Silent Treatment

Maya's brothers walked into the house one by one with a blank look. Maya looked further but Lucas didn't follow them in. She was worried about him. She wondered what they spoke about as well. " Where is Lucas?" asked Maya tentatively to Aryan as he was the closest to her. Aryan just smiled and shrugged his shoulders while saying, " I don't know. He said he had work and needed to leave." Maya was perplexed as to why Lucas left without saying bye. She was going to call him once she was alone.

Derrick hearing that his son had left, decided it was time he left too. His wife was due from her trip soon. He smiled at his old friends and stood up, " It's time I left too, I am glad the way things worked out after all these years. Hope to see you on the golf course soon Manick."

Manick patted his old friend on his back and walked him out with Irene. " Don't be a stranger Derrick," said Irene with a wide smile on her face. " We are soon to be relatives, if our crazy children decide to tie the knot," Derrick said as he got into his car and left the Manick's home.

Maya closed the door behind her and as soon as she walked into her room, she picked up her phone and dialed Lucas' number. The line was ringing but no one answered the call. She was wondering what was the reason for his sudden disappearance. If it was work related then as an employee she was also responsible to be in attendance.

She called his assistant and as soon as the call was answered, " Where is Lucas? Is he available to take my call? Is there an issue at the company?" The assistant was quiet a minute before he stuttered, " Mr. Damien is busy at the moment and he is unable to attend to any calls at the moment. Effective immediately, Mr Damien has asked to terminate your position in the company. Please be informed that the severance pay will be debited to your account by next week." Maya was speechless. Lucas fired her? That is ridiculous. Why would he do such a thing without talking to her?

The assistant cut the call as there was no response from the other end of the line. He looked up at his boss. He wondered what went through his mind. He shifted to Germany to pursue the lady, then now he fires her without reason. He just shook his head and spoke softly, " I have passed the information on to Miss Manick. Is there anything else you wish for me to do Sir?" Lucas looked up from his computer, " Do not allow Miss Manick to enter the company premises. But, make sure she is escorted off gently with no harm befalling her," warned Lucas curtly.

He hated having to do this to Maya but he had no choice. He wished he could just whisk her away to a faraway land and never let her go. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Immediately his mind was filled with images of the woman who had stolen his heart. He grunted in frustration at the stupid ideas her brothers gave him. He sighed and continued his work.

Maya was still stunned at what she had heard. She wondered what caused this and she saw 5 faces in her mind. She gnashed her teeth as she stormed to the hall. She stalked the nearest prey, who happened to be Ray. She eyed him angrily, " What did you all say to Lucas? Why is he ignoring me? He fired me!" " We didn't say anything! We were talking business," answered Ray as he laughed internally at his sister. He knew she would react this way. Maya knew Ray wouldn't tell her. She then moved to Aryan, " Big brother… what did all of you say to Lucas?" She asked with her signature pouty face. She knew Aryan was the softest, he would tell her.

" Well Shane gave him an ultimatum. That's all I can tell you. You should only ask Shane what he said," Aryan conceded easily. Maya went in search for her third brother. " What ultimatum did you give Lucas?" she asked Shane. Shane ignored her question and continued typing away on the computer. Maya frowned and continued on, " Since it concerns me, I have every right to know what it is. It is my prerogative." Shane looked at her with a nonchalant expression, " Well since it's your prerogative, I will tell you. I told Lucas to either give up on you or his company. Looking at your expression I am guessing he chose his company."

Maya knew that was not true. No way Lucas would give up on her that easily. She was pissed she couldn't ask him directly and no one at home was answering her honestly. She sulked to her room.

The next day she was even more at a loss when she was kicked out of Lucas' company and was even denied an appointment with his assistant. She started losing her patience. Being a hot tempered person she was at her last straw. If Lucas was going to behave childishly that was his issue not hers. She didn't need such a person in her life, she consoled herself in anger.

The next few days passed very stressfully with Maya ignoring her brothers for causing such an issue and for being ignored by Lucas. Irene and Manick didn't want to interfere in their children's fight since they were old enough to resolve it independently.

Maya didn't bother calling or visiting Lucas. She was too prideful to beg him or even grovel. Maya placed her pride higher than her feelings for him. Unfortunate for her, she missed him terribly. She missed him everyday and in everything she did.

She decided not to wallow in depression, she took a flight to Germany to pack up her apartment as she wanted to move back home. She wanted to spend more time with her parents and also with her niece. She laughed at herself for constantly changing homes and countries. She decided hell or high water she will remain at home with her family. Eventhough she was giving half of them the cold shoulder.

She returned after a week with no change in her situation. No calls from Lucas or even messages. She refreshed her phone every 15 minutes. Her actions were annoying her. She hated being so lovesick. She was worried she would crack if he didnt talk to her any longer.

She kept coming up with different scenarios for Lucas's behaviour, but none of them consoled her or even justified his actions. On the 10th day, she decided enough was enough and decided to confront Lucas no matter the consequence.

She obtained his current address from his father and drove there directly. She rang the doorbell impatiently.