Page 34 of Fake Married to the Grumps

“Right,” I mutter as my brother’s advice sinks in. My heart aches with pity as I head into the building. The sliding doors part with ease as I approach, and I give the receptionist a smile before heading for the elevator.

The board meeting is at 11 a.m., and I spent the night doing my due diligence on all the other members as well as perfecting Sunny Aerospace’s plans. It’s my first time meeting with them and I need to leave a good impression for the merger to be finalized smoothly today.

I have to show them I’m not here to just sit on the sidelines. I expect to be involved in every business decision going forward. Sunny Aerospace is going to be a part of Hart Holdings now, and it has to be that way in reality, not just on paper.

Hopefully, the merger will pull through with no problems.

The elevator door opens, and I push the button for the top floor. A hand stops it from sliding closed, and Joe Storms steps inside with a smile on when he sees me.

“Nelly Sinclair, it’s always a pleasure,” he greets as he adjusts his suit jacket.

“Likewise,” I answer, sparing him only a moment’s glance before he clears his throat and looks at the elevator buttons.

“Top floor,” Joe comments. “I take it you’re here for the board meeting? I told you a merger with Hart Holdings was the wrong move, Nelly. Hart Holdings cannot possibly give your company what it needs.”

“And your company can?” I retort, gauging his expression as he angles his head to look at me.

His smile turns cynical, the corner of his lips curving upwards. “We can,” he replies. “In fact, we intend to once we take over Hart Holdings as a whole. Sunny Aerospace will be a mere subsidiary after that, one I can decide to shut down completely or re-invent.”

“What?” I frown as the gleam of mischief in his eyes intensifies. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ll see,” he says with a snicker, and then the elevator dings. Before stepping off, Joe spares me one last glance.

“You still have a chance here, Nelly. Make a deal with me while you still can and save your company because I have the ability to bury Hart Holdings once and for all, then take over whatever scrap is left of it when I’m done.”

“Ethan thinks he’s better than everyone, and it’s my mission to prove him wrong. He’s not winning this war!”

Joe grins slyly as he strides away, and my heart hammers as the rush of my confusion takes over.

What is Joe up to?

I make it to Ethan’s office at the far end of the corridor while Joe walks in the opposite direction. Ethan is on a call, and his assistant holds the door open for me. I wait, admiring how the gray Armani suit fits him brilliantly.

Sunlight pours into his office, and it casts a golden hue on the marble floors. I take in Ethan’s magnificent look as he stands with his back to me, one hand holding his phone to his ears.

The mahogany desk behind him has intricate designs of brass accents and wood carvings. There is only a single photograph on the desk. His walls are a pristine white, devoid of any frames or pictures, while a bookshelf at the other end of the office is stacked with a variety of books.And magazines.

The place looks nice but generic. Unlike my office at Sunny Aerospace, there’s not much here to showcase Ethan’s personality. He seems to be so detached from everything. His house also lacks the same emotional attachment that I sense here.

“I’ll handle it,” he says, before finally turning to me.

His sharp eyes land on me, and I’m unable to stop the shiver that rocks through me immediately.

“Nelly.” My name on his lips is a whisper. He strides towards me briskly, stops some inches away, and then strokes me with the fullness of his gaze.

“Joe Storms is here,” I say to him, shoving down the tingle robbing me of my breath. “He’s not part of the board, and he made some cryptic comment about tearing your company down and taking what’s left of its scrap. I think he’s up to something, Ethan. I’ve never dealt with him personally before, but you two are competitors and …”

“I know,” Ethan interrupts with a sigh. “I just found out this morning. Joe Storms bought out a couple of our shareholders. John Greer, Nathan Kutcher, and some others. He’s the second largest shareholder in the company now and is at the board meeting today. He’s going to deliver a blow that’ll give him leverage to come for my seat as CEO.”

“What? That can’t happen. We can’t let him do that, can we?”

“We can’t, but I might not win this one, Nelly. At least not today.”

His eyes are solemn as he places his hands on my shoulders and leans close to me. “Whatever happens in today’s meeting, you can’t blame yourself. You hear me? None of this is your fault. Joe would have cooked up something to get his way, regardless of the merger.”

“Ethan …” He presses a finger to my lips, slightly smearing my lipstick and leaving me breathless.

“Just promise me you won’t let him get a rise out of you. Every shareholder will be in there today, including George Brene and Julia.”

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