Ethan's POV“The board meeting has been shifted to tomorrow." Lucas said immediately I got to the office. He didn't even allow me to enter my office.“What?"“I was also as shocked as you are. I was told to inform you, they said they have really pending issues that need to be discussed soon.” He said. “They made that decision without running it through me? Who instigated it?” I asked him."Your grandmother.” He answered simply.I should have known, she's so hellbent on making sure Ken becomes the president."I think it's high time we have a conversation now.” I said under my breath.“She's actually in your office right now.”My jaw ticked as I tried to compose myself from barking out at him or doing something I mightn't later regret that would hurt him."Get back to work, I'll let you know when I need your help again." I ordered Lucas. He looked reluctant to go at first, like he wanted to ask me a question, but then he left.I opened the door to my office to be met with my grandmother
Annelise's POVI slept into the afternoon; I only thought I'd rest a little after Ethan left for work, only for me to wake up in the afternoon.I wouldn't call this a development, but I don't dare try this in my father's house. No matter how tired or sick I am, I need to wake up before anyone else, else there would be a problem.My phone's screen came on, making me turn towards it. I saw that it's a call that just dropped; I just missed it. I really need to stop putting that device on silent mode.I swiped up to see that I've missed ten calls from my father. I sat up on the bed immediately after seeing that.It must be important for him to call me that many times, and the only thing I'd consider important that has to do with him and concerns me is my mother.I called him back immediately, and he answered as though he was expecting me to call him before.“I thought you were ignoring my calls. What made you call back now, you insolent child?” He said immediately after accepting the call
Annelise's POVI had no idea what to do; asking Ethan for money isn't even an option for me—he has seen me as a gold digger more than once.Asking him for money for treatment for someone I haven't even laid eyes on or know the whereabouts of would definitely be out of proportion."I can't allow them to take off the machines, I can't. It's the only thing keeping her alive; I'd be damned if anything happens to her again," I said to myself.I picked up my phone to dial my father's number again; I needed to at least know how much they were asking to fly her abroad.He didn't pick up; I kept getting directed to voicemail. I tried over and over again, still the same.I decided to call him later. I need to start getting plans in place now; my father is as good as useless to me in this matter—he wasn't joking when he said he wouldn't spend a penny on her again.I kept moving around in the room; I didn't even know what I was looking for. I was really confused and disoriented.I was about to en
Annelise's POVI started going upstairs to his study room, taking the stirs two at a time.When I got to the door, I knocked immediately. I didn't hear any response at first, so I knocked again."Come in," I heard faintly from inside.I pushed the door open, revealing the face of the last person I wanted to see.I went straight to him without thinking twice or closing the door behind me."I believe your mother taught you well enough to close the door behind you whenever you enter a place where the door was locked prior," he said without taking his eyes off whatever he was doing on that laptop."You didn't have to mention her; you don't even have the right to take her name in your mouth," I said with so much venom in my voice.He eventually lifted his face from the laptop, chuckling when he looked at me. "I didn't mention her name though, I only said 'your mother.'"I didn't go back to close the door; I just kept glaring at him."Would you at least have your seat? I believe we have some
Annelise's POV"Something is going on here, are you hiding someone in the room?" I frowned at the question. "I'm not hiding anyone, I'm the only one here," I replied."Why are you blocking the door then?" he asked. I moved away from the door in an instant, allowing him entry.He stepped inside, scanning the room as though he was searching for someone."You really think I'm hiding someone? Why would I even do that? It's not like I have anyone to hide," I scoffed."While I don't care about what you do, or want to know about your lost life, it wouldn't do us both any good if someone else finds out about your secret.""Can you just stop talking about what the public thinks about anything concerning what I do for once?" I asked, growing tired of that line."It's what we're in this for, right?" I sighed. "What are you here for? I'm not in the mood for any chitchat right now."“I was told that you haven't eaten since last night. It's evening now. Yet you said I shouldn't bring in what t
Ethan's POV I woke up feeling like sh*t. Opening my eyes made me groan because of the headache I was attacked with.It was like my head was being pounded on with something hard. I dragged myself up from sleep and walked to the bathroom.I washed my face with water, looking into the mirror to see how messy I looked.“Last night must have been so crazy." I muttered to myself.I had gone out last night out of anger to grab a drink or two, away from this house after receiving a call from Lucas concerning what's happening today.I have no idea what happened after that, all i could remember was going into the car with Rex. He must have also taken me upstairs.I had my bath at once, groaning every now and then as my head pounded hard. I stood under the shower, allowing the cold water steam down my body.A cold shower has always helped to ebb hangovers, so I was relieved a bit by the time I came out of the bathroom.I got dressed and started going downstairs after taking my suitcase and phon
Ethan's POV“Let's begin.”The tension in the room could be sliced through with a knife; it was that thick.My grandmother cleared her throat and spoke first. “I welcome you all to today's board meeting. It's good to see you all again, and I hope today's meeting ends on a good note.”The look on everyone's face made it very obvious that what she just said was just for formality, and they all just wanted to get into today's meeting.“I'll leave it to Ethan, the acting CEO, to start today's meeting,” she said, making everyone turn their attention to me.I started with all the normal business activities that were meant to be the reason for today's meeting. They were all pleased with the profit the company has been recurring.“That's commendable. The profit and all, I mean. But we need someone else who the general public likes better than they do you,” one of the shareholders said.And just like that, the meeting shifted to the major reason we were here in the first place.“I second that.
Annelise's POVI don't know what prompted me to hug him; all I knew was that at that moment, all I wanted was to hug him.It was so obvious that Ethan was too shocked to react or do anything. I hugged him even tighter though.The last time I felt so scared, like I did when I heard that he was missing, was when my mother was admitted to the hospital.He cleared his throat after a while. “What are you doing?” he asked.“Hugging you? That's what friends do," I answered, more like a question.He broke the hug immediately I said that, with so much force.“Who said we're friends?"“Well, we aren't enemies, are we? And the opposite of enemies is friends. I just put two and two together and came up with that.”"Besides, we've been getting along really well lately, right?" I added.I don't even know what to call the expression on his face; it was just blank but mixed with confusion.“Call it whatever you wish to call it. I'm going upstairs; I'm getting really uncomfortable in these clothes," h