Chapter 2 - A change of heart
Lucy knocked timidly on the door to Igneel's office. Igneel's voice resonated through the door, almost making her flinch. She opened the door quickly stepping inside and bowing out of respect but mostly fear. The smell of cigarette smoke hit her, the dense air filling her lungs and making her want to cough, she was scared to.
"I apologize for my incompetence this morning, Dragneel-sama, is there anything you would like me to do?" she tried to speak clearly, and withstand the harsh atmosphere. It was difficult.
"Lucy, I'd like you to show Mr. Heartfilia to the front desk, he will be leaving now, afterwards Zeref is expecting you to attend a business lunch with him." Lucy's gaze snapped up from her feet to stare with wide eyes at her father who was standing from his chair facing Igneel's desk. He looked at his daughter coldly, barely recognising her. It was true, she was far slimmer, paler and seemed emotionally exhausted since the last time they had met. He cared not for her.
"As you wish Dragneel-sama." Lucy looked back to her father, he began to follow Lucy out of the room, Lucy over heard the last thing Igneel said to her father from the opposite side of the door.
"Keep in mind what I've said, Jude." Lucy wanted to know what business they had been discussing, usually she would stay obedient and not involve herself in her 'employers'' business but it involved her father and she could hazard a guess to say it most likely concerned her as well.
As the numbers descended on the digital display, Lucy got her confidence up enough to speak with her father. "May I ask what business you're here on?" Lucy enquired, keeping her gaze on the elevator doors.
"Igneel wants to change the agreement we came to regarding your future, he no longer wants you to marry Zeref." Lucy wasn't aware that Igneel ever intended her to marry Zeref in the first place, she would have to assume that he never did considering her father's new predicament. She wanted to laugh at how Igneel played him for a fool, now her father's manipulated into a corner. "He wants you to marry Natsu."
Lucy's musings came to a halt. "What?"
Her heart felt like it had stopped beating, why would he do that? What difference would it make? "I'm sorry, Lucy, I don't really understand why either." The confusion must have been evident on her face. "I'll be there to walk you down the aisle, regardless, Lucy. You have to know, Igneel's had me pinned down since before you were born, I didn't know my mistakes would make life so difficult for you." Lucy felt the tears slipping down her cheeks at his statement, she had never realised. This is what her mother was trying to protect her from. The real villain has always been Igneel. Jude rubbed Lucy's back comfortingly, "Igneel will know that I've been talking to you if I don't leave now, I'm sorry Lucy, I know I've failed as your father."
Lucy remained in the lift for some time until she could calm herself, approaching Zeref's office with quiet even steps, she knocked. He gave her permission to enter and she came in to see him sitting at his desk with a young woman with platinum blonde hair flowing down the back of her chair. "Lucy, take this and get changed, we have a lunch to attend at two." He barely gave her a glance, she took the bag from him and went into the cupboard attached to his office, she changed quickly into the professional looking white dress, that stopped at her mid thigh. She did up the straps on the black heels. Happy with her appearance she put her clothes into the bag and left them in the cupboard.
"Lucy, this is Mavis, I'd like us to discuss your current position," Mavis smiled politely at Lucy, Lucy returning the gesture. "it is my intention to be with Mavis in a serious relationship, and so I no longer require you. I have discussed this with my father and he is happy to find you another position." Lucy had prepared herself for this, what was really going on became clear in her mind as soon as she saw the blonde woman. Did the innocent looking blonde know what this man had been doing to her for the past six months, what type of man he is.
"I understand, Zeref-sama," Lucy said calmly, bowing her head to the black haired man, Lucy's life just continued to become more and more complicated. She asked Zeref if she could take a seat and he nodded, sitting down she rubbed her temple gently feeling a head ache begin to take hold, possibly from dehydration and probably from her new predicament.
Zeref continued to speak but Lucy didn't take in much, "Lucy, are you listening?" he asked as she phased back into reality, she nodded trying to focus on his voice. All of a sudden the clouds that had muffled everything around her lifted. "After we attend this lunch together you will no longer have any responsibilities towards me and my father is currently making amendments to your father's contract to put you in a different position." Lucy nodded, Zeref wasn't saying anything she didn't already know but she had to play it like she had no clue so she pulled her eyes onto the grey carpet and stared worriedly.
Zeref and Lucy got into the back of a black Lamborghini together, the journey gave Lucy the time to anxiously over-think how Natsu might treat her. It was bad enough going through this once with Zeref but starting from scratch with another man who might treat her even worse than Zeref. The idea scared her. Having so much on her mind she didn't notice when they arrived at a posh café, she was jolted out of her thoughts when Zeref opened her door allowing her to step out of the expensive car, he offered her his hand, playing the part of the charming boyfriend. She was overwhelmed when her personal space was invaded by the journalists snapping photos of them and demanding they answer questions. She heard shouts of 'is it true you intend to marry Lucy next year?' and 'is it true Dragneel Corporation is bailing your father out of his thousands of pounds of debt?'. Although she had been playing this role for six months it wasn't very often that the pair received so much media attention.
As they walked into the café, they were met by a waitress who directed them to where a representative from Strauss Innovations sat a long with her personal assistant. They greeted each other warmly before the pair took a seat, soon the representative from Dreyar Industries arrived a long with his secretary. Introductions were exchanged, the lady from Strauss Innovations introduced herself as Lisanna. Her PA Bixlow gave each of us papers with their suggested business venture, which Lucy found extremely interesting, despite her role only being to act, she felt she had something to add to the conversation. The man from Dreyar Industries introduced himself as Laxus and his secretary Freed, gave us a list of their productions which could contribute to the venture, they talked about percentage of profit and target markets. Lucy soon realised that Dragneel Corporation played a very large part in whether this venture could go ahead, despite both these companies seeming hugely successful, Dragneel Corporation still appeared to hold great authority.
Lucy understood that her fathers railway company was failing as a result of Dragneel Corporation removing funding as they where endeavouring on a new modern enterprise that would revolutionize travel. Lucy also understood that on the outside Dragneel Corporation was claiming to be pulling funding as their new revolution would be the 100% eco-friendly way to travel, yet a good portion of their money was brought in from their class-A drug and weapon imports to North America and Asia.
Lucy excused herself to go to the toilet, feeling the need to clear her mind about the sudden anger she felt towards Igneel, now she knew her father really did care for her. Her focus then was suddenly invaded by Natsu, the man with the fiery pink hair, his tan skin which Lucy had always found very attractive, she tried to recall his eyes. She couldn't, she never met his gaze when they passed in the corridors or when she worked around the office. Lucy found herself desperately wanting to know his eyes, she wondered would they surround her in his loving warmth, would they shine in mirth, would they take her in and hold her gaze without the need for touch. Or would they look at her coldly, like she was a pest who made his life a hundred times worse, would she feel the same way she does when she's alone with Zeref when she's with him or maybe even worse. She prayed that Natsu might care for her, even if they could be friends, the rest of her life wouldn't be that bad after all.
Returning to the table with her thoughts somewhat under control Lucy sat and realised that the Lady from Strauss Innovations looked a lot like the lady who worked behind the bar at the place Gray had taken her to earlier that day, she wondered if that café was ran by Strauss Innovations and if Strauss Innovations was also involved in the mafia world considering that back entrance they had went in seemed to be purely for undercover business deals and for hitmen to relax.
As they exited the café, the press who had been waiting around for almost two hours, snapped into action, taking photos of the couple and asking more questions 'Miss Heartfilia do you support Dragneel Corp in pulling funding from your father's company?'. Ignoring them Zeref put his arm around her and increased their speed towards the car, the black Lamborghini took them back to the office. Walking into the grand building her and Zeref returned to his office, Lucy asked if there was anything he needed before leaving the room, she walked towards Igneel's office.
A/N: I'm so glad this fic is doing well so far, thank you so much everyone for reading. I've left this one seeming a little unfinished I feel. Leave me a review so I can see what people like and don't like about it!
Happy reading,
With love your dearest Yui!
