SEVENTY FIVE – IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS

The air in the room was stiff and cackling with tension. Luke could feel his grandfather’s burning stare as he thought of ways to avoid the questions he knew were coming.

“Luke? Is that true? Did Fiona set up the hall for the conference today?”

Luke's gaze clashed with his grandfather’s icy ones, his heart clenching when he saw the confusion and disbelief in the older man’s eyes.

After a moment’s hesitation, completely ashamed, he lowered his gaze and nodded.

“Yes, grandfather. She’s right.”

“What?!” Lord George bellowed. “How the hell is that even possible? You told me that you had everything under control.”

Luke shook his head, his guts tightening with rage when he saw Fiona’s smug expression.

“After the event centre got burnt down, it was a real struggle to find another suitable place…”

“Why didn’t you come to me for help, then?” Lord George cut in. “You were in a fix and instead of coming to your family for help, you decided to receive assistance from a stranger? And not just any