Chapter 21
LUCAS
“Jim Adams’ actions have saddened me greatly,” Lucas said.
His hands gripped the podium as he looked out over the reporters who’d assembled.
“I considered him a close friend and a good businessman, and I had no idea of what he was doing.
His embezzlement was not only an attack on Omegron but also a personal betrayal.
“That’s why you can count on me to unravel everything he did.
I won’t rest until what he did has been put back to rights.
Mr. Adams set Omegron back, but he won’t bury us.
I remain as committed as ever to creating affordable, top-of-the-line electronics that help both people and our planet. The rest of Omegron does, too.”
Lucas paused as he reached the end of the prepared remarks. His gaze drifted over the reporters again, then he nodded once. “I’ll now take questions.”
Hands flew up, and he indicated a young woman in the front row with a pencil behind her ear and her phone held up to record him. Lucas wondered what the pencil was for.
“Mr. Chambers,” she said, standing. “How could you not have known what was happening in your own company?”
“Mr. Adams had set up a network of fake clients and offshore accounts to be able to siphon off very small, irregular amounts of money from various Omegron departments,” Lucas explained.
“No one knew what was happening, and no one could have known. The only way the police found out what he was doing was that he got overconfident and took a larger amount.”
“If you didn’t know what was happening, how can you make sure this doesn’t happen again?” the same reporter asked.
“Great question. Over the last two weeks, since I’ve returned to LA, Omegron has begun implementing a new system of checks and balances.
We’ve also introduced increased oversight, including highly competent pattern-recognition software, to reduce the likelihood of a similar situation recurring. Next question, please.”
An older man with a beard and mustache stood, smoothing his tie. “Mr. Chambers, you disappeared right after the embezzlement was discovered. This sparked speculation about your potential involvement, especially since you seem to have been out of the country. Where did you go and why?”
“I left because I wanted to ensure that the investigation proceeded smoothly. At the same time, it was for the best that I stay silent until I had something to say — as I do now.” He hesitated before answering the second part of the question.
“As for where I went, I took a little time off near Cabo.”
Memories rushed back from his time in Cabo with Kendra, but he forced them down as he called for the next question.
He couldn’t let himself think about Kendra.
Not right now. She already occupied his dreams and stole into his thoughts in his rare moments of free time, but if he gave in now, he’d never be able to focus on the reporters.
For the next ten minutes, Lucas continued answering the same questions he’d been answering for the last two weeks: What were his plans for Omegron?
How did he feel about Jim Adams now? Had he really not known about the embezzlement?
Each time, he gave the same answers he’d been giving for the past fourteen days, with some variation.
This time, though, it seemed like the reporters weren’t quite as eager to trip him up.
“That’s the last one,” Lucas said finally. “Thanks, everyone. Have a good day.”
With that, he headed off the raised dais and into the hallway. Oscar Jones, his PR head, was waiting for him, and the two men fell into step together as Oscar pulled out an Omegron tablet.
“Things are looking great,” he said. He tapped a graphic and showed it to Lucas.
“Omegron’s stock prices are starting to rebound, and yesterday’s snap poll showed that most people now believe that you didn’t have anything to do with Mr. Adams’s embezzlement.
Even better, most people are now saying that they’re willing to invest in Omegron and buy Omegron products again, and we have seen an increase in the purchase of Omegron products. It’s working.”
“Great.” Lucas allowed himself to take his first deep breath in two weeks.
He’d been practically living in the office, eating energy bars and drinking black coffee, his complete focus on his company.
When he’d first gotten back, Omegron’s situation had been dire.
Although his name had already been cleared, public trust in the company was at an all-time low, as were stock prices.
Lucas’s hard work, along with the hours put in by his team, meant that things were finally looking up.
“I’d recommend you take time for yourself,” Oscar continued. “The fires have been put out.”
Lucas took another deep breath. He was relieved, of course, but he was also bone-tired. He’d gone to so many board meetings, crisis sessions, and interviews over the last two weeks that he felt like he was stumbling across the finish line of a marathon.
“Thanks, Oscar. I really appreciate all your hard work on this.” Lucas held out a hand, which Oscar shook.
“I appreciate that, boss.” Oscar smiled. “The next priorities include hiring a new CFO and deciding when to launch our new phone, but those things can wait. At least for an evening.”
“I’ll go home, then.” Lucas paused. “You should, too. You’ve been here as much as I have.”
Oscar nodded. “I will.”
Lucas stopped by his office to get his stuff before heading out.
As he walked to the elevator, he passed offices filled with people working and chatting.
The Omegron offices buzzed with life again, just as he’d wanted them to.
He had brought the company he loved back to its feet after a huge blow.
He should be shouting from the rooftops right now.
But the victory felt… hollow.
Lucas smiled and nodded at his employees before getting in the elevator and riding down to street level. He blinked against the warm early October sunshine. He hadn’t been outside in the daylight in a while, and it took him a few minutes to remember where he’d parked his car.
At home, Lucas entered his spacious, modern apartment, and he still felt hollow.
He sank onto his couch. As he did so, he realized the reason why his success had fallen flat; something, or rather, someone, was missing.
He wanted to run to Kendra, gather her in his arms, and share his success with her. Instead, he was sitting there alone.
He might as well go back to the office. Without Kendra, nothing in his life mattered as much as work, and even work didn’t feel as all-consuming as it used to.
He rested his head in his hands. For the first time since getting back to LA and being pulled into the whirlwind of corporate damage control, he had enough time to reflect on the decisions he’d made. He wasn’t happy.
Of course, he’d had to come back to LA to save Omegron. But he could have talked to Kendra about how he really felt before leaving. He could have asked for her number. He could have made plans to see her in LA. But he hadn’t done any of that, and now, it was too late.
With a sigh, Lucas got to his feet and went into the kitchen.
The fridge was almost completely empty, apart from a few beers, some American Coke, and a container of cheese slices.
With a sigh, Lucas took the Coke can, opened it, and sipped.
It didn’t taste as good as Mexican Coke, but it still brought back memories from Cabo.
He left the can on the counter and went into the bedroom.
His suitcase sat on the floor by the bed where he’d left it.
He’d planned to unpack once things calmed down, but in the last two weeks he’d barely even been back to the apartment, and then only to sleep.
Now, Lucas unzipped the suitcase. There were the T-shirts and shorts he’d worn, the suit he’d had on when he met Kendra, and the swim trunks he’d worn on their many water-based adventures.
There was his toiletry bag and his spare laptop charger.
Lucas put everything away, tossed the clothes in the washing machine, and went back to the suitcase.
In the front compartment, he found a box of mints with only three left, which he put in his pocket, and his boarding pass from the flight to Cabo.
There was something else in there, though; he could feel the edge of something.
He managed to snag it with a finger and carefully drew it out.
His heart squeezed when he saw what it was.
He’d stumbled upon the green, shell-woven gift-shop bracelet that Kendra had given him back at the resort.
He’d taken it off on the flight back to LA and forgotten all about it.
Lucas ran the bracelet between his fingers as he sank slowly onto the bed.
He’d known he’d made a mistake by not making plans to see Kendra again.
But he’d had no idea how much it would hurt to see this bracelet, a reminder of the too-short time they’d spent together.
He remembered her fingertips brushing his skin and her sweet, hopeful smile as she’d tied the bracelet around his wrist. He remembered how she’d looked like a mermaid when she’d dived under the water, her fins kicking and her hair streaming behind her.
He remembered how it felt to hold her in his arms and kiss her until she was breathless.
He remembered the way her green eyes flashed when she was excited about something.
He hadn’t just made a mistake when he’d left Cabo so suddenly.
He’d cut out a woman who, even now, occupied his dreams and slipped into his thoughts in every waking moment.
Without Kendra, his life was, and always would be, faded, the colors not as bright as they’d been when he was with her. His work would always feel hollow.
She wasn’t a distraction from real life.
No, she was real life, pulling Lucas out of an endless spiral of worries about Omegron.
Holding her hand, walking with her across the sand, sharing dessert and telling stories — that was real.
More real than Omegron. More real than anything else.
He wanted a future with her, even if it was difficult, even if it was scary.
He wanted to go on more adventures with her.
He wanted coffee dates and dancing evenings.
He wanted long walks on the beach and lazy mornings eating breakfast in bed.
He wanted a life with Kendra. Even though that now felt far out of his reach.
The realization punched Lucas in the gut.
He’d thought he could slide back into his old life, even though he missed Kendra and thought about her constantly.
But his old life of all-consuming work and little time for fun was like a tight, itchy sweater that had been through the dryer a few too many times.
It didn’t fit anymore. He couldn’t go back to not caring.
In that moment, Lucas finally understood what mattered the most in his life. And he was going to get it — if it wasn’t too late.
He got to his feet, shoved the woven bracelet into his pocket, and went outside. He didn’t hesitate. He got into his car and headed straight for the Omegron offices. His path forward was finally clear. Now, more than ever before, he had work to do.