Page 29 of Entwined
A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Vaughn leaning against the frame, his expression one of casual indifference. “Busy?” he asked, his tone almost bored.
“Just going over the merger,” I replied, my voice steady as I pushed the documents slightly to the side. “You know, the one you’re not impressed with.”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and walked over to my desk. “Bass Banking,” he said, more a statement than a question. He picked up one of the files, flipping through it with an air of disinterest. “I still don’t see the appeal, Joey.”
“It’s stable,” I countered, leaning back in my chair as I watched him. “Their figures are strong, their assets are solid, and they have a loyal customer base. It’s exactly the kind of company we need to diversify our holdings.”
Vaughn raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Stable doesn’t mean exciting. It’s a small fish in a big pond. I’m not sure it’s worth the resources.”
I crossed my arms, meeting his gaze head-on. “Not every deal needs to be a headline-grabbing acquisition. Sometimes the smart move is the one that quietly strengthens our foundation.”
He tossed the file back onto my desk, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “You’re passionate about this one, I’ll give you that. But passion doesn’t always translate to profit.”
I leaned forward, placing my hands on the desk. “This isn’t just about passion, Vaughn. It’s about foresight. Bass Banking has been around for decades. They’ve survived economic downturns, they’ve maintained steady growth, and they’ve built trust with their clients. That kind of stability is exactly what Ashworth Financial needs right now.”
His smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more contemplative expression. “You really think this is the right move?”
“I know it is,” I said firmly. “This isn’t about making a splash—it’s about long-term gains. And when this merger pays off, Ashworth Financial will be stronger for it.”
Vaughn studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to see through me. Finally, he sighed and straightened up. “You’re really going to push this through, aren’t you?”
I nodded, determination hardening my voice. “Yes, I am. And you should back me on this.”
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly. “You’re relentless, Joey. I almost admire that.”
“Almost?” I quipped, raising an eyebrow.
His gaze flickered over me, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Just don’t let your determination blind you, Josephine. Sometimes the things we think are stable have cracks hidden beneath the surface.”
I met his gaze, unflinching. “I’ll take my chances.”
He stared at me a moment longer, then nodded slowly. “Fine. I’ll back you. But don’t expect me to save you if this all goes south.”
“I don’t need saving, Vaughn,” I replied, my voice cool and confident. “I need you to trust that I know what I’m doing.”
He didn’t respond immediately, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor, a hint of grudging respect. “All right,” he finally said, turning toward the door. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
As the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Vaughn might not have been convinced, but I knew this merger was the right move. And I was determined to see it through, no matter what obstacles stood in my way.
I didn’t see Vaughn for three days after our heated discussion, that was perfectly fine with me. He’d flown to the London office to check on operations, a trip I had no desire to make. I hated traveling, and with the weight of the merger on my shoulders, it was better he went anyway. When he returned Thursday evening, I was just finishing up for the day. The autumn days were growing shorter, and darkness had already settled outside by the time I packed up my laptop.
The office was eerily quiet when Vaughn stepped into my space, holding a crystal glass filled with amber liquid. He smirked, and my heart skipped a beat—a familiar unease creeping in. Vaughn was up to something.
“How was London?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.
“Perfect,” he replied, taking a leisurely sip from his glass. “I do love visiting. The new employee in accounting had no problem joining me for dinner.”
I sighed, leaning back in my chair, feeling the tension coil in my chest. “Are you looking for a lawsuit? With the merger, we can’t afford any problems.”
I rose, walking over to the small refrigerator built into the cabinets to grab a bottle of water. But before I could twist off the cap, Vaughn moved in behind me, his presence suffocating. His hand curled around my ponytail, his fingers sliding through the strands.
“My behavior is the last thing that will tank the merger,” he whispered in my ear, his voice a low, dangerous murmur. “You should’ve dug deeper, Joey.”
A shiver ran down my spine. There was nothing wrong with the merger—I had done my homework. Bass Banking was perfect. But as his lips brushed against my neck, his breath hot and moist against my skin, doubt began to creep in. I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, holding me in place.
“Stop, Vaughn,” I demanded, my voice trembling.
He ignored me, his mouth moving to my earlobe, sucking it into his mouth along with the diamond stud I wore. His breath sent a shudder through me, and I could barely keep my thoughts straight as his words sliced through my confidence.
