CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 293: A Sacred Place
Lucas Brighton, father of Ash Brighton and the current Chairman and CEO of Brighton Industries, Inc. If there’s one thing he loves the most in this world it would not be money like what everyone thinks.
Despite the untimely loss of his wife, Lucas Brighton harbored a deep and genuine love for her during her lifetime. However, fate intervened, and their family was dealt a different hand. Tragically, she passed away at a young age, leaving Lucas to raise their sole child, Asher Brighton.
Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, Lucas found comfort in immersing himself further in his work. He sought out the services of highly skilled professionals to provide the best upbringing for his son, believing that he was making these choices in the best interest of Asher’s well-being and future.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Ash remained a cheerful child, always wearing a smile on his face. He managed to conceal any emotional turmoil caused by his situation, keeping his struggles hidden from everyone. However, it was not until the passing of Amy’s mother that his carefully guarded facade began to crack.
The grief of losing Amy’s mother, coupled with an intense desire to protect and possess Amy, became Ash’s primary focus. He started making demands of his father, a behavior that was previously uncharacteristic of him.
Motivated by a deep sense of regret and a desire to compensate for what he couldn’t provide his son, Lucas spared no effort in ensuring Ash’s well-being. However, witnessing Ash’s newfound happiness, especially in the presence of Ava, brings immense joy to Lucas. Above all else, he yearns to break free from the clutches of Dimitri Turner, finally releasing himself from the shackles of the past.
Given that Amy is now extending a partnership opportunity involving her oil reserve, Lucas is determined to do whatever it takes to secure that contract. Recognizing the potential benefits and the significance of this opportunity, he is prepared to go above and beyond to ensure the successful acquisition of the partnership.
"What are you saying Henry, Amy is family, and now that you’re married, you’re family too. There’s no need for you to leave. Stay here until dinner, as we have plenty to discuss. Come, let’s all go inside and have breakfast," Lucas said, motioning for everyone to follow him into the house.
Ava’s voice trembled slightly as she confessed, "Um, I actually bought pastries from Bellory, but I only got coffee for three people because I didn’t know you would be here, Amy." Her words were audible enough for Lucas to overhear.
Amy, recognizing Ava’s intentions, decided to go along with it. "That’s incredibly considerate of you, Ava. It’s alright, we actually have Bellory’s coffee every day, and we’ve had our fill of it. Today, I think I’d prefer to have tea instead."
During breakfast, a sense of normality prevailed as they engaged in casual conversation as if the past had never occurred. The morning conversation primarily revolved around Ava, with Lucas actively posing questions to better understand her. Ash and Amy greatly appreciated Lucas’ efforts, as they witnessed the genuine happiness in his eyes while he embraced Ava’s presence in his son’s life.
Lucas extended an invitation, saying, "Why don’t we all go to the study to discuss business? Ava, my apologies, but certain matters require a man’s attention. However, I’d be delighted to have you join us so you can familiarize yourself with our business if you’d like."
"Uhm, Uncle Lucas," Amy interjected, "I had actually planned to give Ava a tour since we arrived unannounced, and Henry needs your and Ash’s assistance. If you permit me, I volunteer to stay with Ava while you and the men handle business. We, ladies, can have some quality time together. What do you think?" Amy proposed, hoping to divert Lucas’ attention so she and Ava could accomplish their intended purpose.
"That’s a brilliant idea, Amy," Lucas responded with enthusiasm. "I was concerned Ava might find our discussion tedious, so it’s fantastic that you’ll keep her company. Carry on, girls, and we’ll meet again at lunch. Feel free to explore the mansion, and if you need anything, you know whom to ask."
Once the three men were out of sight, Ava turned to Amy, her voice filled with disbelief. "Are you insane?! You actually went here? I thought we were just going to talk things over the phone while you guide me through the mansion!" Ava exclaimed, trying to keep her voice low to avoid being overheard by others.
Amy couldn’t help but chuckle at Ava’s reaction. "Actually, it was Henry’s idea, and I thought it made sense. It’ll be easier for you to explore the mansion with me. The workers here know me well, so they won’t suspect a thing. Besides, when Henry suggested it last night, it reminded me of a place where Uncle Lucas might have hidden some important things."
Ava’s curiosity piqued, and she asked, "Where is that place? And why do you think something important might be there?"
"Come on, let me show you," Amy replied, motioning for Ava to follow her. As they walked, Amy paused briefly as they passed a maid who greeted them politely, ensuring their conversation remained private.
Amy continued, "When we were young, Ash and I got into trouble for hiding in a room within the cellar. It’s strictly off-limits to everyone. We were playing hide and seek, and we noticed that the key was still attached to the door, so we went inside."
Amy glanced around to ensure they were alone before leading Ava down the hallway toward the wine cellar downstairs.
"It was filled with Ash’s mom’s belongings. I believe Uncle Lucas hasn’t discarded a single item that belonged to her and has kept everything there," Amy revealed, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and nostalgia. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Ava expressed her concern, questioning their decision to visit the wine cellar. "Wait, if it’s such a Sacred place for Mr. Brighton, shouldn’t we respect that? I don’t think we should intrude or desecrate that space," she contested, feeling uneasy about their intended course of action.
Amy rolled her eyes in response to Ava’s hesitation but maintained a gentle grip on her wrist. "There’s no backing out now. Think about it, Ava," Amy began, trying to convince her. "Where would be the perfect place to hide something important without raising suspicion? If people were to see that place, they would assume it’s sacred—a space where a husband mourns his wife and cherishes their memories together. However, it could also serve as an ideal hiding spot for things you don’t want others to find."
Ava let out a sigh, realizing the logic in Amy’s reasoning, and remained silent as she followed Amy down the corridor. She couldn’t help but acknowledge that Amy had a point. If there was one place people would avoid investigating, it would be where the memories of departed loved ones were preserved.
The two continued to walk in silence through the halls until they arrived at the cellar. Once there, Amy motioned for Ava to take the lead, fully aware of Ava’s talent for picking locks.
Without hesitation, Ava retrieved her tools, having anticipated the need for such skills when devising their plan. Amy stood watch, ensuring they remained undisturbed, as Ava deftly began working on unlocking the door. Fortunately, the door’s mechanism proved less complex due to its age, allowing Ava to progress swiftly.
After successfully opening the door, Ava was taken aback by the beauty and femininity of the room. Her jaw dropped as her eyes roamed around, captivated by the charming decor and various items that any woman would adore. She couldn’t resist moving from one spot to another, inspecting the adorable and delicate figurines on display.
Meanwhile, Amy was diligently searching through the drawers and cabinets. Glancing to her side, she noticed Ava’s distraction and called out to her, "Ava! What are you doing over there? Focus! We need to search this place."
Startled, Ava snapped back to attention and refocused on their task, promptly joining Amy in the search. They worked diligently, ensuring to leave everything exactly as they had found it, erasing any traces of their presence.
Despite their thorough search, Amy and Ava were unable to find anything of significance within the cellar. Every drawer and cabinet yielded no hidden items or clues to Uncle Lucas’s secrets. Disappointed but undeterred, they knew they had exhausted all possible hiding spots.
Amy sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and resignation. "I guess we were mistaken. Maybe Uncle Lucas didn’t hide anything here after all," she murmured, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment.
Ava nodded in agreement, realizing that their efforts had come up empty. "It seems that way. We must have been wrong in our assumptions," she replied, trying to mask her own disappointment.
"What are you girls doing here?"
Amy and Ava were startled, abruptly jerking from their positions, when a voice unexpectedly pierced the silence. It felt like a shock of icy water had been dumped over their heads as they turned to face the individual standing at the doorway.
