THE BUSINESS CRISES

CHAPTER 3

"Or you lose everything."

Kate's hand flew across his face before she could stop herself.

The crack echoed through the study like a gunshot.

Mr. Carlos' head snapped to the side. For three heartbeats, nobody moved. Then slowly—terrifyingly slowly—he turned back to face her, a red handprint blooming across his cheek.

"You little—"

"Go ahead!" Kate screamed, her whole body shaking. "Hit me back! Show me who you really are!"

His fist clenched at his side, knuckles white. "You're hysterical."

"I'm awake!" She grabbed the framed photo of her parents from the desk, holding it between them like a shield. "For the first time since they died, I can see clearly. You never wanted to help me. You wanted to control me!"

"Put that down—"

"Why?" Kate's voice cracked. "Afraid I'll remember what a real father looks like? What real love looks like?"

Mr. Carlos lunged forward, snatching the frame from her hands. "Your father was a fool who let sentiment cloud his judgment!"

"My father was a good man!" Kate shoved him backward. He stumbled against the desk, surprise flashing across his face. "Something you'll never understand because you don't have a soul!"

The door burst open.

Mr. Donovan and the other suited man stood in the doorway, their faces carefully neutral. But Kate saw it—the calculation in their eyes, the way they assessed her like a problem to be solved.

"Is everything alright?" Mr. Donovan asked, his tone suggesting he knew exactly what was happening.

"Get out!" Kate pointed at the door. "All of you, get out of my house!"

"Your house?" Mr. Carlos laughed, setting the photo back on the desk with deliberate care. "You inherited this house, Kate. But you don't own it. Not really. Not when you can't afford to maintain it. Not when the board can vote to liquidate assets to cover losses."

Kate's blood ran cold. "You wouldn't."

"Try me." He straightened his tie, his composure sliding back into place like armor. "Gentlemen, I apologize for my niece's behavior. As you can see, she's not in a stable state of mind."

"Don't you dare—"

"The grief has been overwhelming for her," Mr. Carlos continued, addressing the Drays' representative as if Kate wasn't there. "I've scheduled an appointment with Dr. Morrison for tomorrow. He'll help her... process things."

Kate's hands balled into fists. "I'm not seeing your pet psychiatrist."

"It's not a request." Mr. Carlos moved toward the door, gesturing for the other men to follow. "Mr. Donovan, shall we continue our discussion elsewhere? Somewhere more... composed?"

"Wait!" Kate blocked their path. She was smaller than all three men, but she planted her feet, her chin raised. "You can't just walk away. This is my father's study. My house. My company!"

Mr. Donovan cleared his throat. "Miss Jones, I understand you're upset—"

"Upset?" Kate laughed, the sound sharp and broken. "Your family is trying to buy me like livestock, and you think I'm just upset?"

"We're trying to save your company," Mr. Donovan said carefully. "William's investment kept Jones Constructions afloat for the past two years. Without it—"

"Two years?" Kate's mind raced. "But my father said the company was thriving. He said—"

"Your father lied to protect you," Mr. Carlos cut in. "The construction industry took a hit during the recession. We've been hemorrhaging money. The only reason we're still standing is because of Dray Industries."

Kate's legs felt weak. "That's not possible."

"It's very possible." Mr. Carlos pulled a folder from his briefcase, tossing it onto the desk. "Here. Financial statements from the last twenty-four months. See for yourself."

Kate's hands trembled as she opened the folder. Numbers swam before her eyes. Red ink. Debt. Losses.

"No," she whispered. "Dad would have told me..."

"Your father was in denial," Mr. Carlos said, his voice almost gentle now—which somehow made it worse. "He kept thinking he could turn things around. But he couldn't. And now the responsibility falls to you."

Kate looked up, tears burning her eyes. "So you're using his death to force me into this marriage. You're using my grief as leverage."

Mr. Donovan shifted uncomfortably. "Miss Jones, I assure you, William has only the best intentions—"

"William Dray doesn't have intentions, he has transactions!" Kate slammed the folder shut. "I've read about him. The 'Ice King of Wall Street.' The man who destroyed three companies last year just to absorb their assets. You want me to marry that?"

"I want you to be smart," Mr. Carlos said. "For once in your privileged life, I want you to think about consequences. About what happens when you lose everything because you were too stubborn to do what needed to be done."

"What I need—" Kate's voice broke. "What I need is time to mourn my parents. Time to think. Time to—"

"Time is a luxury you don't have." Mr. Carlos checked his watch. "The board meets in seventy-two hours. They're voting on emergency leadership measures. If you're not engaged to William Dray by then, they'll vote to remove you as CEO."

"They can't do that!"

"They can and they will. I've already secured the votes."

Kate felt like she'd been punched. "You... you did this. You orchestrated all of it."

Mr. Carlos' smile was cold. "I'm doing what your father should have done years ago. I'm ensuring the Jones name survives."

"By destroying me?"

"By saving you from yourself." He moved toward the door, the other men following. "You have until Sunday, Kate. Think very carefully about your answer."

---

The door closed behind them.

Kate stood alone in the study, surrounded by her father's things—his books, his awards, his legacy. Everything he'd built was crumbling, and she was powerless to stop it.

She sank into his chair, her hands gripping the armrests where his hands had once been. The leather still smelled like him. Still held the shape of him.

"Dad," she whispered to the empty room. "What do I do?"

But the dead don't answer.

---

Kate barely slept that night. Her uncle's words kept replaying in her head.

"You don't have a choice."

Her parents' deaths had left a gaping hole in her heart, and now, before she could even grieve, they were talking about marrying her off like some auction property.

Morning came too fast. She dragged herself out of bed and into the shower, letting the cold water wake her up. But even as she dressed, her hands trembled.

As she stepped out of her room, the sound of voices caught her attention. She followed them down the hallway and stopped near her father's study. The door was slightly ajar.

She peered inside.

Her uncle sat in her father's chair, his face serious, while two men in suits sat across from him. Kate's stomach turned when she recognized one of them—Mr. Donovan, a senior member of the Dray family.

She leaned in closer.

"I don't care how she feels about it," Mr. Carlos said. "This marriage has to happen."