Page 85 of The Passion

Hence the demand to meet me in person and give me the threatening talk of what she would do if I hurt her daughter and to make sure I understood that Felisha doesn’t need me in anyway. That Felisha chooses me to be in her life and can take away that choice at any time. I have to earn the right to be her partner.

I assured her I plan on doing that every single day.

The rest of the night was fun as we ate the meal I cooked and sat around laughing at different stories she shared from when Felisha was growing up. Much to Felisha’s dismay. Surprisingly, I shared a few of my own embarrassing stories with both women, and that’s not something I would normally do. I have always put the smoke screen up of being the cocky man who thinks he has no faults, when really, underneath it all, every day I struggle to make sure I don’t disappoint the people who are important to me.

For the few hours that she was in my home, it felt so relaxed and as if none of us had a care in the world. If only we could stay in that bubble for a while, but reality has a way of creeping back in the moment you open your eyes the next morning to face the world.

Since then, the last few days have been filled with work and meetings with the other shareholders, trying to convince them to sell to me. I only have one more to meet with, and the rest I’m certain I have secured—except for Luchia Bianchi.

She is making me wait, and I don’t like it.

Either she is going to side with me or not, surely, she can make that decision.

If she isn’t prepared to sell to me, then I’ll deal with that and work on my next strategy to convince her it’s a good idea, even when she is hesitant. What that strategy is I don’t know, but I’ll come up with something if I must.

My worry is that she might tell me that she’s going to sell to whoever that other person was that approached her. That can’t happen, and I swear I will get out of her who it is and hunt them down.

I’m done waiting, and it’s time to take matters into my own hands and call her.

“Mr. Taylor, feeling a little impatient, are we?” Luchia’s voice in my ear makes me a little apprehensive which is not like me. I have been working in this high-tension world for a while now, and I’m usually calm and smooth in all my dealings, but not this time. It’s because it’s personal.

But I can’t let her sense how unstable I feel.

“Mrs. Bianchi, good morning. How are you doing today?” I ignore her comment, hoping she moves on.

But she is a smart, savvy businesswoman, and she can sense that I’m anxious for her answer.

“Come now, I told you to call me Luchia, and you can cut the small talk, we are well past that.”

“As long as you call me Flynn then we have a deal.” I need to have her on my side and relaxed into the conversation.

“Well, Flynn, what can I do for you? Because neither of us have time for small talk.”

She’s going to make me beg, and I’m not above that when it comes to something this important for the woman I’m in love with.

“I love a straight-talking woman, but I also know you already know why I’m calling. I have the contracts ready to email for you to transfer your ownership to me. I just need you to agree and the deal is done.” If I’ve learned one thing over the last few years since stepping into the corporate role, you are better to negotiate from a position that the deal is already happening than trying to convince them to consider your offer. I have seen Nic in action, and he is the best steamroller of people without them even realizing that is what he is doing.

“So, you feel this is a done deal?” Luchia asks

“Yes. I know you can see how important this is that Felisha gets control of her company. Surely you agree that Ewan is notthe kind of man that should be running that business anymore. I understand it may have been a good investment for you, but those shares have a tainted history, and it is morally the right thing to do to have them return to the rightful heir. Let me make that happen.” I won’t come straight out and tell her that I suspect her husband was part of the gambling scene that Ewan is seemingly deeply invested in. But instead, I’m appealing to her sense of what is right and wrong. “If this was your daughter, you would want to see her succeed and not be kneecapped by her father because she is a woman. “

And right there with those words, I know I have her when there is the slightest gasp in her voice.

“I have watched her from the sidelines for years as she has grown up in this business. She may be a… what is that word they use now… nepo baby, yes, that’s it. But Felisha has earned her spot as the second-in-charge of that business, through hard work, determination and talent. If his main reason is to try to stop her taking her rightful place just because she is a woman, then he is even more stupid than I thought.” She takes a moment then she continues with the words I wanted to hear.

“Email me the papers now. I will have them checked over by my lawyer and have them signed and back to you by the end of the day. But I need to warn you the other shareholders won’t care about that. If anything, it will go against your proposal. These men are all cut from the same cloth, and it’s dirty, rough, and not of good quality.” Where we were talking on a friendly manner up until now, Luchia’s tone has changed, and the seriousness tells me she means business with her words.

I don’t want to disrespect her by sweet talking, instead being as blunt in my reply as she is.

“Thank you, Luchia. I know who I’m dealing with, and that is another reason I want to clear her business of this trash before she takes over. I’m sure she would have enjoyed working withyou, but she deserves to take over a company with no hidden baggage.” What started as a plan B to make sure Ewan couldn’t have Felisha removed from the company has become so much more. I want to see her succeed and make her mark in her own way. And she doesn’t need my help to do it, but if I can make it easier for her, I will.

“She is lucky to have you, Flynn, but like I told you before. You need to be upfront with her. Women aren’t good with secrets or surprises. We will tell you we want that, but deep down, we hate not knowing what’s going on. But you choose your path.” I can tell she is trying to get me to take her advice on board, and I wish my logical brain was listening. Because I have a feeling she’s right, although I’m still forging ahead with my current plan.

“Noted, and I’ll think about it, but right now I just need you to sign the contracts, and we will transfer the money over.” My brain is already moving forward to the next meeting with the final shareholder and chasing up the signed contracts from the others I have already spoken to.

“Understood.” And I know she does. “And Flynn… good luck.” The way she says it, I know I’m going to need all the luck in the world to get this finalized, so I’ll take what I can get.

“Can I ask one more question before I go?” I know I’m pushing my luck here, but I’m dying to know who else is trying to buy the stocks, and there’s no harm in asking.

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