CHAPTER SEVEN: THE HOSTILE MERGER
Dominic said, "You bought fifteen percent of my company." His voice was really calm which meant he was actually furious. We were in the back of the car on our way to the tech summit. I had just given him some papers that showed I owned a part of his company.
"I bought it over three years ago, " I explained. "I made purchases through different companies so you would not notice."
He did notice. "I noticed this morning when my lawyers called me really upset about a takeover."
I looked at him. He was staring at the papers like they had hurt him personally.
"It is not hostile " I said.
He did not agree. "You own fifteen percent of Voss Industries without telling me. That is the definition of hostile."
I tried to explain. "It is insurance. I needed to make sure that if things went wrong I had some protection."
He turned to face me. His eyes were really cold. "You think I would use my company against you?"
I knew he was not like that.. I also knew that people with power can use it when they feel threatened. I had seen it happen before.
"I think people with power use it when they are scared " I said. "I have seen it happen."
He said, "I am not Julian.". I knew that.. I also knew that I had to protect myself.
"Do you really know that?" he asked. He leaned closer to me. "Because from where I'm sitting it looks like you are still running away. You are still building walls around yourself. You are still thinking the worst of everyone around you."
I felt bad. Because what he said was true. I had kept his son from him. I had built my company in secret. I had married him because of a contract.. Now I had bought shares of his company without telling him.
He said, "You kept my son from me. You built an empire in secret. You married me on a contract.. Now I find out you have been buying shares of my company like you are planning to leave."
My throat felt tight. "I was protecting myself " I said.
"From me " he said.
"From everyone " I corrected.
He just looked at me. His jaw was tight. His hands were clenched. Then he sat back. Looked out the window.
"The board is voting tonight " he said quietly.
"On what?" I asked.
"On whether to remove me as CEO " he said. "The scandal with Luca, our marriage, the security breaches... They are saying it is a pattern of instability."
I thought that was crazy. "That is insane " I said.
He just said, "That is corporate politics." He looked at me. "Your fifteen percent gives you a seat on the board. You could vote to keep me or remove me. It is your choice."
I grabbed his hand. "I am voting to keep you " I said.
He looked at me surprised. "Why?" he asked.
I told him the truth. "Because you are the thing that company has. You are brilliant and ruthless. You have built something that actually matters." I paused. ". Because I am done running from you."
He looked at me for a time searching for the truth.. Then he said, "Okay. I believe you."
The car. We got out. The summit venue was huge and fancy with cameras and press. Dominic asked if I was ready and I said no. He just. Kissed me hard and fast. Then we walked into the venue together holding hands.
The press went crazy when they saw us. They screamed questions. Took photos but I just ignored them and walked with Dominic.
We saw Julian inside. He looked really surprised to see me. He was with Elena. She looked mean and thin. Julian tried to talk to me. I was not having it.
I told him "You sent a partnership request to my company. Did you think I would not show up?"
He said, "I thought you would send someone else."
I was there and I was not going to back down. I told him "I am the representative of my company."
Elena laughed,. It was not a nice laugh. "You are still the desperate girl who signed those divorce papers in a hotel room " she said.
I was not that girl anymore. I was someone someone stronger. "That girl is dead " I said. "You killed her.. Thank you because you made me into someone who can destroy you."
Julian got angry. I just kept going. I told him "Your agency is bankrupt. Your investors pulled out. Your reputation is bad.. In a few minutes I am going on that stage and telling everyone why."
He said, "You have no proof of anything."
I did have proof. I had recordings and financial statements and emails. I had five years worth of evidence that he had manufactured a scandal to hurt me and protect his failing agency.
I said, "I have everything I need. Should I keep going or do you want to leave before this gets embarrassing?"
He looked at Dominic but Dominic just said, "I am going to help her do this."
Julian got really angry. He threatened me. He said, "You think you have won but you have no idea what is coming."
I was not scared. I was done being scared. I said, "You think you can scare me? You should be scared of me."
Dominic moved fast and he grabbed Julian's throat. "Say that again " he said. "I dare you."
I stopped him. "Dominic let him go. He is not worth it."
Dominic released him and Julian straightened his jacket. "You will regret that " he said.
I was not going to regret it. I was going to make sure that Julian paid for what he had done. We walked away. I heard Elena yelling at Julian. I heard the sound of breaking glass.
We made it to the room and Dominic pulled me against him. He kissed me like he really meant it.
I kissed him back. I felt alive. I felt like I was not alone anymore.
"I am voting to keep you " I whispered.
He smiled. "I know."
We talked about what we would do, after the summit. He said, "We are going home. To Luca. Together."
I felt happy. I said, "Together."
He said, "I love you."
I just looked at him surprised. He said, "You do not have to say it back. I just needed you to know."
My phone. I ignored it.. It buzzed again and Dominic said, "Answer it."
I pulled it out. It was an unknown number. There was a video file. I opened it. It was security footage. I saw Julian meeting someone in a narrow alley.
The other person was a woman I had never seen before. She was blonde. Wore an expensive coat. Her face was partially hidden.
They were holding something in their hand.
I zoomed in on the picture to get a look.
My blood turned to ice when I saw what it was.
It was a stuffed dinosaur. The dinosaur was green and missing one eye.
It was Lucas dinosaur. The same one he had been holding when I put him to bed the night
Dominic asked me what was wrong.
I could not speak. I could not breathe. I just handed him the phone so he could see for himself.
He watched the video and his face went pale.
He asked me when the video was taken.
I told him it was taken two hours ago.
He said that was impossible because Luca was in the room with security.
My phone rang then. It was a number.
I answered the phone.
A woman said hello to me. Her voice was smooth and cultured. It sounded familiar. It also made my skin crawl.
I asked her who she was.
She told me her name was Margaret Voss. She said I had met her nephew before.
I looked at Dominic. He had gone completely still.
I asked her what she wanted.
She told me what she had always wanted. She wanted control of the Voss empire.. She said I was going to help her get it.
I told her I was not going to help her do anything.
She said I would help her because she had something I wanted.. Rather someone I wanted.
She was talking about Luca. If she touched him I would do anything to keep him safe.
She told me to relax because Luca was safe for now. Long as I did exactly what she said he would stay safe.
She told me what I had to do. I had to vote to remove Dominic from the board that night. I had to transfer my shares to her.. I had to walk away, from the Voss family before I destroyed it completely.
I asked her what would happen if I did not do what she said.
She said that if I did not do what she said Luca would learn what it was like to grow up without a mother. Just like his father did.
Then the line went dead.
I looked at Dominic. Whispered that his aunt had our son Luca.