“Anna is very efficient and an excellent worker. I'm pleased she’s with us today. My last assistant moved on.” Ezra cuts her off and Anna fusses with her mousey brown hair just as the boardroom door swings open.
“So sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. West.” Ria breezes in, Grace hot on her heels. “Something urgent came up this morning that I had to take care of before today’s meeting.”
“No problem at all. Please take a seat. Shannon will bring in drinks shortly.”
Ria takes her seat next to me and interlocks our fingers underneath the table, and I squeeze tightly.
“Now that you are all here, I’d like to start by saying I have taken each of your proposals very seriously and have taken the time to look into each of your companies and how you both operate on both a financial and business level, also having spoken with your staff.”
“The staff?” Ezra and Dale say in unison.
“That’s correct. Your staff are your most valuable asset, so I needed to check that they were happy with how the company they work for treats them. And let me tell you, the results were interesting to say the least.” Ezra shifts on his seat, and Anna continues to keep her head down. But Dale just sits back in his chair, arms crossed, staring at Cole.
“Before you continue, I have something I want to say.” Ezra reaches inside his pocket and drags out his phone.
“Okay, but we need this to be swift, as I have another meeting in half an hour,” Cole says abruptly.
“It will be. I have evidence of these two being not exactly what they say they are.”
“Meaning?” Cole frowns and Ezra scoffs.
“Their wedding and marriage is a sham.” He holds out his phone for Cole to see and plays the video. “Do you really want someone who is willing to lie to your face running and looking after your investments?”
“I also have evidence of Mr. Brent threatening me in his own offices,” Dale throws in and places his phone on the table, leaning forward on his elbows. “He may give off this façade that he is carefree and a fun-loving guy, but deep down he has issues.”
“Issues?” I growl. That word has always been a trigger for me. From childhood, I’ve had people say that I have issues and that my ADHD is nothing but a label.
“Don’t worry about Leo acting out; he just has issues.”
That is what my parents would be told by countless teachers, and even now, the phrase triggers something inside me.
“The only issue I have is with you intimidating my wife.”
“I did no such thing.” He laughs, leaning back in his chair. “Do you have any proof?”
“I have her word and that is good enough for me.”
“Doesn’t get you very far though, does it?” I start to push my chair back, but Ria still has a hold of my hand and keeps me in place.
“Don’t,” she demands. “This is what he wants.”
“Is it, Miss Stone?” Dale says slyly.
“I’m Mrs. Brent, and yes, this is what you want.” She stares Dale down. “You have taken over this meeting with childishplayground arguments, and I don’t appreciate it and I’m certain Mr. West doesn’t. We are all extremely busy people, so unless Mr. West feels this is important to his decision, I suggest we move on.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Cole nods at Ria before turning his sharp gaze on Dale and Ezra. “Dale, Ezra, did you not hear the part where I said I have looked at you both in depth and how you operate?”
“Yes?” Dale’s arrogant smile is wiped off his face and he pulls back.
“Good. If Leo was standing up for his wife then I don’t see any problem with him doing that. In all honesty, I would be amazed if he didn’t. Also,”—Cole’s features darken and he says sharply—“don’t insult my intelligence by showing me a grainy video of two people who, yes, at the time were faking it.” Ria flinches next to me, and I sit taller in my seat and straighten my tie.
“You knew?” Ria asks.
“Of course I knew. I knew you two weren’t involved before I sent you the original email. Like I said, I checked you all out.”
“Mr. West, we didn’t mean to insult you—”
He holds his hand up, cutting Ria off. “I know. I sent the email after your wedding as a joke at first. I was going to own up to it, but when I saw you both at your home and you, Leo, gave me that speech, I knew you loved her but she was still in the dark, so I decided to leave it and see what happened.”
