006

GEORGE.

“What do you mean someone else bought the company?” I growled into the phone, pacing furiously across my office.

“You knew damn well that SiphonEx was set to take over!” I slammed my fist on the desk, frustration seeping in greatly.

The idiot on the other end stammered something about sudden legal switches and being outbidded. I didn’t care. I hung up on him mid-sentence and snatched my keys off the table.

“I am going to the office myself,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else although Becky was watching from the couch.

“Don’t tell me you lost the company to someone else.”

The way she said it, it grated on my nerves like a blunt knife. What the hell? I was fighting for us here, the company and all.

“I didn’t lose anything,” I snapped.

“I will fix it.”

She scoffed, folding her arms.

“Can’t you do something perfectly? What do you think my father will say when he hears about this? Do you think he will still want to give his empire to you?”

Her words hit hard. I snapped toward her in anger. She was dressed in a backless top and black office pants and ridiculous ten inch heels.

That empire was mine. I had earned every damn brick of it. Since her father got locked away, I have held everything together and revived a company on the verge of destruction, kept Becky out of the claws of those who wanted her gone, and played the perfect fiancé just to maintain the deal.

And now, she had the nerve to talk to me like that?

My hands curled into fists, my nails biting into my skin.

“Enough, Becky,” I said coldly.

“If I hadn’t been here for you and the company since your father got imprisoned, both you and this entire legacy would be ashes. You think your father’s enemies would have spared you without me shielding you?”

Her expression shifted, the confidence cracking just a little. She walked over and touched my arm gently.

“I am sorry,” she whispered.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just… I can’t believe someone else got the company. I was so sure it would be ours.”

I looked at her. Her lips trembled, and for a second, I saw the vulnerable girl behind all that makeup and pride. She leaned in and kissed me softly. I let her. Not because I wanted to. But because I needed her. She was the final key to the empire, and I wasn’t going to throw that away.

I only came here for the empire. The money. To not end up like my miserable father. I had always wanted to be rich and seeing that Normani couldn't do that for me, I had to leave her - despite loving her so much - I had to choose Becky for the money.

“I need to know who they sold it to,” she said, her voice firmer.

“I want to challenge them. I want to make sure they regret choosing anyone over us.”

I nodded. “Then let’s go. Together.” I held her hand and pulled her with me.

“Careful, my heels are ten inches!” She screamed, almost tripping.

***

We arrived at the company’s headquarters in less than twenty minutes. Becky adjusted her dress in the mirror in the hallway, smoothed her hair, and looked over at me.

“I need the restroom. You go ahead. I will catch up.”

I nodded and stood in the lobby, waiting. My eyes roamed over the place. It was the same; modern, bold, and polished.

And then I saw her.

For a moment, my breath caught.

Normani.

Or not.

I didn't fully see her before she walked past the exit. I barely saw the side of her face.

But this woman didn't seem like Normani.

She was wearing an expensive tailored dress, ones that could only be found in fashion auctions and all. Her hair was straight and lush. The Normani I knew didn't have time to strengthen her hair.

And she was wearing ‘So Kate’ heels.

An expensive heels that were meant for boss ladies alone which was so unlike Normani. She was always wearing flats and throwing her hair in a bun.

What the hell?

I squinted, trying to process what I was seeing. I wanted to believe that I was hallucinating and it wasn't Normani. It couldn't be.

Just then, Becky returned and tugged at my arm. “Who was that?”

“I—I thought I saw someone I knew,”

She raised a brow but didn’t press further.

We were led into a private boardroom where the regional director was waiting. The poor man looked nervous the second we stepped inside.

Becky didn’t waste time. She slammed her hand on the table.

“You know who I am, so let me save us both time. Announce that the sale was a mistake. Say we are the rightful buyers and we will give you double what the buyer paid.”

The man looked around helplessly.

“I—I can’t do that, ma’am. The documents have been signed. The buyer passed every requirement and—”

“You know what I am capable of,” Becky interrupted coldly.

“Do you really want to test me?”

The man’s face turned pale.

He didn't even know why Becky wanted the company so much, why we needed it. Perhaps if the director knew what the company had and why we wanted it so much, he wouldn't sell it.

I stood, walking around the table.

“Let me make this simple for you,” I said, grabbing him by the collar. “Undo it. Or I will undo you.”

I could see fear flash in his eyes. He was stuttering something when—

“Let. Him. Go.”

A sharp voice cut through the room like lightning.

Shawn.

I turned just as he stormed in and shoved me away from the director, sending me stumbling back a step. Becky rushed over.

“What the hell is your problem?” I snapped.

“You really thought you could intimidate your way into ownership?” Shawn asked, his eyes locked on mine.

“If anything happens to that man, do you really think you would be safe, George?”

Becky narrowed her eyes.

“So it was you. You are the reason the company wasn’t sold to us. Wait, did you buy it?” I could see fear flash through Becky's eyes. Shawn couldn't possibly know the value the company possessed. The reason we desperately wanted ownership of it?

Shawn crossed his arms, the smirk on his face making my blood boil.

“Yes. That was me. And that is just your first punishment—for the snake you planted in my group. You thought I wouldn’t find out?”

Becky’s face went pale but I could also see relief in her eyes. Shawn didn't know, for now at least.

It wouldn't be long before Shawn knew the value in that company.

Shawn kept going.

“You know, George… You are the biggest fool I have ever met. You had something valuable—gold but you couldn’t tell the difference between that and wood. Now, you have lost the gold. And it is too late.” He laughed mockingly.

I stared at him, trying to read through his cryptic words.

“Wait. Are you saying you bought the company?”

He laughed softly. I really did not understand him.

“If you want to know who really bought the company, come to the party tomorrow night. I will send the address. The real owner will be introducing themselves there.”

Before I could ask anything else, he walked out with a mockery laughter.

Shawn was up to something and I had to know.

Back in the car, Becky looked at me, her voice trembling with rage.

“We are just going to leave like that?”

I clenched the steering wheel.

“There is nothing we can do now. Not while Shawn is involved. We need to be slow and smart so he won’t know the real reason we want that company.”

Becky nodded while I started the car.

Yet, the parable about the Gold and Wood wouldn't leave my head. What did he mean by that?