Julian got back to his office a bit worried about the events that had transpired.Even though he had dismissed Ashley's allegation as empty threats, he couldn't help but wonder where such a vile rumor sprang from.
He loosened his tie, dropped into the leather chair, and muttered under his breath."Stonehenge. Of all the ridiculous things he had heard in his lifetime.
His mind went back to Ashley, his "temporary wife" as she liked to insist. He remembered their honeymoon and how their world had collided in ways neither of them could have predicted.
The woman with whom he had shared sun drenched mornings, whispered secrets, and fleeting touches was now the fiery, stubborn dragon queen,breathing fire and standing in the way of the onboarding.
Julian, for all his control and composure, felt a spark of frustration, anticipation, and of something dangerous simmering beneath the surface. He wondered if she knew who he was before coming on board. He wondered if it was all planned and deliberate.
Noting, not even his over paid lawyers, private investigator and security detail, had prepared him for the surprise that came. He hated being blind sided.
He was shocked beyond measure when he had seen her in the boardroom. Luckily, years of experience and being his parent's child, had taught him the act of masking his true feelings and keeping on a poker face. He saw the shock on her face as well or was she just very good at acting he wondered.
Did she for a second think she could sway the Company's decision just because of a thing they'd had.
He grabbed his phone and dialed a number, It rang twice before a crisp voice answered."Blackwood."
"Charles ," Julian said, sharp as he intended. "I need a straight answer. Don't polish it, don't lawyer it to death. Just, tell me. Do we have any affiliation with Stonehenge ltd?"
There was a beat of silence on the other end. "That's… a loaded question, sir. What exactly did you hear?"Julian leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I heard it from her. Ashley walked into that meeting today practically spitting the name at me like it was poison. blackwood. Stonehenge. All roads lead to me. That's what she thinks.""Sir, would you give me sometime, i would get back to you on that""Charles." His tone cut like a blade. "Don't bullshit me, the very fact that you are even entertaining this talk is suspicious, I want you and your report tomorrow morning in my office or you're out."
Charles cleared his throat. "Fine. Stonehenge has been our business partner, but if there's more to the company I will find out."
Julian's jaw ticked, as he cut the call. He knew Charles was begging the question and playing dumb.
In essence Ashley wasn't imagining things, the thought. The fact that she could be right tasted bitter in his mouth.
He could sense that Charles was hiding something, his voice lacked conviction and for the first time he actually decided to take her threat seriously.
Julian let out a humorless laugh. "She thinks I orchestrated this entire mess just to corner her family's company," he muttered to himself, righteous indignation washing over him."I can see why she would think so, there's no fire without a smoke after all."
Julian was furious now about a lot of things. He wondered why he wasn't aware she was going to be the one coming for the meeting. Why was due diligence not done on Stonehenge before he went into business with them.
He called another contact on his phone and when the voice answered, all he said was "Dig into Stonehenge ltd, I want to know who signed and filed those papers, the resolutions, whose signature is on the incorporation documents and bring them to me tonight. You know where to find me."
His mind drifted to Ashley again, He knew it was high time he roped in his personal lawyer, Neville, for counsel on the next reasonable course of action to take.
He called Charles back again, pacing,waiting for the other end to pick up.
"Charles, revise the contract, something less clinical. more… respectful, take out the divorce settlement. I don't want her thinking I'm trying to buy her silence. Keep it airtight, but soften the edges. But if there's a way it can be woven in softly, without it sounding insultive do it. But I don't want it feel like I'm shoving money at her, to make her go away."
Charles hesitated. "That's unusual. You don't typically…"
"Just do it," Julian cut in. "And keep it quiet."
"As you wish."
Julian ended the call but didn't put the phone down. His reflection stared back at him again, but now he barely recognized it.
He knew she now had him by the balls, exactly where she wanted him and she was going to drag him to the negotiation table,whether he liked it or not.