Ethan's POV “Alexia please hurry up! We are going to be late!” I yelled as I stood beside my car impatiently waiting for Alexia to come out of the house “I just need a minute, I am almost done” she yelled back at me. That was the exact answer she gave 10 minutes ago. How long does it really take a woman to dress the fuck up. A glance at my wrist watch shows the time is 4:30pm and the Company’s end of the year party commencing at 5:00pm prompt, we barely have 30 minutes to get there. It's been two months since my father walked into my office to break the news that the CEO position wasn't going to automatically pass to me as I earlier thought, but that Kenneth was also being considered. Within these two months I have worked tirelessly, day and night to ensure I get all the projects I pitched for. Since I stopped sharing my main ideas with my project team, none of my ideas have fallen into the hands of our competition, consequently, I have had more contracts executed to my great reli
Alexia POVI can feel the intensity of Ethan's apprehension and fury from here like a tangible force. I really don't blame him for being furious. When I think of what Kenneth has done, only one word comes to mind “despicable”. As Ethan's father gives his final speech as the CEO, Ethan's appears aloof as he plastered a look of practiced indifference on his face. He would have fooled me into thinking he was alright, if not for his tightened fist and his stiff posture. A part of me wants to place a hand on him in comfort but I refrained from doing so as that may attract prying eyes and unwanted attention, so I turned away from him and fixed my gaze on his father. “...In the last couple of years, I have invested everything I had into building Blackwoods into the edifice it is right now, which is the reason I have strived in these past few months to ensure someone who is capable, a team oriented leader and one who would make necessary sacrifices take over the affairs of the company….” E
Ethan's POV I walk to the podium reeling from shock. I can't believe Dad still made me the CEO after all the hassle.“Dad!” I said with a voice filled with emotions as I covered the short distance between us. He immediately opened his hands wide for a hug, which in itself was a surprise. My father is not one to display affection freely in public.“I'm proud of you, son. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect son” Dad said as soon I stepped into his arms. This was the first time my father had commended me since I started working in the company. It's always been from one complaint to another about something he feels doesn't quite meet his expectations. The fact that he openly commended me in the presence of this multitude, I certainly won't forget this moment.“Thank you, Dad, this means a lot to me” He gives me a pat on the shoulder before pulling away. He handed the microphone to me before stepping down from the podium. I allowed the applause at his descent to subside before addres
Alexia’s POV “You will regret this! I will ruin you!” Kenneth threatened as he struggled with the two security personnel dragging him away. Ethan's only response was to smirk at him as he beckoned the other security personnel to restrain Bridget as she was about to dash out of the hall.Ethan turns his gaze to me, cocking his head as though he was deep in thought. “I think it would be fitting if you handled her address, after all, you were the one she wronged”. He said, handing the microphone to me. I shook my head in refusal. Though I appreciate his consideration, I don't think I want to do this. How do I face this crowd to expose my best friend, when I can't even look in her direction, without bursting into tears?“Ethan, I can't handle it please” I looked pleadingly at him. “You are the strongest woman I have ever seen and I know you can handle this. You need to, so others don't think they can walk all over you and get away with it.” He gives me an encouraging smile. I took a de
Alexia’s POVI stood outside my boss’s door with a look of shock on my face. My palms were sweating profusely as I clutched the summons letter in my hand. I took out a handkerchief from my purse and whipped my forehead in an attempt to clean my sweat and calm my nerves but none seemed to be working. My heart pounded against my ribs as I thought about the reason I was here in the first place. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I had been accused of embezzlement of company funds. Me? Of all people? The accusation was ludicrous. I had dedicated myself to the company and my boss for five years, working tirelessly and gaining merit from everyone including Ethan who was a very hard man to please. I was in my prime professionally. I woke up this morning hoping to have another fruitful day at the office when I was summoned by Ethan this morning to come to his office to give reasons why I had embezzled company funds. With that summon, everything I had worked for and built for the pas
Alexia’s POVI read the paper in the file and my eyes widened in shock. I looked up at Ethan who had a face devoid expression as he stared right back at me.“Wh….what is this?” I stuttered as I asked him.“What does it look like?” Ethan cocked his head to the side and replied to me. His expression slowly turned into one of amusement but I didn’t find anything amusing in this situation.I looked back at the file to make sure I wasn’t seeing things but the words were as clear as day and they weren’t an illusion.MARRIAGE CONTRACT BETWEEN ETHAN BLACKWOOD AND ALEXIA THOMPSONThe bold heading swarmed before my eyes. This couldn’t be real, a contracted marriage? How was this going to solve anything? What was Ethan playing at? Did he want to use my moment of weakness to finally get what he wanted from me? So many questions swirled around my head and my composure vanished.I continued reading and my eyes fell on the clauses on the contract.The contract outlined a series of clauses that made
Alexia’s POVA look of satisfaction crossed Ethan’s face as I signed the contract. I handed the contract papers back to him and he accepted the file and placed it on his desk carefully like it was some lottery ticket.“Good decision, Alexia. You won’t regret this.” Ethan said as he leaned back on his chair and steepled his fingers. “Now about these embezzlement charges. I believe in your innocence Alexia, there’s no way you could have done this, I have worked with you for years now and I don’t know you to be the materialistic type. Which is why I will have a discreet investigator look into your case. Someone who won’t raise any alarms within the company.”I sighed with relief. Ethan believed me and that was all that mattered. I believed with Ethan on my side, I could have a chance of clearing my name. “How will that clear my name?” I asked curious to know about Ethan’s plan.“Let’s just say there might be ....irregularities in the accounting department. Discrepancies that could cas
Ethan’s POVA content smile spread across my face as Alexia left the room. This was it, I would finally get what was rightfully mine from my insufferable old man. The kind of rules that man set are just so damn hilarious. I mean I could understand the rules he set in place but why on earth would he include marriage as a necessity? I mean who does that these days? I had already proven to be a worthy heir to the company but he insisted I must settle down before I could think about inheriting the company as the new CEO.Marriage wasn’t an issue; even though I wasn’t feeling the idea of being with a single person for the rest of my life, if I had to get married out of necessity then I would.The real problem, however, was the ladies that flocked around me. All of them, the whole lot of them were a bunch of gold diggers heavily intent on spending my money. Unluckily for them, they end up falling in love with me and they expect a lifelong commitment after I’ve seen their true colours. Th