Page 47 of Discord
Brandon’s diabolicalplan hit me like a ten-ton brick.
The documents I found in Italy. His seemingly innocent trip to California. The large sums of transfers to the only person Brandon trusted. The reason to hide said transactions from his business partners.
I covered my mouth with the back of my hand. “You bought Milo’s shares behind his back,” I speculated instead of phrasing it as a question.
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
Throughout the years, Milo had sold small percentages of his shares to expand JAMBA. One percent here and there to convince big players into investing. While in Italy, I came across documentation listing all the investors Milo had sold to. At the time, I didn’t understand the significance of gathering such data while Brandon was dealing with his father’s death.
The pieces fell into place.
Brandon was interested because he had come into his inheritance following his father’s death. He planned to use the money to buy the shares Milo had sold. The transfer amounts Brandon sent to his grandfather were twice the cost of the original prices, which meant they were either making offers or had already bought the micro shares.
If I read those documents correctly, Milo sold twenty-two percent of his ownership stake to investors, keeping thirty-three percent for himself. It secured his majority control according to their bylaws since Jaci, Alexa, and Brandon each owned fifteen percent.
However, if Brandon were to buy out all the investors Milo had sold to, he’d own thirty-seven percent of the company.
Majority owner.
Heart racing, I stepped away from the door. My theory had to be incorrect. I spent weeks with this man. He wouldn’t betray me like this. As much as I wanted to shove it off, a sinking feeling told me that Raven had been right about Brandon all along.
Not only Raven, but Brandon had also proved everyone else right. The stigma around him existed for a reason. He was the bad guy. The villain out to destroy my family. They might have their faults, but they didn’t think twice about extending an invitation to Brandon when they considered him in need. Whereas, he had been the snake in our midst.
Was it a self-fulfilling prophecy? Everyone expected the worst of Brandon, and now, he had lived up to the standards.
“That’s why you had those contracts at the cottage,” I whispered, hoping he’d deny it. “You were looking through the divestiture documents to find out the investors Milo had sold to,” I declared.
“Correct.”
I turned to face him. “You were trying to round up the investors and buy back the scraps Milo had sold to giveyourselfmajority control. That’s why you went to California. You transferred money into your grandfather’s accounts and had him buy the stocks under his name.” A transaction of that magnitude wouldn’t have gone unnoticed if Brandon made the purchases himself. Going through his grandfather was another ploy to protect himself.
A hint of a smile crossed his face. “How did you figure out that I sent money to my grandfather?” If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was proud. He shouldn’t be impressed. To be honest, it took an embarrassingly long time to figure it out because Brandon had the power to turn my brain into mush. The anger I felt toward him paled in comparison to the anger I felt at myself. I was such an idiot. I let myself get distracted by Brandon. Stupid fatal attraction.
“I snooped through your accounts,” I declared unapologetically.
Amusement played in his eyes, though they were slightly sardonic because of the amber liquor. “Of course you did.”
I gazed at him warily. “It makes no sense. You don’t need the money, nor do you want majority control of the company. You are filthy rich.” What need would Brandon have to burn bridges and go behind his business partners to gain majority control? Brandon’s parents left him enough money to last him three lifetimes. He owned numerous homes around the world, whereas Milo had to work his way to the top. The company meant far more to Milo than it ever would to Brandon. I gestured around the elegant condo. “You’re way richer than my brother. You have everything.”
Brandon watched me carefully. “Not everything,” he said quietly. He watched me, eyes moving over my face. “I don’t have everything,” he repeated.
My heart stilled at the look he wore, and something meaningful passed between us.
“You can’t blame me for wanting to protect myself,” he added. “Your brother would wage war once he found out about us.”
“Don’t make this about me. You had those documents before we met at that bar in France. You did this for your own selfish reasons.”
Perhaps our connection solidified his reasons, but at the end of the day, Brandon did this for selfish gains. He only looked out for himself and wanted control of JAMBA. I’d never help him achieve these selfish goals and wanted to take no part in Brandon’s plots.
Furious, unshed tears blurred my vision. “How could you do this? This doesn’t only affect Milo but your ties with my family. They welcomed you into their home.”
Brandon’s face hardened. “Which should tell you that I take no pleasure in this.”
With agonizing determination, I forced the words out of my lips. “He’s already going to hate you for what’s between us. Why did you have to do this, Brandon?” I could defend love, but deceit over money was entirely different. “It’s tempting to climb the ladder, but you might find yourself lonely at the top. What’s so important that you can only accomplish by deceiving your best friends?” I knew Brandon harbored resentment toward Milo, but after this deceit, their friendship would be too far gone to recoup.
Brandon watched me. “I don’twantto hurt your family, Mia,” he said with a thoughtful seriousness. “But I don’t do well without guarantees. Can you really blame me for not wanting to stake everything only to come out on the other side empty-handed? Especially after you came here to end things with me.”
