Chapter 2: Chapter 2 : Renewable Business
Lucas’ POV
The video call rang three times before he picked up. It was three o’clock in New York which meant it was eight in London. When my camera finally clicked on, a well-groomed old man sat before me. His graying facial hair was tapered just right, and the corners of his eyes were stamped with crow’s feet.
“Hello father.” I said, already itching to get this conversation over with.
“Lucas.” He said, shortly. “Have you come to your senses yet or are you still gallivanting about in New York?”
“Well, if you consider a rigorous search to find better energy resources to keep your precious company efficient with a rapidly evolving industry, then sure, I’m still gallivanting.” I said, slyly.
“Watch it, son.” My father snapped. “Just because you’ve got a master’s degree doesn’t mean you know everything.”
“Sorry, sir.” I said with a little more respect.
My father straightened his tie and took a quick sip of his brandy.
“Now, tell me.” He said. “How was the meeting on Monday?”
“It went well.” I said, not wanting to talk about any of my deals with him.
My father grunted, unable to deny my success.
“It’s just as well.” He said. “You’re a good closer but you’re cocky. Why don’t you come home and we’ll put someone on the project who’s not so high profile? Perhaps Avery can do it.”
The very utterance of Avery’s name made my arm hair stand on edge. How dare my father throw my most hated colleague’s name in my face. Avery is my father’s apprentice at LB Electrics. Up until recently, only a family member could act as an apprentice to the CEO. It was a way to prepare the next generation to take over the company.
LB Electrics was started by my great-great grandfather in the late eighteen hundreds after the industrial revolution cracked open a whole new booming industry for profit. After over a hundred years of success, our golden goose was dying. The energy industry was changing; but my father refused to change with it.
I knew if I didn’t do something, our family’s legacy would be forever lost. I started looking into renewable energy and stumbled across an up-and-coming energy renewal system being tested in South America. I knew I needed to be the first one on the ground if we were going to pull LB Electrics out of the dumps. So far getting a meeting with anyone had been damn near impossible.
“Avery couldn’t do it if he had a cheat code.” I said through grit teeth.
“Easy now.” My father said with a spiteful smile. He knew he had gotten under my skin. “You know the apprentice always gets the first pick of assignments.”
“How you could choose a random stranger from the third floor to be your apprentice over your own son will never cease to shock me.” I said with righteous anger. “I’m going to prove to you that renewable energy is the future of this industry.”
“Don’t waste your time.” My father said, putting a hand up. “That third-floor stranger you mentioned is already putting together ideas for next quarter.”
I scoffed. How could he even trust that outsider? Until a few years ago, we didn’t even know him. It sickened me that Avery had snaked his way into my father’s heart. I didn’t trust him, and I never would.
“Son.” My father said with disappointment. “I didn’t want it to come to this, but you’ve left me with no other option. Either come home at the end of the month or I’ll be forced to cut you off.”
That hurt like a punch to the gut. Could he be serious?
“I want you to think about this.” My father continued. “Are you sure you want to risk losing your independence over this? Renewable energy is unreliable, son. I’m not just saying this, Avery showed me the science. The old way is just simply the better way. Now realize that for yourself and come home.”
I was quiet. I didn’t know what to say. He was wrong, just so wrong.
“Father I-”
Before I could finish my thought, my father put his hand up to stop me.
“Don’t say anything right now.” He said. “Just mull it over and we’ll talk again soon. Remember what I said.”
His screen disappeared, and I was left alone with my thoughts. I wanted to scream, I wanted to punch that man in the face! Or better yet, punch Avery for blinding my father to the truth and sabotaging my family’s company. I could have screamed.
It was time to get active. That conversation only served to light a new fire under me. I pulled out my phone and searched through all the companies I had researched from London. I called the first one on the list, a company located in Bolivia. It rang a few times before a young woman answered.
“Gracias por llamar a Energy Solutions, ¿cómo lo puedo ayudar?” She said, kindly. I could easily understand her standard welcoming message and offering of help.
“Hola, estoy llamando en parte del compañía LB Electrics. Quiero marcar un reunion.” I said, in broken Spanish.
She replied but I realized quickly how under prepared I was to communicate with a Spanish speaking world. I tried my best to understand her but it was no use. I apologized for wasting her time and hung up.
I sighed, feeling completely defeated. I scrolled through my contacts but this time I dialed a familiar name, Ethan Epcot, my assistant slash Jiminy Cricket.
“Yes, sir?” Ethan answered on the first ring.
“I need to learn Spanish.” I said, getting right to the point. “Where are you?”
“Dropping your dry cleaning, sir.” Ethan said, softly.
He was a gentle soul type of fellow that would rather knit a whole quilt on a Saturday night than be out partying. Ethan was twenty-nine. Even his speaking voice lacked fight.
Only a year younger than I and yet I had never seen him take a night off to go out on the town. I was selfishly really grateful for that. It made him the perfect assistant. He tended to my every need without objection.
“Make an appointment with a Spanish tutor as soon as you can.”
“Of course, sir.” He said, promptly.
I hung up and took a deep breath, trying to re-center. I called a third person in my contacts, hoping they’d answer. After a few rings Ryan Lowde picked up.
“Lucas! How’s it hanging?” Ryan yelled through the phone. I pulled my ear away to avoid losing an eardrum.
Ethan was my business partner and long-time friend. We met in graduate school and have remained close ever since. I had never really seen myself growing so close with an American. I always thought they were too loud and boisterous for my taste.
Ethan was both of those things. But somehow our friendship worked better than tea with biscuits. As a consequence, now I sound more American than British, another thing more that bothers my father.
“Very well, my friend. How are you?” I said with relief.
“I’m great. Happy to hear you’re still alive and kicking!” He said, laughing to himself.
“I am indeed.” I said grinning.
“Listen, are you still in New York or have you already caught the train to Jersey?”
“I’m still here.” Ethan said and I smiled at this. “I had some personal business I had to take care of. Why what’s up? You miss me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.” I said, scoffing. “I need you to meet me at the pub on Seventh tonight.”
“For sure.” Ethan said. “Is there a problem?”
“Not yet.” I said, checking my watch. “But I think we’d better start developing our next steps quickly or my father’s going to tear me a new one soon.”
“Got it.” Ethan said. “What time do you want to meet?”
“Six.” I said. “Don’t be late.”
Later that night, Ethan came waltzing into the pub like he owned the place. He had untucked his dress shirt and was wearing a zip-up hoodie over it. I shook my head in disapproval as he made his way over to our table.
“Lucas!” Ethan said, putting both hands in the air like the very sight of me was enough to celebrate.
“Good to see you, friend.” I said, grinning as I rose to greet him.
We hugged, and he sat across from me in the booth.
“So.” He said, removing the backpack he was wearing.
“What’s going on?”
I told Ethan about the meeting with my father. I told him all about how badly LB Electrics needs a fresh approach to sustainable energy. Our conversation was essentially a forty-five minute session of involuntary catharsis that I couldn’t control.
“Wow.” Was all Ethan could say. “So what you’re telling me is we need to get our shit together.”
“Yes.” I said with a sigh.
We talked for another hour and half, strategizing about how to land a meeting with our top choice for renewable energy; a company located in Ecuador called Energia Precisa Global. Ethan patted me on the back as we left the pub.
Ethan waited with me on the sidewalk for my driver, Geoffrey, to arrive.
“Would you like a ride home?” I offered, as Geoffrey made his way around the back of the car to get my door.
“I’m good, thanks.” Ethan said.
“I’m going to stay for a bit. There’s a girl in there I wanted to try to talk to. I’ll catch you later.”
“Oh, God.” I said grinning. “Do me a favor and stay out of trouble, will you?”
“No promises.” Ethan said, raising his hands in surrender.
I shook my head and took my place in the backseat of my town car. Ethan disappeared back inside the pub as Geoffrey and I pulled out onto the street. We made a quick right and I pulled out my phone to check my emails. I only got as far as opening the email application before being abruptly interrupted by a car slamming into the back of us.
“Oh, for God’s sake!” Geoffrey yelled from the front seat before putting the car in park and getting out to check on the damages.
A few minutes later, I heard loud arguing coming from outside. I turned around to find Geoffrey and a short woman having a screaming match in the middle of the street.
I sighed and shook my head, returning to my emails. I was hoping to find at least one good lead, but not one company had gotten back to me yet.
“This would be so much easier if I had help.” I said to myself, angry at my father all over again.
It was his fault I was failing. If he had given me proper help, I’d have had a dozen companies lined up for meetings by now. I sighed and rested my head back on the headrest, closing my eyes so I could think. What was I going to do?
Before I could enjoy the silence, I heard Geoffrey’s voice booming from outside.
“Jesus Christ.” I said, opening my eyes.
I opened my car door and stepped out, hoping I could serve as a voice of reason to whatever this madness was that was happening.
When I stepped out of my town car, I noticed there were now two women talking with Geoffrey: the short one who was still screaming her head off at Geoffrey, and a taller woman who was trying to calm her friend down.
I spoke with them for a spell and offered to take care of the damages. The shorter woman was stubborn. She wanted nothing to do with my charity. That’s when her friend spoke.
“Maria, ¿puedes calmarte? Solo escucha al caballero.” The friend said, looking over at me. Spanish, that beautiful language.
We locked eyes, and for a second the world disappeared. I was struck by her beauty and I felt like I was suddenly gasping for air. I had never seen a woman like her before.
“Allow me to deal with the insurance companies myself.” I said, hoping I wasn’t coming across like a total idiot. “I’m Lucas Bradford.” I said, extending my hand to the two women. The short one shook it first, refusing to make eye contact with me.
“Maria.” She said, rolling her eyes.
“Luna.” The other one said as our hands touched.
“Luna.” I repeated. ‘Beautiful.’ I thought to myself.
Our eyes remained locked. I felt a small zap in our hands as we shook. I watched her gasp at the sensation.
Geoffrey and I exchanged information with the girls and I once again tried my best to assure them that I would handle it. We got back in our car, but I felt like I was still in that moment with Luna.
I had never felt anything like that. Just then my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to find I’d gotten an email from a small company in Peru who was willing to set up a meeting.
“Yes!” I yelled, thankful to finally get a bite.
“Everything alright, sir?” Geoffrey asked from the driver’s seat.
“For once it is my friend.” I said, feeling the sweet relief of my win.
That Luna girl completely slipped my mind as I went back into work mode. Things were finally looking up.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone