Chapter 20

Max’s POV

For now, my life was business and that was for two main reasons; one, was to buy as much time away from Sienna as possible. The other was my own secret plan.

A dangerous plan…

I brought myself back to the present. I was in a boardroom meeting, one buzzing with anticipation. The ten members of the company’s board sat across from me, their faces a mix of confusion, curiosity, and subtle hostility. They weren’t sure why I was here, but I could see the gears turning in their heads.

I leaned back in my chair, fingers tapping against the polished wood of the table. “Let’s make this simple,” I began, my tone calm and confident. “I’m here to buy.”

The chairman, a man in his late sixties with a neatly trimmed beard, raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Hollandale, our company isn’t for sale.”

“Everything is for sale,” I said with a faint smirk. “It’s just a matter of price.”

A younger board member, probably in his early thirties, leaned forward. “With all due respect, Mr. Hollandale, what exactly are you planning to do with our company? We’ve been doing well on our own.”

I glanced at him, amused. “Doing well?” I echoed. “Your stocks have dropped 12% in the last quarter. Your product line is outdated, and your competitors are eating into your market share. If you call that ‘doing well,’ I’d hate to see your definition of failure.”

The room fell silent, the tension thick in the air.

“I’m offering you a lifeline,” I continued. “A chance to turn this ship around before it sinks. But that offer won’t last forever.”

The chairman cleared his throat. “And what exactly are you offering?”

I slid a document across the table, watching as they scanned the numbers. “Fifty million. All cash. Take it or leave it.”

One of the older members scoffed. “Fifty million? That’s insulting. Our valuation is twice that.”

“Your valuation was twice that five years ago,” I countered. “Now, you’re worth half of that, and that’s being generous. If you don’t believe me, ask your shareholders how they feel about the current state of things.”

The younger man, who had been quiet up until now, spoke again. “If we sell to you, what happens to our employees? Our infrastructure?”

“Your employees will keep their jobs. Your infrastructure will get the upgrades it desperately needs. And your shareholders will finally see some returns on their investments. Everyone wins,” I said smoothly.

The chairman frowned, leaning back in his chair. “You’ve clearly done your homework, Mr. Hollandale. But why us? Why now?”

I smiled faintly. “Let’s just say I have a knack for spotting opportunities others overlook.”

The room fell silent again as the board members exchanged glances, weighing their options.

Finally, the chairman sighed. “We’ll need some time to discuss this.”

“Take all the time you need,” I said, standing up. “But not too much. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.”

An hour later, I was in my temporary office, going over the paperwork when one of the company’s senior managers knocked on the door.

“Come in,” I said without looking up.

The door opened, and a middle-aged man with glasses and a nervous demeanor stepped inside. “Mr. Hollandale, do you have a moment?”

“What is it?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

“I couldn’t help but notice... you’ve been acquiring quite a few businesses lately,” he said cautiously. “Is there... a larger strategy at play here?”

I looked up from the papers, studying him. Julian had noticed. People will start to notice. I needed to act faster. “Why do you ask?”

He hesitated, fidgeting with the hem of his jacket. “It’s just... unusual. Most acquisitions are focused on specific industries or markets, but your approach seems more... diverse.”

I leaned back in my chair, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Diverse, yes. But always strategic.”

“And that strategy is?” he prompted, clearly curious.

I stood up, walking over to the window and looking out at the city skyline. “Let’s just say I’m preparing for the future.”

The man frowned slightly, clearly unsatisfied with my vague response. “The future?”

“Exactly,” I said, turning back to him. “And if you’re smart, you’ll focus on the present. Like finalizing that deal.”

He nodded quickly, realizing the conversation was over. “Of course, Mr. Hollandale.”

Later that evening, as I was wrapping up my day, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw Harry’s name.

“Harry,” I said, answering the call.

“Sir,” he began, his tone unusually hesitant. “I thought you should know... Hester is here.”

I froze, gripping the phone tightly. “What do you mean, ‘here’?”

“She arrived earlier yesterday,” he explained. “She’s been... difficult.”

Of course she had. Hester didn’t do anything without causing trouble.

“I’ll be home as soon as I can,” I said, ending the call.

As I drove back, my mind raced. Hester had always been a thorn in my side—a manipulative, self-serving woman who thrived on chaos. I’d thought I was done with her, but apparently, she had other plans.

When I arrived home, the first person I saw wasn’t Sienna—it was Hester. She was lounging in the sitting room, a glass of wine in hand, looking every bit like she belonged here.

“Hester,” I said sharply, stepping into the room.

She looked up, her lips curving into a sly smile. “Maxwell. You’re home.”

“Don’t play games with me,” I said, my tone cold. “What are you doing here?”

She stood up, smoothing out her dress. “I missed you.”

I scoffed. “Missed me? That’s rich.”

Her smile widened. “Don’t be so cold, Max. We had some good times, didn’t we?”

“Those times are over,” I said firmly. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Oh, but I am,” she said, taking a step closer. “And I’m not leaving.”

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to snap. “You don’t have a choice. This isn’t your house.”

She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Isn’t it? You always did have a habit of inviting me in.”

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. “Hester, leave. Now.”

Her expression shifted slightly, her smile turning colder. “You know, Max, I could. But then again...” She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “I still know your secret.”

My stomach twisted, but I kept my face impassive. “Are you threatening me?”

“Threatening?” she repeated, laughing softly. “Of course not. I’m just reminding you of... our history.”

I stared at her, my mind racing. Whatever game she was playing, I wasn’t going to let her win. But for now, I had to pick my battles.

“Enjoy your evening, Hester,” I said curtly, turning to leave.

“Oh, I will,” she called after me, her voice laced with mockery. “I always do.”

As I walked away, her laughter echoed in my ears.