Convincing her (Jen and Lucas)

Chapter 9: Youngest Lewis

After Lucas drove away he made a call to Dave to wait for him at the office. He sped through the streets and finally reached the company. The moment he stepped through the doors he drew the attention of the people who were at the lobby although he was feeling too rushed to take notice of the attention he was drawing.

No one had ever seen him at the office without his suit and at the moment he looked so good in his casual wear people almost did not recognize him. He rushed into the elevator that was exclusively for higher management, which was basically his father and a couple of directors and impatiently stood inside wishing it could go faster.

Arriving at his floor he ignored his secretaries and rushed into his office.

Dave who was comfortably sitting in one of the sleek couches in the office was so startled that when Lucas barged in he found himself already on his feet.

"Hurry up and tell me all that you found," Lucas said impatiently while removing his shades his eyes sharply staring at Dave.

"Um Uh" Dave was literally speechless and the pressure that is being put on him was not helping with his courage. Lucas glared at him with eyes filled with annoyance patiently waiting for him to give him the information he assigned him to find.

"Today?" Lucas said sarcastically as his gaze turned impatient. Dave knew if he continued to delay he would probably get kicked out. He then cleared his throat and proceeded to recite the information he had learned about Jen.

"She is 25 years old, she owns a chain of restaurants that she started six years ago before her grandfather passed away. She sold the shares her grandfather gave her before he retired and opened up a caf when she was nineteen. They used to be wealthy until her father took over the company that ended up bankrupt. At this time she had already started paying off her father's debts. He started gambling with the hopes of getting quick money but he got into even more debt and ended up in jail. He passed away this year, about a month ago. The business did very well and she opened a couple of more cafes in City K while paying back her father's debt she helped her young sister get into college and got into the restaurant business. She has currently opened five restaurants two in city K, another two in City S and one in Country M. It doesn't seem like she has the intentions of opening any branches soon since she decided to study now. She became estranged with her mother after she finished paying off their debts because she wouldn't help her father with his jail time. Her mother did not know this, but Jen was already consulting lawyers and they told her they could help reduce his sentence to at least five years since he had gotten a ten-year sentence for not only illegal gambling but also embezzlement. He died on his third year in prison when a riot broke out. After he died her mother did not want to see her anymore so she moved here and finally started going to university."

"When did her grandfather pass away?"

"He passed away four years ago"

"When did they go bankrupt?" Lucas asked

"When she was twenty-one, she already owned three cafes at the time under the guidance of her grandfather she was able to manage her business well. That was the time she became the provider in her family." Dave replied.

Listening to the whole story Lucas couldn't help but be impressed by Jen and at the same time pitied her. She had put her life on hold to care for her family only to get kicked out by her mother. Sighing he massaged his temples as he leaned back on his chair.

"Anything else?" Lucas asked eyeing Dave who looked a bit nervous.

"Actually she had a boyfriend, but they broke up last year" Dave was immediately cut off by Lucas.

"I want her to tell me this herself, I'll be intruding too much," Lucas said suddenly.

'Boss, you shouldn't have had her investigated if you were worried about being too intrusive.' Dave couldn't help but think to himself. He could only give a stiff smile.

"Have you covered everything else?" Lucas asked. Dave was tempted to roll his eyes.

"Aah, she has a young brother that just finished high school" Dave blurted out.

"Okay, I'll call you later if I need anything cleared up," Lucas said dismissing Dave. He would have rather Dave gave him a written report but he was worried someone would find it. At this point, Lucas' interest in Jen reached a new high smiling to himself he was already making plans on how he would woo her.

Checking his phone it was almost noon he wanted to ask Jen out for lunch but he didn't know her schedule yet, so he gave up on the idea.

Meanwhile, Jen was at the cafeteria with Nancy and Leanna listening to them gossip about all that had happened at the party. Their conversation finally strayed towards Jen and Lucas again.

They started telling her about how everyone saw them being lovey-dovey at the parking lot which only served to remind Jen how she had blanked out when that happened. Feeling embarrassed all over again she took out her phone and started going through her social media.

"Did you hear that next week Lewis Co. will officially start training its new heir" Nancy asked

"Oh right, you'll probably miss your boyfriend since he'll get so busy," Leanna said to Jen.

"Huh? What boyfriend?" Jen said puzzled

"Lucas of course, didn't you know? You didn't even search the web when we told you he was from money did you?"

"Eeeh? Lucas?" Jen could only muster up these words almost making the girls laugh

"Yeah, Lucas Lewis, you really didn't know? The youngest of the three Lewis brothers" Leanna said almost rolling her eyes at her reaction.

"Eeeh? Y-youngest? How young?"

"He is twenty-two," Nancy said nonchalantly. Upon hearing twenty-two Jen almost choked on her own spit. Putting her face in her palms she almost started sobbing.

The age difference was not huge but she couldn't help but be shocked as this was the first time she has done anything with a younger man. She looked up at her two friends like she had been wronged.

"What's your problem?" Leanna asked slightly concerned from her reaction

"He is a kid" was all that Jen could say at that moment. This almost made the two girls laugh if only she did not look so distressed. They gave her amused smiles while shaking their heads.