AUTHOR'S POV
Reina was in complete shock with Scott's indifference. This man before her sounded like winter wearing his face. And for that, it deeply saddened her. Being the only princess in the family, she was never treated with roughness and hostility. Today, for the first time, she saw too much vexation in her brother's eyes turning him to a completely different person. The protective and kind brother she grew up with, whom cared for her all her life is gone.
She followed Scott to the boardroom where everyone is waiting. He still haven't seen the letter she gave him, which she hoped he would at least take a look at it. Walking through the office, she trailed Scott from behind maintaining a cautious remoteness. He seemed distant, far away from everyone's reach. Somehow, she get Scott's feelings and she couldn't blame him for being the way he is. After all, the family raised him only to abandon him.
In a long marble-top table for sixteen people, the company executives, assistants and lawyers waited for the much awaited arrival of the the former CEO of the company. Seated at the head of the table was Stanley, with Sebastian, Damon, a secretary, and the company's lawyers. Then, on the other side were Scott's lawyers and his trusted former assistant, Jim.
Scott entered the room all sweaty matching his messy hair, and loosened tie. Very unlikely of the CEO that he was, oozing with perfection. He sat down on the end of the table, across Stanley. Damon smiled at Scott, while Sebastian remained seated completely ignoring the eldest sibling.
"Are you alright, Sir?", Jim whispered as he serve Scott with water in a wine glass.
Coffee cups waited neatly before every seat. Scott glanced at them once. "Whiskey", he said, as Jim hurriedly called for hard liquors to be served for Scott. He removed his coat and tie, then wiped the droplets of sweat on his forehead using his white handkerchief. His lawyer pushed a glass of liquor toward him like a woman feeding meat to something wounded.
"You almost destroyed the building on your first day back", Stanley whined, keeping his trembling hands under the table.
"But I didn't. Let's get down to business", Scott cleared his throat as he wave to his lawyer.
"Are you here to accept my proposal?", Stanley asked, before Scott's lawyer could speak. Scott replied with a smirk, leaning back crossing his legs.
"Not quite Mr. Devlin. I am Attorney Frida Wolfe", the lawyer started. "My client, Mr. Scott Devlin..", she said as she was cut off immediately by Sebastian.
"I am not giving up my position as the CEO of this company.", Sebastian interrupted, refusing to meet Scott's eyes.
"Of course, Mr… uhh Devlin.", Atty. Frida replied.
"Let her finish", Stanley insisted, while Sebastian gave the old man a side eye.
"Thank you. As I was saying, Mr. Scott Devlin have always had gratitude in serving the company for a few years now. As you can see..", Atty. Frida handed out certain documents to the executives and lawyer of the company. "The company started from the lowest of lows to where Mr. Devlin have managed to increase it's earnings, gambling his honor and name. From then, the company has skyrocketed its gains. Mr. Scott Devlin started to buy his part of the shares of the company under his name up to almost seventy percent shares to date.. which is, by the way, acknowledged by the company executives.", the lawyer said shifting her gaze to each of her attentive listeners. "Hence, my client claims his right and will pull out his company shares effective today.", Scott's lawyer said as she glance at Scott who kept his straight face, while Stanley and his children gaped in confusion and shock.
"THIS IS ABSURD!", Sebastian raised his hoarse voice as he swiftly skimmed the documents. "70 percent of shares??", he furrowed his brows in disbelief.
"That's 67 percent to be exact", Atty. Frida stated.
"Is this true??", Sebastian asked the company's lawyer as they check every detail on the presented documents. Such big investment is a great loss to their rock solid company, as if nothing more would be left for them.
Stanley observed Scott's cold stares. He never thought that his most favored son he shot fires at, would catch the bullets and spit them back at him. He was so used to Scott being obedient, that he never expected for him to get fed up.
"It is true, and... legal", the company lawyer nervously said, nodding.
Stanley approved of the shares Scott invested in, for the reason that he trusted Scott's loyalty and patience. Now that what Stanley did to Scott and Diana is backfiring, the old man could only face the consequences of what he did. He thought, any father would have done what he did. Knowing how complicated Scott's imprint is, leading to several arising trials such as the Lycan's appearance, deaths, and, conviction of his legitimate son, Stanley needed to secure his family and their clan as his priority by all means.
"I was forcefully removed from the company with no acceptable reason. I won't resist that, however, before I officially leave the office doors, I will claim what I worked hard for. I've earned them.", Scott finally break his silence, watching everyone get fired up.
"This is not what we talked about", Stanley gritted his teeth, clutching on the edge of the table.
"I'm just finishing what you started. I'm leaving, and you can do anything you want, as long as I get my shares.", Scott replied, standing from his chair, walking out.
"If you withdraw your shares", Stanley rasped, "… then you leave us no choice". The old man coughed into trembling fingers before continuing. "The imprint must be severed properly. We will deal with the girl ourselves", the room stilled, as they bore a hole on Scott's back.
"I don't care about that woman. Never mention her name to me", Scott gritted his teeth hearing Diana's name.
"What did you just say?", Sebastian furiously asked as he slammed the table standing up on his feet. Finally, Sebastian looked at Scott without fearing. "She wouldv'e burned the world to find you", his jaw tightened. "And you stopped looking".
Scott squinted his eyes at Sebastian, who have found his way to him. "You can keep her to yourself if you want. I know how much you yearn for her too".
Sebastian grabbed Scott's collar, eyes ablaze. "Why you…", he grunted.
"Sebastian!", Reina called, as the two start to make a scene. Everyone in the room shifted their gazes, avoiding sudden movements and uneccesary gestures.
"S..cott?", Damon stammered. "You're joking right?.
"We're family, Scott", Reina uttered.
Scott removed Sebastian's hand slowly. Effortlessly. His gaze swept across the room. No, only at every family member he once knew. His father. Damon. Reina. Then, Sebastian. "Not anymore.", he walked carrying 67% of the empire with him without looking back. And for the first time casting him out, the family understood what losing him truly meant. Grabbing his coat, he left everyone holding their breaths.
On his way out, he read the letter Reina slipped in his pocket. After reading it, he tore it to pieces and tossed it on the floor like garbage. "That's a bit harsh, don't you think?", Ofir whispered as soon as Scott entered the elevator. "Family, with drama or not, is still family".
"I haven't even started yet."
Evening the same day, Scott invited the pack for a night out in one of Lucas' bars in the city. Ofir was left at home, and insisted to be alone for a while in Scott's indoor garden. He needed some time with the plants. Nurture his health at the touch of the soil. Freshen his head with the sound of the waters. And strengthen his power at the scent of the leaves. In all that, Scott didn't find the reason to protest.
The music hit like a fist the moment he entered the bar. The bass thundered through the walls. Glasses clinked here and there. Neon lights bled red and blue across sweating bodies packed shoulder to shoulder. It was a kind of place Scott despised for it's too loud and chaotic. Yet, there he was. Sitting in the corner of the VIP lounge like he belonged to the noise. The pack were tight lipped. Nobody knew what to say first. For days, Scott had vanished. Calls and texts unanswered. No orders. No rage. Nothing.
And now suddenly this.
"This is new", Lucas swiped the velvet curtains entering the lounge. He was followed by a couple of servers with bottles of whiskey, glasses, and ice.
"What??", Scott lifted his brows, lighting a cig. He leaned back, one arm stretched, sleeves rolled to his elbows. The pack slowed grabbing glasses and pouring whiskey, exchanging uncertain glances.
"For so many years we've been friends, this is the first time that you invited us for a drink", Lucas served the pack with a ice in their glasses. He didn't want to spoil the night too early with something sensitive to touch.
"And of all places, this bar? You hated it here because of the noise, didn't ya?", Allen said, sipping the bitter liquor like water.
"We haven't found the.. uhh.", Cory was told not to mention Diana's name in front of Scott beforehand. "Why are we partying again?", Cory squinted.
"We're here to have fun", Scott hissed, as he gulped his liquor down his throat.
Scott's answer should've eased them. Instead, it made the air heavier. Despite the pack were puzzled why the Alpha suddenly made time to rave, they all shrugged it off thinking that Scott may have just needed time to rethink. Meanwhile, Lucas watched him carefully from across the table. There were shadows beneath Scott's eyes built by something empty. Like fire had burned itself out, and left smoke behind.
Another round arrived. It was the fourth of the endless pouring set of drinks. As a light drinker, Cory laughed nervously. David and Austin avoided eye contact as they grab a glassful of alcohol. Driven by liquor, Austin made a mindless mistake. "…any news about Diana?".
The effect was immediate.
Scott threw his glass on the floor hard enough, breaking it to hundreds of crystals. His eyes lifted slowly. Cold and sharp. Dangerous. "Don't", he said. Nobody moved. Scott leaned forward, jaw tight enough to snap a bone. "Don't say her name again.".
The pack stared at him, stunned. No one dared to ask why. Lucas felt his pulse against his throat. This isn't heartbreak. Looking closer, this is close to hatred. The tension only broke when three ladies wearing sparkling mini dresses approached the pack. Their eyes dazzle at the sight of the lounge full of good-looking men.
"Hey boys!", one red haired girl said as she enter the lounge. "Do you mind if we join you? It's boring in our lounge".
"I'm Lily", the blonde girl, wearing a white sequined mini dress, slid beside Scott at the edge of the couch, bold enough to touch his arm. Lucas shook his head in worry that the girl might end up shamed by the Alpha. Scott never wanted girls approaching him. Normally, Scott would've sent them away with a glare alone. Tonight, he didn't.
"Scott Devlin.", he introduced himself as he extended his arm on the back rest of the couch behind Lily. "Want a drink?", he offered his glass while the pack knitted their brows with what they just witnessed.
Everyone on the table stiffened. "What? Are you drunk?", Lucas scoffed in disbelief. It felt wrong, and untrue.
Lily whispered something in Scott's ear. Scott chuckled softly, low and careless, before tilting her chin up and kissing her in full view of everyone. It wasn't gentle. Not meaningful. Just reckless. Lucas looked away first. Allen cursed quietly before emptying his glass. Cory reached for a drink even when already holding a glass in his other hand, while David and Austin just… stared. Nobody understood what they were witnessing, only that it felt watching a crack spread across a glass.
"Your place or mine?", Scott asked.
"Mine!", Lily giggled grabbing Scott by the arm as the two stood up. Her friends cheered her on as she pull Scott away.
"We're leaving", he said, simply.
Lucas rose immediately, grabbing Scott's arm, "This isn't you".
The music roared around them, along with the people screaming in the dance floor while the pack waited breathlessly. "I know what I'm doing", Scott said as he remove Lucas' hand on his arm. He then disappearwded into the crowd with the blonde woman he just met.
The pack were left dumbfounded with a hard thick lump in their throats, refusing to believe what Scott just did. Their hearts thump so loud matching the loud thuds of the pop music of the bar. "This can't be happening.. I need one more drink", Lucas said as he slump on the couch.
"Why does it feel like I betrayed the Luna?", Austin said with a straight face.
"What did just happened?", Cory asked in confusion, wishing desperately that the night didn't ended as it did.