Page 55 of One Month's Notice

“We have the morning to present our initial evidence. The judge will review it and hopefully make a decision by lunchtime. If they agree, we will be in a position to notify the company and make a public statement in the afternoon.” Simon rubbed his hand across the back of his head. “By that point, we’ll have secured what we needed and you’ll be able to share the information.”

“It’s cutting it very fine.” Nat slumped a little in her chair. “The board is meeting in the morning, and representatives from Spinigma are due early afternoon to sign the deal.”

“I’ll do what I can to let you know the outcome as soon as possible. Once the decision is made, I will send across the public statement that will follow later on in the day. That should be all you need to stop the board from signing the paperwork if you haven’t been able to change their minds in the morning.”

“Tomorrow is… it’s big then, for both of us.” She shifted in her seat. There was a pause as they contemplated the fear and uncertainty about what lay ahead.

“Come watch something on TV with me?” Simon’s invitation broke the silence, a lifeline amidst the chaos. “It’ll take our mind off things for a while.”

Nat reluctantly agreed, shutting her laptop and packing it away into her bag. She couldn’t do any more tonight and hoped what she had planned would be enough. There was no other option. It had to be enough.

Chapter twenty-four

Friday 27th May, daytime

Nat arrived at the office early, dressed more smartly than usual in a black pencil skirt and crisp white blouse. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail that swung with every step as her heels clicked against the polished marble floor. She carried herself with an air of forced determination. Although the knot in her stomach was there to remind her that confidence did not come naturally.

“Well, you look like you mean business.” Alfred’s words were exactly what she needed to hear in that moment. “Whatever you’ve got planned today, I hope they know what’s coming!”

“Thanks Alfred.” Nat’s smile grew as some of the nervousness began to fade. “Let’s hope I can pull it off.”

“Of course you can!” He gave her a reassuring wink and waved as she made her way to the lift.

The conference room was large, with high ceilings and tall windows that let in plenty of natural light and offered a panoramic view of the bustling city below. A long, polished wooden table dominated the space, surrounded by a dozen executive chairs. Nat placed copies of both proposals neatly on the table, making sure a set was within easy reach of each board member. Sitting down for a moment in her usual seat, she flicked through the paperwork she had annotated for herself. As she read the details, she muttered under her breath, trying to commit each important point to memory.

Once satisfied she was as prepared as possible, she filled the water jugs to the brim, ice cubes clinking gently against the glass. With the last glass placed on the table, she checked her watch. At just before ten a.m., the door opened and the board members began to file in—a steady procession of power suits and polished shoes. Michael led the pack, his bright blue eyes scanning the room. His tailored navy suit wrapped around his muscled frame in a way that was both elegant and commanding—every inch the successful CEO.

Behind him trailed Clara, not a hair out of place in her sleek bob. Her thin lips curled into what might have been a smile or a sneer—it was hard to tell. Beside her, Rita, the chief technology officer with a constant frown, took her seat and immediately placed her laptop on the table, getting lost in an email. Then there was Colin—the head of HR—whose jovial demeanour and round glasses gave the impression of an affable uncle rather than a corporate heavyweight.

One by one, they found their places at the table, the shuffling of papers and low murmur of voices filling the space as Nat stepped back to observe the scene. Her heart raced with the knowledge that today’s meeting could change everything. She clasped her hands together, fighting the urge to smooth down her skirt, trying to appear every bit as collected as she needed them to believe.

“Good morning.” Michael’s voice carried the weight of authority as he took his place at the head of the table. Nat met his gaze, finding an unreadable expression that made her insides twist.

Michael’s brow furrowed as he leafed through the two proposals.

“Natalie,” he said, his voice quiet to draw her attention. “Why are there two proposals here? We’d agreed to move forward with just one. Representatives from Spinigma are due here this afternoon to sign the contract.”

“Yes, about that—” Nat felt every pair of eyes turn towards her.

“Probably just another mix-up,” Clara interrupted smoothly. “You know how she struggles to keep on top of things.”

Nat resisted the urge to shrink under Clara’s patronising gaze and cleared her throat. “Actually, I’d like a moment to talk to the board if that’s OK?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Michael nodded. “Fine. Make this quick.”

“Thank you.” Nat took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the opportunity pressing against her chest. Every insecurity she harboured about not being good enough seemed to converge, threatening to silence her before she even began. “I know you have already discussed it, but I think it’s important we reconsider the proposal from Ethica as they have amended it since the original discussions.”

A ripple of murmurs skittered around the table.

“Their investment might not bring a rate of growth as fast as Spinigma,” she continued, her voice calmer than she felt. “But it will be steady and the changes they are offering opens up future growth that could match what Spinigma has proposed by year five.”

She spoke of the potential for partnerships, the positive PR, and the benefits beyond the bottom line. With each point made, Nat felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, she could sway them.

“On top of that, their vision aligns more closely with our values and long-term goals. They are innovative, community-oriented, and have an ethical approach to investment that could redefine our industry.”

The room was quiet when she finished, the board members exchanging glances. Nat looked slowly around the room, her heart sinking as she realised their faces were etched with polite indifference.

“Thank you, Natalie,” Michael said finally, his voice measured. “Would anyone like to offer their views?”

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