Chapter 4

Emma’s POV

His words rang in my mind repeatedly while I drove. I knew exactly what the man was capable of but I didn’t want to believe he would turn his methods on me.

“He said what?” Marie asked, her mouth had basically fallen open, voice pitched with shock. She was in as much disbelief as I was.

I nodded, “I’m not sure exactly what he meant but he said it with confidence” my voice dropped. “But what could he possibly do?” I had scanned all the methods I knew about and none of them could apply for me.

She looked away in the distance out her window with the bubbling world beneath us, mind racing like mine. “I cant think of anything either. Maybe he was making empty threats” she stood up. “Come on, we cant think about this all day. You have a company you must run”

“You’re right” and I knew she was.

“While you were gone, he returned most of your essentials, laptop included. There is it” she pointed to where the bag sat.”And I have prepared your favorite snacks for you while you work”

I was thankful to hear, so much and words couldn’t describe them but when she looked at me, she shook her head, her way of telling me not to think about it.

“So many new plans and designs to make” I said more to myself than Marie, she was more inclined to thinking about the financial parts of our relationship.

Just then my phone rang and when I looked it was to see it was from my manager. I picked the call quickly, “Is there an emergency Jada?”

She cleared her throat, “No ma’am. There are only a few deals and investors trouping in, most of them need your personal intervention” her way of telling me that I needed to be there physically.

“Is it all good?”

She paused but it lasted only a second, “As good as it can be”

The high hopes that had cultivated immediately dropped, maybe the deals weren’t all in my favor. “I’ll be there in an hour” I told her before ending the call. All I needed to do was freshen up.

“I’m going to take a quick shower” I told Marie who had her back to me as she faced the kitchen sink.

She turned slightly, “Alright love”

Soon, I was read, my bag in my hands. “I’ll see you later this evening. Maybe we can go out for dinner” I said, a smile on my face, one I couldn’t hold back.

She smiled back, “We’ll see”

I was on my way soon after that.

The only thing I hadn't prepared for was the media waiting outside her building. They all shoved their mics at me, questions coming from all corners.

“What caused the divorce Mrs Cross”

“Can you give the media a short statement of what the accusations levied against you by MR. Cross?”

My face burned red as I shoved my way through them to the car parked on the other side of the street. Even then, the questions didn’t stop.

“What would you like the business world to know about your impending return?”

Once I reached, I pulled the door open and rushed in and shut it close behind me. Their voices became muffled and the tint meant they couldn’t see in. I released the breath I had been holding in, feeling myself get ligher. It was one of the downsides of being a celebrity of some sort - your life was always on the huge screens.

When I reached my company building, Jada was already waiting for me, a few files in her hands. “The newest data for the company ma’am. You should go through it”

I took it from her, skimming through it quickly. Our profits had dropped by ten percent the last six months and although it wasn’t tremendous, it was a drop nonetheless. A few of my employees had resigned as well but most had been replaced.

“Who am I seeing first?” I asked.

“Mr. Jackson North, owner of North industries”

My head snapped up from the files they had been buried in, “He’s here?”

She nodded but there wasn’t a smile on her face. I was just about to ask why but then I noticed we already stood in front of my office, I would have to find out myself.

The door pushed open,cool air blowing on my face and I found him sitting on one of the two available chairs. “Ms. Carter” he greeted.

I took the seat opposite him, “Mr. North, it was a surprise to hear that you were waiting for me”

He shrugged, the squish of his expensive suit as he made movements was a small testament of his wealth. The shining hair and gleaming glasses was another. “Well of course I would be here, you’re the newest thing on the news today”

“You would be right. But how may I help you?”

He nodded, adjusting his suit as if thinking of how to bring up the conversation. “Well as you know. The business world has once again turned their eyes towards your company. You made your way two places up the index of bubbling companies”

Although I didn’t know that happened, I nodded like I did, “You would be right”

“This afternoon, I’ve come to make you an offer that should be difficult to refuse”

“We’ll see about that won’t we?”

He smiled, “An offer for a billion dollars for all of this, full and complete shares. I want it all” he dropped the bomb.

The room fell silent as we stared at each other. There was a triumphant look in his eyes. Reasonably, nobody should have rejected the offer.

I smiled slowly, “Two years ago, Carters Constructions was worth three billion dollars.”

He smiled back, “I’m dealing with the present Ms. Carter, today it is worth eight hundred million dollars, I offer you two billion dollars more”

I shook my head, “In a year, it is estimated to be worth five hundred million more. Come on Mr. North, I am no novice. You can take your offer back” I stood up and began to walk away.

His voice stopped me at the door, “Are you sure about this? There will never be another offer like this”

“I am quite sure Mr. North, you can see yourself out” and then I was gone, stewing in rage and disrespect.