Chapter Five

Alina POV

(Five years later)

"Miss Grant, you have a call from the contractor working on the Seaside project," my assistant Clara said, as she walked beside me, ticking things off her pad. 

"Hold it until after my meeting, but if my lawyer calls, inform him to start legal proceedings for our two stable projects." I said, while pulling out a mirror to check my lipstick. 

"Your date from last night called about a second date tonight." She hesitated, " I think he might be the one. He's sweet." 

I smiled, remembering the cute tech guy from yesterday who had taken me to a low-key Italian restaurant and called me his lucky charm. He was sweet, but the truth is that I didn't want sweet, "Tell him I don't do repeats” 

"You have six lunch requests. One is from the CEO of Derr Inc." she informed me. 

"Schedule with him. Is that all?" I asked as we halted in front of the office door. 

She nodded, then adjusted her glasses, "Are you sure you're ready?" 

"I've been waiting for this day for five years, Clara. I'm more than ready," I replied. 

"Yes, ma'am," her expression went from concerned to worried and then she pushed the door open for me and I walked into the conference room, ignoring the look of shock on the men's faces as I took my seat at the head of the table. 

"You can't be here," one of the men protested, "This meeting is between…” 

I cut him off before he could annoy me further, "My name is Alina Graht, granddaughter of Charles Grant, and the new CEO of this corporation. If you have a problem with that because I'm a woman, feel free to use the door." How I managed to reconnect with my real family and find out the truth about the Moreaus still remained a shock to me. 

I dragged my gaze lazily across the room, meeting each man's gaze one after the other. 

"This is ridiculous!" A familiar voice snapped, "You can't possibly be Charles Grant granddaughter. Quit this nonsense Alina."

I stared down at my useless ex husband, unsurprised by the shock and derision in his gaze. I searched inside myself for all the love I'd thought I had for him, but all I could feel was irritation. How had I not realized what a lazy, dumb fool he was? 

All his life, he had just used people including me to advance himself. 

I was going to make sure the whole world saw him for what he was. After which I'd destroy my former family too for what they had done. 

"Sit the fuck down and keep your mouth shut so we can hear the woman," I jolted at the sound of the unexpected, but familiar voice. 

Turning my head I met piercing blue eyes that belonged to a man I never expected to meet here. My head swirled as blood rushed through it and I immediately forgot the carefully planned script I had rehearsed. What the fuck was he doing here? Since when did the Wolfes start partnering with the Grants. 

I cleared my throat, "The Greenville project will kick off in October. But only three companies will be partnering alongside mine for it." 

"What!" Victor  roared. 

The other men immediately began to protest, but I couldn't seem to pull my attention away from Sebastian 's. It felt like the entire room had disappeared, leaving only him behind. I needed to get the hell out of here and regroup. 

"The companies will be chosen by my grandfather by the end of July. If your company statistics are less than impressive by then, you can say goodbye to collaborating with me." With that, I rose to my feet and marched out on my five inch designer heels, ignoring the rising voices of the men. 

"You bitch," Victor  grabbed my arm, sneering before I could walk past him, "What do you think you're doing showing up here and trying to mess up everything? I hope you haven't forgotten that…" 

"If you don't get your filthy hands off her, I'll be more than happy to break those hands," Sebastian  interrupted, looking as cool and calm as ever. 

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Stay out of this. This is between Alina and I." 

"Actually, I have nothing to say to you Victor ," I tore my hand away from his hold, "And you should think twice about attacking the woman who holds your future in her hands, or are you going to make your secretary seduce me into giving you the job?" 

Scoffing at the fury on his face, I rushed out of the conference room and it's chaos. 

"Ma'am what happened in there?" Clara hurried toward me, "You look pale." 

"I need to get out of here, I need to" 

"Running again, Alina?" Sebastian 's voice cut in. 

"I'm not running," I fixed a polite smile on my face, trying not to gape at how striking he was, "I'm done here and so I'm leaving." 

He dragged a hand through his midnight black hair, "Without saying goodbye to your husband?" 

I raised a brow, "We both know that marriage document is invalid." 

"I guess we'll find out in court on Monday." 

Shock moved through me, "E-excuse me?"

"Did you think that just because you disappeared our marriage would be over?" He asked coldly. 

"It's been four years," I spat, "That was the agreement and time has run out now." 

"July fourteenth of next year," Sebastian  said, "That's when our five years expires." 

"W-what? That's not true!" I cried, "We don't need to go through this stupid farce. Just send over the divorce papers and I'll sign them. I'm sure you don't want to be in this fucked up marriage." 

He took a step closer, backing me into the wall. I shivered at his proximity, feeling heat rise up in the base of my stomach. 

"Trust me, Miss Grant, you don't know what I want." He breathed against my mouth. 

"What do you want?" I whispered. 

His mouth pulled up at one corner and he stepped away, the heat in his gaze chilling to ice, "You're going to be my wife for one more."

"And if I say no?" 

"If I remember correctly, Charles hates scandals." He said, "Do you think he won't hesitate to strip you of your position if you get in a lawsuit at this crucial time?" 

"You bastard! Why are you doing this? Is this just because of the partnership?" I said bitterly, "You didn't even care that I disappeared that day." 

He chuckled humorlessly, but before he walked away, he dropped one more bombshell, "Oh and one more thing, Alina."

"What?" 

"According to the contract, you owe me an heir."

What the fuck!