Chapter 4

I started drafting an email to send him, just a formal email, letting him know I'd like to have a meeting with him. Before hitting send, I considered my options.

I'll be 28 in exactly 62 days. When my father passes away, his investment and shares, which represent 30% of the total, would pass to me, except there's a will stating that this wouldn't happen if I don't get married. So, I'm left with 53% of the shares, because the other 16% is distributed among other investors, and Kathe, who helped me build this company, owns 1%. Technically speaking, I still own the majority of the shares. But many of those at that meeting were my suppliers and strategic partners. If they ally with James, they'll surely use termination clauses in their contracts or raise prices, so I'll decide to end their services.

Damn.

I sighed heavily and pressed send. I stood up and was about to leave the office to find Kathe and talk about it some more when an email notification popped up.

I quickly went back to my computer and saw that Sebastian had replied immediately.

"Do you have time for a meeting right now? Say yes and I'll send you a link."

I sat back down in my chair and put on my headset. I sent him a quick email: "Yes." A few seconds later, I received an email with a link to a private meeting. I joined, and Sebastian was standing in the back of a car.

"Are you busy?" I asked immediately, but he shook his head.

"No, I'm going somewhere. I need you to tell me what your position is. What's going on with your investors?"

I started talking to him about the big picture, trying not to reveal too many private details, and without telling him anything yet about what I was planning. He shared his opinion and made it obvious that he didn't agree with what James was doing.

"Do you have a plan yet?" he finally said.

"It's not something I can discuss over the phone," I blurted out.

"I understand. That's why I'm here."

I frowned.

"What do you mean?" I said incredulously.

He turned his phone camera around and showed himself standing next to the security guard on the first floor.

"God! Wait there."

I felt my heart drop to my stomach, and I hung up the call. I left the office as fast as I could and headed for the first floor, practically running to the door. Everyone looked at me strangely, and some even stood up. I saw Kathe come out of her office, but I didn't stop.

"What are you doing here?" I almost screamed when I saw Sebastian at the door of my company.

He put his cell phone in his jacket pocket and looked at me with a slight smile.

"This isn't something you can discuss over the phone, is it?"

I was speechless and signaled to the guard. Sebastian gestured for me to go ahead of him and lead the way, and I did. He was close to me.

"You have absolutely no idea what's going on."

"I think I do," he said, walking a few inches behind me. "I received an email on Friday."

"You too? Why would you?" I blurted out without turning around.

"I told you my mother was friends with your father. Maybe they wanted to convince me to pit my company against yours," he said.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath. "Kathe!" I yelled toward her.

"Sofia?"

"Kathe, I need you to take care of a couple of documents and email our suppliers. I know it's not your area, but I need you right now. Please contact the main suppliers you work with. I'll be upstairs with..." I turned to look at Sebastian.

"Sebastian Blake, a pleasure," he said, greeting Kathe without extending his arm.

Kathe stared at him, almost speechless. But finally, she just nodded and hurried to her office. When we finally arrived at the office, I locked everything up, and Sebastian sat down in the chair across from me, his legs crossed.

"So... you have to get married, you say?"

"Yes, apparently it's in my father's will."

"Can I see it?"

"I..." I hesitated for a moment. "First, I want to know why you intend to help me.? You and I don't know each other."

"The truth is, my family owes yours, so I would like to help you get out of this unfair situation. Although... I'd also like to see Lucas lose influence."

"Ah, so you know Lucas," I said.

"Because of Lucas, I had a little family problem. My cousin dated him a few years ago."

"Oh..." I said gently. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. But I need Lucas to lose influence and, in the process, if possible, destroy him."

"Is that your price?" I finally asked.

"That's my price for now. Does that sound fair to you?"

I gripped the desk tightly, knowing full well I didn't have many options.

"That's fair."

Sebastian and I sat next to each other, discussing various things: advice about investors, what to do, and what we could plan.

"For now, I have to wait and see who allies themselves with James and who is still loyal to me after these two years..." I said.

"You built this company, right? From scratch?" Sebastian asked.

"From scratch," I confirmed. "I started planning it when I was about 15. I started with an old printing press when I was 25, and the company has grown little by little ever since. To become what it is now, and they want to take it from me. And for what?"

"So what's your plan?" Sebastian asked again.

I glanced at him sideways and then faced him directly, smiling slightly.

"What else? I'm getting married."

Sebastian coughed. He stared at me, frowning, his mouth agape, wanting to say something but unsure of what to say or if he even had the right.

"What?! But if you get married, you're letting them win," he said, almost agitated.

"No," I replied. "If I get married, I'll leave you with no options."

"So what? Are you going to marry a stranger, or do you have a secret boyfriend?"

"That's where things get complicated..." I said with a sigh.

Just then, Kathe knocked on my office door and came in.

"I... Uh... I'm talking to Elias; he says that today at 5 PM he might be able to get you the meeting."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow and looked at me incredulously.

"Say yes, Kathe."

She left the office while Sebastian sighed.

"Oh my god," he said. "I can't believe you're thinking about getting married."

"That's where you come in."

"Me? No, I'm waiting to marry for love, and the truth is..." Sebastian said hurriedly.

"No! No, we just met; this isn't some short story..." I interrupted, and he sighed in relief. "I need you to analyze the will, look for inconsistencies or anything we can use."

"Do you think it's fake?" he asked.

"I know it's fake" I said, completely sure of my words.