is a very big lie. Ever since I knew you, nothing like that ever happened." Gastrus was fuming. He was filled with so much emotions — rage and perplexion. He was a cousin to the late Mikel Dion and they were best friends growing up. He was not expecting to hear something like this which sounded so much like a lie, especially with the fact that it was coming from Lara, someone he knew well, or so he thought. He was sure he knew everything about the Dion Family since he was a part of them and he had his eyes on them as well, but it seemed he was missing something now.
"My son, Lucien Dion is the rightful heir to the CEO's seat." Lara ignored Gastrus, her eyes fixed at Gloria.
"No, non! You can't just tell us you have a son you manufactured from god knows where after how many years and you expect us to believe this s**t!" Mr. Delage broke the silence that was of no doubt about to fill the tense room.
"He is my son! And I'm sure you don't need me to explain the process of how I got him...here is the DNA report for further confirmation." Gaël handed a file over to Lara which Lara chucked at the centre of the table.
"May I therefore present to you, the new CEO of Dion Biotics, Mr. Lucien Dion." Gaël said loudly as he made a signal towards the entrance.
Lucien entered the room with a presence that filled the air with tension. His aura wasn't just cold—it was arctic. His deep-midnight blue hair veiled his left eye leaving his right eye visible which gave him a more intimidating look.
On his left pinky, a blood-red tanzanite gleamed — the same hue as the one that currently adorned his mother's right index finger.
He wore a sharp ash-grey suit, matte-finished. His trousers fell in clean, narrow lines, uncreased, perfect.
On his feet were a pair of Cavalli Nero Vanta '25s — the latest handmade Italian shoes, their black leather glinting with subtle obsidian undertones, the stitching barely visible, almost surgical.
His right hand stayed buried in his pocket as he walked in unfazed, unhurried. His expression wore a twisted calm — it looked like he was happy but he wasn't smiling at all, he didn't need to.
"I don't have much to say, I guess Lara has said it all but I want to make a promise to continue the good work from where Lara stopped." Lucien's deep masculine and commanding voice stole their attention.
"Enjoy your day!" He said as he turned to walk out the same way he walked in, this time with Lara, Thierry and Gaël tailing after him leaving the rest of the board members — still in shock about the whole incident.
Hmm...it seems that this whole time, Lara was ahead of me by some steps. Gloria said to herself as she stood up from her seat, shook her long auburn hair with her hand and turned to leave pretending the whole scene had no effect on her.