Chapter 5:

Ethan Black.

Location: Black Eiffel Tower.

I sat at the head of the boardroom, my fingers tapping with anticipation on the polished wooden table. It was a meeting I had been evading for weeks, ever since I had received the letter from the two company's top shareholders requesting my presence. Now, as I looked around the room, I could feel their eyes on me, watching and waiting for my response.

It was a cold Saturday morning and much to my displeasure, I gave them an audience even though my head was pounding hard due to the partying I did last night with my fiance, Crystal Williams.

I looked at my iPhone's screensaver to check the time, and my beautiful bride-to-be looked ravishing in her two-piece see-through bikini suit, which left nothing out of the imagination. I smirked triumphantly while I leaned into the brown leathered chair.

"Mr. Black, thank you for granting us your time this morning." Mr. Miller, one of the shareholders, said, "We've called this meeting today to discuss the future of Black Industries. As you are aware, we have been receiving offers from other companies who are interested in purchasing our shares. We believe it is in the best interest of the company and its shareholders to sell."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation to come. "I understand your concerns," I replied evenly. "But I don't believe selling the company is the right move. Black Industries is my father's legacy, and I intend to honor that legacy by growing the company and expanding its reach."

The shareholders exchanged skeptical glances, clearly unconvinced by my words, because, after the untimely death of my father two years ago, the business had been on a rollercoaster with its ups and downs... And they solely blamed me.

I sneered internally because you can't blame me, I was only twenty-six when Dad died and I had to immediately take over as CEO. I owned the second-highest shares from my father...And still being fresh out of university, I only knew the basics of running the business and it was not my favorite cup of tea.

"With all due respect, Mr. Black," Mr Garcia, the second shareholder chimed in, "you're not a businessman. You have no experience running a company, and frankly, we don't think you're up to the task because of your childish outlandish behavior, which is driving away the investor's confidence in us."

I felt a flash of anger at the shareholder's words, but I kept my tone even. "I may not have experience as a CEO, but I have a team of experienced executives and advisors who are working with me to ensure the success of Black Industries. And I have a passion for this company that runs deep. I believe that with hard work and dedication, we can turn things around and make Black Industries a success."

I owned 30% of the shares, while both Mr. Garcia and Miller owned 20%each. The remaining 30% that belonged to my late father was still dormant because for it to be willed to me, I needed to have a wife and an heir to take over the leadership if the inevitable happened to me.

But of late Mr Garcia and Miller had been conniving to join forces to vote me off the board and sell the company, which was much to my displeasure. I gritted my teeth because these old-timers had suddenly become hungry for money and had been pushing to sell my father's company for a whopping 100 billion dollars... But I was not moved by the huge amounts of money. Deep down, I knew the potential Black industry had to generate more revenue than what was.

The shareholders looked at each other, clearly still unconvinced. "We understand your passion, Mr. Black," Mr. Miller said, "but the fact remains that we've received several very attractive offers for our shares. We're asking you to reconsider your position and sell as well." He said with a mischievous smirk curled on the corner of his lips.

"Besides, we know that Crystal Williams has a very demanding lifestyle and so the money could set you up for life," Garcia said as he winked his eyes at me.

I leaned forward, my hands gripping the edge of the table… How dare he say that to my face? "I can't do that," I said firmly. "Black Industries is more than just a company to me. It's my father's legacy, and I won't let it be sold off to the highest bidder. I'm willing to work with you to find a way to move the company forward, but I won't sell."

There was a tense silence in the room as the shareholders considered my words. The room's tension was building up as we stared down at each other's throats.

Finally, Garcia spoke up. "We'll take your position under advisement, Mr. Black," he said, his tone measured. "But we need to do what's best for the company and its shareholders."

"Yes Mr Black, so long you don't have your father's shares by the end of the week, we can both outvote you because both our shares make 40%," Miller said, and that is when I sensed that something was not right.

In two years, no one amongst the two of them had ever talked about voting me out to sell the company...

They both murmured to themselves and got up from their seats.

"Mr. Black." they both bobbed their heads once and picked up their belongings led on the table.

"Gentlemen." I kept a stern poise as I watched the two fat he-goats file out of the room, my heart thumping in my chest because I knew that the road ahead would be difficult. But I was determined to see it through. Black Industries was my father's legacy, and I would do everything in my power to protect it and ensure its success.

I sighed heavily while inclining my head to the seat.

"Excuse me, sir, your mother is on line three and it sounds like an emergency." Ava Smith, my secretary peeked in the boardroom and I glance at her before nodding with a serious stern poise.

Ava Smith was a beautiful, 5.9 ft slender woman who had strawberry-colored hair. She looked more like a runway supermodel than a secretary if you asked me.

I leaned in towards the table and pressed the receiver's conference phone while Ava excused herself.

"Hey, Mother," I answered her ever to imprudent call while I massaged the back of my neck.

"Hey Sonny, how did the meeting go?" She asked in a solemn voice.

"Well, you were right, those sons of bitches want to sell the company and are threatening to connive and vote me off my seat as CEO by next week." I heaved a sigh as I bowed my head while running my fingers to my forehead.

"I said it. And you know what you have to do to avoid it from happening." She said in a firm voice.

"Yes Mother, but Crystal has been holding off the wedding every time I ask her about it…" I said.

"But why, you both love each other and sooner than later you will get married." She said.

"Yes, but she is so adamant about waiting another year," I said.

"What?" She gasped so loud, I heard her hiss. "Why wait that long when you are practically doing what married couples do." She said in a serious voice.

And my mother was right, Crystal and I had been cohabitating for the past three years in my penthouse, and the only thing that was remaining was to officially become man and wife.

I sighed softly while resting my head on the chair.

"Anyway, I need to go now. I will speak to you when I talk to Crystal at lunch." I said.

"Okay, my baby. But please make it happen or else I will find you a wife in three days." She said and hung up on me without waiting for me to say bye…

I sighed heavily while I shut my eyes momentarily.

This tops one of the worst days in my life. I shoved my chair backward and put on my sunglasses before walking out of the boardroom straight to the elevator.

"Excuse me, sir, there is some paperwork in your office which needs your signature." Ava hurriedly sauntered towards me in one of her sophisticated outfits paired with lime green peep-toe stilettos.

"Not today Ava. I will look at them on Monday." I stepped into the elevator and pressed the ground floor button as I waited for the doors to automatically close.

"Okay, sir. Have a great weekend." She let out a warm smile as the doors finally closed.

*********

A few minutes later,

Driving back to my penthouse, I had a lot on my mind as I drove my sleek sports car down the winding road that led to my home. I was still reeling from the tense meeting with the shareholders earlier, and my thoughts kept returning to the future of Black Industries. It was a distraction that I didn't need, especially when I was driving a car that required my full attention.

Suddenly my phone buzzed, I glanced down and caught a glimpse of a notification from one of the online tabloids. My heart skipped a beat as I read the headline: "Exclusive: Ethan Black's Fiancé Caught Cheating!" The words seemed to blur before my eyes as I struggled to make sense of what I was reading. I felt a knot form in my stomach as I realized that the article was referring to my own fiancé, the woman I had been with for three years.

I clasped my phone in one hand while the other hand held onto the steering wheel...

As I read on, the details became more and more damning. The article described how my fiancé was photographed leaving a hotel with another man, one of the city's most notorious playboys Jake Jones, aka JJ. I gasped with my eyes wide open.

This is a lie…I go on to read how it speculated about the state of my relationship and whether I had any idea about the affair.

My mind raced as I attempted to process what I had just read. I felt a mix of anger, betrayal, and heartbreak. I couldn't believe that the woman I thought I knew so well would do something like this to me… I felt a pang of pain rush to my heart.

As the most eligible bachelor in New York City, I was used to being in the public eye, but I never expected to find myself at the center of a scandal like this.

Suddenly, my foot slipped off the brake pedal, and the car began to pick up speed. Panic flooded through me as I realized that the brakes were failing me. I tossed my phone on the passenger's seat and tried to downshift and use the emergency brake, but nothing seemed to work. The car was hurtling down the road, out of control in Hudson Square.

My heart was racing as I frantically searched for a way to stop the car. Then, I saw her. A beautiful dark-haired woman was standing in the middle of the road, and she was directly in my path.

"Stop!" She screamed and instinctively put her arms up to shield her face.

I pressed hard on the car horn, "Get out of the way." I waved my hand out of the window of the car while I swerved to avoid hitting her, but it was too late. The car clipped her, and she tumbled to the ground.

My car finally came to a stop, and I jumped out, my heart pounding in my chest. I ran over to the woman, who lay on the road with her eyes shut.

Shit, this is just what I needed with all that was going on in my life.

I knelt on the road and a crowd was gathering. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice shaking.

The beautiful woman then opened her eyes and looked up at me, and I felt my stomach drop because her eyes looked bleak and mortified.

"Ethan Black," she said, her voice tinged with anger. "What are you doing here?" she furrowed her brows as she appeared to recognize me.

Shit!!! If only I was a turtle, I could have slid back into my shell to hide from the public... being a public figure meant being recognized by many. I swallowed hard before responding to her.

"I'm so sorry," I said, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. Besides I was at fault, I hit her because of my lack of concentration on the road. "My brakes failed, and I couldn't stop the car." I made an effort to explain myself but she looked at me suspiciously.

"What a coincidence," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

I glared slightly as I looked at her. I knew that she had every right to be angry with me, but I couldn't help feeling like this was just another sign that things were going wrong in my life.

"I know it's hard to believe," I said, my voice emotionless. "But it's true. I'm sorry for what happened. I never meant to hit you."

She looked at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she nodded once. "Fine," she said. " Get out of here before someone else recognizes you and calls the police."

"Okay," I looked around and people had their phones out taking pictures while I helped her get on her feet, and together I walked her to the pavement.

"Excuse me, this is my wife." A man fairly built up with glasses walked up to us with flared nostrils.

"Okay, I'm sorry for what just happened. My brakes failed miserably and I lightly grazed her." I said while letting go of her arms.

"What," he coiled his hand into a fist and started folding up his sleeves. "I'm going to sue you for negligence on the road. How can you hit my wife in a quiet neighborhood like this." He snatched the collar of my shirt and roughly tugged me towards him.

"Richard, I'm fine. Let the man go. Accidents do happen." The woman called to her husband and I shoved his hands off my shirt.

The bastard was lucky because it was my fault I hit his wife, hence I let it slide.

"Are you sure this ass didn't hurt you, Carla?" He said and that's when I learned her name.

"Yes, I'm fine." She rolled her eyes and dragged herself back into a house as her husband eyeballed me.

"You are lucky today," he grunted repeatedly as he pursued his wife and I scoffed.

Could my day get any better than this? I heaved a sigh while looking at my wrecked car.

I hurriedly walked to my car, grabbed my phone, and called the only one who could immediately come to my rescue at that time.

"Hey Ava, come pick me up at the location I will send to you."

"Yes sir," she answered and I hung up.