As we walked through the different hallways leading to the lift, I could sense the tension in the building. Though no one spoke to us, it was as if they knew what the board members were up to. Nathan was calm as usual, but I could see that his steps and pace had increased, and I was playing catch up.We got to the conference room and Nathan pushed open the door, catching Uncle Jesse mid-sentence, his voice booming throughout the room, “Then, let’s proceed with the votes - -”But before he could finish, Rose’s voice cut through, firm and sharp, “I’m afraid you can’t call for a vote, Jesse. Nathan is here now.”A hush fell over the boardroom as all eyes snapped to us. Nathan’s gaze was steely as he scanned the room, settling finally on Jesse, who appeared surprised but didn’t back down. Jesse’s mouth twisted into a sly smile, his tone smooth as he replied, “We’ve been waiting for you, Nathan. The board has already decided we can’t delay the vote any longer.”Nathan’s jaw tightened. “Wai
The members of the board were expecting to hear from Nathan but he stood calm and reserved, looking at each one of them straight into the eyes. Some of them could not return his gaze and acted like they were busy or going through documents.Leaning close, I whispered softly, “Nathan, this board... it’s informal, remember? They only have shares of about 35% collectively, and none of them hold more than 5% on their own. You have a solid 55%, so technically, they can’t vote you out.” Nathan’s jaw tightened, but he listened, his eyes not leaving Katrina as she shifted uneasily in her seat across the room.“And there’s more,” I added in a lowered tone. “Katrina has already filed for divorce, so technically, she’s no longer part of the board. She can’t vote, no matter how determined she looks.”A slow, amused smile crept onto his face, barely noticeable but there, shining in his eyes. Nathan straightened and looked directly into my eyes for a brief moment, a glimmer of satisfaction flashing
Nathan’s eyes shone with a calculated intensity as he straightened, about to respond, but at that moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his next words, the words that could very well decide the fate of them all.Nathan leaned forward, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable edge. "My plan is simple," he said, his eyes locked onto Jesse. "Effective immediately, I am suspending Jesse Cain indefinitely for his collusion with the Stones to undermine this company."A stunned silence fell over the room, shattered only by the sound of Jesse rising from his seat, his face flushed with indignation. “You can’t suspend me based on accusations! You don’t have any evidence,” he spat, his voice a mixture of anger and fear.Nathan didn’t flinch. Instead, he met Jesse’s defiance with a firm gaze, unwavering. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be, Jesse,” he replied, his voice low and steady, with a hint of warning. “The evidence is there, documents, communications. All of it.
As Nathan and I stood just outside the boardroom, away from prying eyes, I turned to him, my expression serious. “Nathan,” I began softly, “I think I need to speak to Katrina separately. While you’re handling things with Kyle, I’ll try to reason with her… maybe there’s a way to bring her around.”Nathan’s brows knitted in concern, but he didn’t interrupt. He listened intently, his eyes scanning my face for a hint of what I was planning. Though I could see the expression on his face meant disapproval, I was not backing down from my idea.“I just feel like this is our best chance,” I continued, choosing my words carefully. “If she sees that we’re genuinely trying to secure the company’s future, maybe she’ll back off on some of her demands. But… I think you should handle Kyle alone.”Nathan nodded slowly, as if weighing the idea. “You’re sure about this?” he asked, his voice low. “Katrina’s been difficult, and she’s not exactly looking out for our best interests, I am sure you know that.
As I stepped into Nathan’s office, I was taken aback by the sound of laughter coming out of the room. It was a rare sound in these tense times. Nathan and Kyle were seated across from each other, each wearing an easy smile, their usual guarded expressions softened. For a second, I wondered if I was in the right place if somehow I’d wandered into an alternate reality where alliances held no bitterness or rivalry.I was sure that something must have triggered their laughter and not that they had something in common. Or they would actually be laughing at the threats they had issued each other.Kyle noticed me first, his face lighting up even more. “Well, if it isn’t Nathan’s brain box,” he greeted me, his tone both playful and respectful. There was no sarcasm, only an unexpected warmth that caught me off guard.Nathan looked up and smiled, that familiar, reassuring grin of his. “You’re just in time,” he said, waving me in. “Kyle and I were just... sharing a good laugh about old times.”C
Nathan’s expression remained calm, though I could see the steely resolve behind his eyes. “I’m expanding our empire, Steve,” he said plainly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “That means seizing opportunities when they come, even if it involves the Stones.”Steve’s brows knitted in frustration. “The Stones? So, Kyle was here, wasn’t he? And you think a deal with them will expand the ‘empire’?” His voice was filled with sarcasm as he took a step closer to Nathan, his voice low but filled with accusation. “You’re just making deals left and right, aren’t you? Or are you just trying to one-up the rest of us?”Nathan held up a hand, cutting him off before he could continue. “Kyle and I have an understanding,” he said, his voice cold and measured. “I’m buying shares in Stones Corporation. We both benefit. This isn’t a game, Steve, it’s called business. It’s about making sure this company, our company, stays ahead.”Steve shook his head, scoffing. “Is it? Or is it about you? Look aroun
As Steve stormed out, the door closed behind him with an audible thud, leaving an uneasy silence in its wake. Nathan turned to me, his eyes narrowed, his face still tense from the confrontation.He took a breath before saying, “Next time, don’t interfere when Steve and I are talking.”His words stung, a wave of disbelief rising in me. I had only tried to help, to keep things from escalating. I could not believe what Nathan just told me. I felt offended but kept my cool as I looked at him, unsure whether to hold back or push back.“Cut me out too, then, Nathan,” I replied, my voice low but charged. “I thought we were in this together, that you wanted me by your side. But lately, it feels like every time I try to help, you shut me down.”Nathan’s gaze softened, but he kept
As I turned to leave, sensing the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold between Nathan and Katrina, her voice stopped me in my tracks. “Wait!” she exclaimed, her tone shifting from urgent to contemplative. “On second thought, you should stay. I want you here.”I hesitated, glancing at Nathan, who looked equally surprised. “Katrina, are you sure about this?” he asked, scepticism evident in his voice. “This is personal.”“Yes, I know,” she replied, her gaze shifting between us. “But if we’re going to figure this out, I want you both involved. Nathan, what are you thinking? What deal is on the table?”Nathan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly torn. “I’m not ready to discuss specifics yet. There are a lot o
Nathan and I stepped into the sleek, high-rise office building of Cains Corporation, and the tension between us was evident. My heart pounded with a mix of dread and determination, while Nathan’s jaw was set in a hard line, his usual confidence tempered by the storm we were walking into. The elevator ride to the boardroom felt interminable, the silence between us punctuated only by the soft hum of the machinery.When we entered the room, the atmosphere was as icy as the air conditioning. Steve and Uncle Jesse, seated at the large conference table, looked up in unison. Their expressions shifted from surprise to defiance. Alex Sommer stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back turned to us, gazing out over the city. He turned slowly, a sly grin spreading across his face as he took us in.“Well, well,” Alex drawled, his voice oozing mockery. “If it isn’t Nathan Cain and his... entourage. What a pleasant surprise.”Nathan’s lips tightened, but he ignored Alex’s taunt. “What’s going on
Nathan arrived the next morning, his face a mask of frustration and concern. He didn’t wait for me to invite him in; instead, he stepped into the room with an urgency that instantly unsettled me. I had been expecting him after our tense phone call, but the weight of his expression told me this wasn’t going to be a simple conversation. I gestured toward the couch, and we sat down in silence for a moment. Hoping that he would ask me about my meeting with Carlos because I had a lot running through my mind. The situation we have found ourselves in was because I chose to love him.He ran his hand through his hair, clearly grappling with how to begin. Finally, he exhaled deeply and broke the quiet.“Katrina’s not backing down,” he said, his voice low but resolute. “She’s made it clear that she’s going to push forward with this lawsuit. She’s demanding 50% of my worth, and she’s threatening to implicate you further. Mel, this isn’t just about me anymore, it’s about you too.”I felt a lump f
The air in the café shifted the moment Carlos walked in, his presence as commanding as it was unsettling. He strolled over to my table with an air of self-assured arrogance, a smirk playing on his lips. It was clear from the way he carried himself that he felt in control, and the glint in his eyes told me he was ready for a confrontation.“Well, well, well,” Carlos said, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from me without waiting for an invitation. “I got your little... plea bargain. That’s why I’m here.”I frowned, confused by his words. “Plea bargain? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Carlos.”His smirk widened. “Oh, come on, Mel. Let’s not play games. Pachi told me you wanted to talk, to negotiate, to plead for a truce. Isn’t that what this is?”I shook my head firmly. “No, Carlos. I’m not here to bargain or plead. I’m here to talk some sense into you, to figure out why you’re doing all of this.”Carlos leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why?
When I arrived at Café de Royal, the sun was settling down. Its warm golden glow filtered through the windows, casting soft shadows across the tables. My heart raced as I stepped inside, half hoping and half dreading the encounter I had orchestrated. The plan was simple: meet Carlos, try to reason with him, and perhaps take one step closer to untangling the mess that had become my life. But fate had other plans. Instead of Carlos, I found Lisa seated at a corner table, scrolling through her phone with a focused expression.The sight of her made my stomach twist with unease. I had hoped to avoid her tonight, at least until I spoke with Carlos, but now that hope was gone. Taking a deep breath, I approached her table. She looked up at the sound of my footsteps, her eyebrows raising in mild surprise.“Lisa,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”“Mel,” she replied, her voice cool but not outright hostile. “What brings you here tonight?”I hesitated, unsure of
The phone felt heavy in my hand as I paced back and forth in the dim light of my father’s living room. The weight of Don Chappo’s call was still pressing down on me like a stone on my chest. With a deep breath, I pressed Nathan’s number, my fingers trembling as I waited for him to pick up.“Mel?” Nathan’s voice came through, low and calm, yet there was an edge of exhaustion in his tone.“Nathan,” I started, my voice faltering for a moment. “I just got off the phone with Don Chappo.”There was a pause on the line before Nathan responded. “What did he say?”I sighed, gripping the phone tightly. “It wasn’t what he said as much as how he said it. Nathan, he’s not happy. He knows about everything, Carlos, the warehouse, Alex Sommer. He’s worried that this mess is spiralling out of control.”Nathan let out a long, measured breath. I could hear the tension behind it, the way he was trying to keep himself calm. “And what did he want from you?”“To fix it,” I replied, my voice cracking slightl
After my conversation with Nathan, my instincts pushed me toward Lisa. If there was any chance to stop this madness before it spiralled even further out of control, I needed to address the situation head-on. Lisa had to understand the gravity of her actions and the potential consequences they were inviting. Yet, with the police on my trail, meeting her in person was risky. Still, I couldn’t let that stop me.We arranged to meet at a small, out-of-the-way café, one of those places that managed to stay under the radar. I arrived early, scanning the room nervously, hoping no one had followed me. Lisa walked in shortly after, her usual confident stride somewhat subdued as she spotted me. She gave a hesitant smile, clearly uncertain about the tone of the meeting.“Hey, Mel,” she said, sliding into the seat across from me. “You sounded... urgent on the phone. What’s going on?”I leaned in, lowering my voice. “Lisa, I’ll get straight to the point. This thing with Steve, it has to stop.”Her
It was a quiet evening when my phone buzzed, breaking the stillness of the room. I glanced at the screen, seeing Pachi's name flash across it. My heart sank slightly; calls from Pachi rarely carried good news, especially in the tangled web of complications we’d found ourselves in lately. I hesitated for a moment before answering, bracing myself for whatever storm was about to hit.“Pachi,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “What’s going on?”“Mel,” he began, his voice tinged with urgency and anger. “I don’t even know how to start this, but you need to hear it straight. Carlos, he’s gone too far this time.”A cold shiver ran down my spine. Carlos had always been unpredictable, his temper as volatile as a storm at sea, but there was something in Pachi's tone that told me this wasn’t just another one of Carlos’s outbursts.“What did he do?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Pachi let out a long sigh, as though he was gathering the strength to deliver the news. “He saw Steve
I pushed back from his hold and sat down. Nathan stood there, his arms folded across his chest, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. I got up and took a hesitant step closer, searching his eyes for a change of emotion, of vulnerability, anything to bridge the growing tension between us. I tilted my head up and leaned in, intending to kiss him, to remind him of what we had. But before our lips could meet, he turned his head away, leaving me hanging in an awkward limbo.The rejection hit me like a slap. I took a step back, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment and anger. “What’s going on with you, Nathan?” I demanded, my voice sharp. “Why are you pulling away from me?”He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to stave off a headache. “Mel, it’s not you. It’s... complicated.”“Complicated?” I repeated, incredulous. “What’s complicated about this? About us? You say you care about me, but you won’t even let me get close to you anymore. Who am I to you, N
Nathan arrived at my father’s house just after sunset, his presence commanding even in the dimly lit surroundings. I had been pacing the living room, a swirl of emotions gripping me, confusion, frustration, and a growing sense of unease. When he walked in, he gave me a soft smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.“You said it was urgent,” he said, shrugging off his coat and laying it across the back of the couch. “What’s going on?”I motioned for him to sit, but he remained standing, his posture rigid. I decided to get straight to the point. “I spoke to Alex today.”That got his attention. His brows furrowed, and his jaw tightened. “Alex?”“Yes,” I confirmed, crossing my arms. “He told me a lot of things, Nathan. About you, about him, about Katrina.”Nathan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “What did he say this time?”I stepped closer, my voice steady but tinged with urgency. “He said you betrayed him. That you pushed him out of the business and took his shares, he said that’s