Chapter 008

VALERIE 🎀

Wellington's Corporation.

“ We would love this alliance to mark a .........

The words were blurred out as I wasn’t paying attention , my attention was focused on a blue-eyed demon sitting in front of me.

The conference room in Wellington industries was filled with powerful people in the business world, CEOs, investors and shareholders were all gathered for the grand announcement of the merger of both companies that no one seem happy about.

Men in tailored suits shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact with each other. It was so obvious that they weren’t in each other’s good books .

I glared at the asshole sitting right across from me, calmly, composed. The bruise on my wrist throbbed, a cruel reminder of what he did last night.

My skin burned with humiliation as the memory came flooding back.

He’s going to pay for this, I’m going to make sure of it.

My fist clenched around the crumpled piece of paper I was holding as I squeezed life out of it , his face flooding my thoughts.

“ Yes, Miss Hampton” a voice cut through my thoughts.

My head snapped up, everyone ‘s eyes were trained on me

“ W- what? I blinked and my face flushed with embarrassment ,I silently hoped for the floor to open up, so I could bury myself in shame.

“ you banged the table,” the chief Secretary continued carefully, “so I thought you have something to say.”

I must have Slammed the table while I was thinking about strangling Zachary. Damn you, Zachary.

“ no, I—"

“ It’s Mrs Wellington now, she’s married, Mr Wesley” Zachary cut in, his voice slicing through the air like glass.

I turned to look at him but he was already looking at me, his lips curled in an infuriating smirk.

Our eyes locked and for a split second, I forgot why I was mad at him.

The chief secretary visibly gulped. “ my apologies, Mr. Wellington”

“ can we be done with this already? A senior executive spat angrily, “we don’t have all the time in the world” .

“ This merger is insulting” another executive spat.

“oh? Zachary leaned back in his chair, his eyes sharp, like a predator studying it’s prey, “Why is that? Mr. Thompson”

Mr. Thompson squirmed on his seat. “ well, we are doing well on our own, why would we merge with the Hamptons”.

The more I think about it , the more confused I get. The Wellingtons were like on top of the ladder in the business world and we were like five strungs below them.

So why was Zachary hell bent on marrying me to the point of resorting to blackmail.

Something seemed off.

"Are you slow witted or are you just plain stupid? Zachary questioned, his voice casual as his hand rested on his chin .

“ W-what?? Mr. Thompson spluttered out.

“ Son, take it easy on him, he is too old for this” Wellington Senior spoke for the first time, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“ Mr. Thompson, we are bound by marriage, it’s normal for both companies to merge” My father explained, his voice calm but firm.

“ oh, Mr. Hampton, we know that too well,” A shareholder chimed in, “but your daughter has quite a reputation”

Here we go.

“ Once, she smashed an investor’s car after he made a misogynistic remark, before that, she threw a wine bottle at a rival CEO who tried to steal her deal, what’s she going to do next, burn down a building?

“ That’s ….. tempting” I muttered under my breath , my eyes trained on the executive that said that and the way his eyes popped out in shock almost sent me cackling.

“Valerie! My father chided and I rolled my eyes.

“ The thing is she has a temper that she can’t seem to control,” The same executive insisted. “ what if she taint young Mr. Wellington’s clean image”.

“Even the cleanest of slate has tiny specks of dust” someone hissed beside me and I snorted.

" what if our stocks start dropping or worse, shareholders start pulling out their shares because of this marriage, we would be doomed." Another stated , horror etched on his face,ignoring the other's snarky comment.

“ Gentlemen, I understand your worries, but it’s too late ….

“ There’s even a rumor flying around that she used to be a bully in high school."

Blood drained from my face. No way, how did they find out?

I clasped my hands together to keep them from trembling.

Their murmurs increased and I could feel their gazes boring into my skin.

No, no, this can't be happening.

Unable to take it anymore, I pushed the chair back and slammed the table, hard.

The room fell silent and it was only the sound of my ragged breathing that could be heard. They all peered down at me curiously like I was a porcelain doll on verge of crack.

" Enough! My voice sliced through the silence.

"Like you said it was only a rumor".

" There's always an element of truth in every rumor." Someone retorted, a grin etched on his face.

" Yeah? I turned to him. "The same way there's a rumor about you and your step-daughter having an affair."

His face paled and the smug look on his face fell off

" T..That's not true." He stuttered and pointed a finger at me. " You are digging up lies against me."

I shrugged. " I never said it was true, I only said it was a 'rumor'."

The look on his face was satisfying that I almost took out my phone to take a picture.

"That's enough! Zachary barked. "This merger will take place. Whoever has any worries should shove it down his or her pants."

I felt the heat of someone’s gaze on me as I took my seat. I knew it was Zachary before I turned.

There was something unreadable in his eyes as he stared down at me.

Signing the merger went without any opposition . Executives from both sides kept their distance like rival gangs forced into a truce.

As the room emptied in a buzz of voices, I gathered my files, ready to bolt.

Then a force from my left side bumped into me causing the files I was carrying to fly in different directions.

I whirled around , furious, ready to give the person a piece of my mind.

“Woah woah , my apologies , I wouldn't want my head to be smashed with a wine bottle” He and his cliques snickered like hyenas like he just dropped the joke of the century.

I rolled my eyes. This is what happens when you put little boys in suits and hand them briefcases. They are deluded to think they are business men .

Ignoring them, I bent to pick up my files and I could feel their stares on my back.

Those perverts.

“ That’s my wife you are ogling, should I poke out your eyes?

I froze.

The familiar voice was low and laced with warning.