Page 104 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

“Correct.” Jareth was apparently all about me working this out with only a little help from him.

“But why now? Why did she put a stipulation of now?” The whole situation was unbelievable. He shrugged. “Maybe she was giving you time to prepare. I don’t think it was meant to be a secret.”

“Then how did I not know about it?” I was there the day her lawyer spoke to my parents. There was no mention of a provision. I paced trying to understand what I’d missed all those years ago.

“Your parents have enough money to make things happen, Jess.” His tone gentled.

I stopped short to stare at him, hating the pity I saw in his eyes.

“So they convinced Nani’s lawyer to not share with me that I get twenty-eight percent of the company on my thirtieth birthday? Those fucking assholes.” A hollowness filled my gut at the proof I meant so little to my mother and father.

“Yes.”

“I can’t fucking believe it,” I ran a hand across the back of my neck, trying to release the tight muscles.

“I’m telling you the truth,” Jareth responded.

“I don’t doubt that,” I said sarcastically, not able to stop my eye roll. “Even if I didn’t believe you, these papers are pretty damn convincing.”

“Jess, I know this is a lot all at once, but we don’t have much time to come up with a way to stop your parents.”

I stared at him without saying a word. Rarely was I caught without something to say, but right now I was not in the mood to come up with a way to defeat my conniving parents.

“We only have three days before the meeting. Two really if we don’t count today. We need to come up with a strategy.” He made it sound reasonable. Almost like we were at a coffee shop discussing ways to improve the business, not finding a way to stop my parents from getting what wasn’t rightfully theirs.

“So we should just forget everything and be business partners or something?” This guy was unbelievable.

“In essence.” He shifted in his seat, the only movement indicating he was growing impatient with my lack of enthusiasm to jump into whatever plan he’d devised.

My head pounded as I stopped for a moment to understand everything thrown at me today. “So you kidnapped my friend to force me to come here to tell me my parents are jerks who are actively trying to steal my share of my grandparents’ company and expect me to forget everything and just play nice with you?”

He nodded.

“I still think it’s a bit extreme, Jareth.”

He sighed. “Jess, you have to be present at the board meeting that day or you forfeit your shares.”

I hadn’t gotten to that part yet.

“If I gain these additional twenty-eight shares, plus the two I have already, I’ll have majority over my parents?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then what exactly, Jareth? My mind was fucking blown right now, and I just wanted answers. “Never mind that I have other questions for you too.”

“I figured you would.”

“What do I need for majority?”

“At least thirty-three percent. Your parents have been buying up shares over the years to have an advantage in case you ever found out.”

Jareth was really pissing me off. He went to all the trouble of getting me here, why was this like pulling teeth?

“So I’m screwed either way? Then what was the point of any of this?” I threw out my hands in frustration.

“The point, Jessamine, is that if you and I got married, and combined your shares with my ten percent, we’d have the majority, not your parents.”

“I’m guessing my parents have no idea you’re working against them. Because otherwise why would they push me to marry you?” None of this was making sense.

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