Chapter 4

Christine’s POV

Anticipation! My heart is beating fast. I could hear my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of my chest. While I was anticipating, I laid my phone beside me, but I couldn’t resist the urge to pick it up every few minutes, checking for a response from Mr. Cade Whitlock. Each time, the screen greeted me with nothing but disappointment. No reply yet.

I told myself not to dwell on it. Cade Whitlock wasn’t the kind of man who checked his email obsessively. He had assistants for that, and I could only hope mine wasn’t overlooked or dismissed. The thought nagged at me at the possibility that my email might never reach his eyes was maddening. Shortly, grandma Eleanor’s voice shattered the moment. She approached gently, steadying her balance at her old age. She shares the same age with grandpa Frederick, 65 years. They had been childhood sweethearts and had gotten married and gave birth to my father, Gregory.

“Christine, my child, here,” Her voice floated into my thoughts, pulling me back to the room.

I turned to see her carrying a plate in a tray filled with sliced fruits, including strawberries, of course and a plate of steaming pasta. The one she had just prepared. Despite being on vacation, grandma preferred home made food and never allowed me to eat out. She claims it’s not healthy and she didn’t want to see me fall sick.

“You should eat,” she said, placing the tray on the table. Her eyes softened as she studied me. “I don’t want you getting thin. I know all this company business is stressing you out.”

“I’ll eat later,” I mumbled, but before I could brush her off, she grabbed a slice of apple and popped it into my mouth.

“No, you’ll eat now,” she said firmly, sitting beside me. “Look at you! You’re losing weight, you’re not sleeping enough, and your face is pale. I don’t like it.”

“Grandma, I’m fine,” I protested around the apple, but her gaze silenced me. She always had a way of getting me to fall in line to everything she says, even when I thought I didn’t want to.

Just as I was about to take another bite to appease her, the familiar ding of a notification echoed from my phone.

My heart leapt. Immediately, I snatched the phone so quickly. My excitement fizzled into disappointment when I saw it was just a random promotional email. I let out a sigh, tossing the phone onto the couch beside me.

Grandma either didn’t notice. Instead, she’s now standing and wandering over to the television, picking up the remote.

“Let’s see what we have today,” she said, flipping through channels.

But as the screen settled on a news broadcast, her expression shifted.

On the screen, a group of reporters swarmed outside the Harrington International headquarters. My grandfather, Frederick, had just climbed down from the car but unfortunately before he could stroll into the company, the camera lights were flashing on him as the reported swam around him. He looked every bit the imposing figure he’d always been. With the news headline: “$500 Million Deal Rejected; Why Did Christine Harrington Say No?”

Grandma froze. Her eyes widened.

“What…?” she snapped, her gaze glued to the screen.

On the screen, the reporters held their microphones, jutting out from every angle as their voices clamored for attention, creating a chaotic orchestra of shouted questions.

Another reporter shoved a microphone closer to Frederick’s face. “Mr. Harrington, can you confirm if the rumors are true? Did your granddaughter reject the Whitlock deal outright?”

Frederick’s glare cut through the crowd, silencing the reporter momentarily. “No comment,” he barked, his baritone voice filled with authority as he continued to walk in while his two bodyguards tried their best, blocking the reporters from reaching him.

The scene shifted to Gregory, my father, stepping out of the back sleek black car. He was flanked by the driver who seemed more like bodyguards as he ushered Gregory toward the building.

“Mr. Gregory Harrington!” another reporter shouted, shoving past others to get closer. “What does this mean for the future of Harrington International? Does this decision reflect internal conflict within the family?”

Gregory didn’t slow his steps. His frustration was obvious,. “This is our family affairs. So, we keep it personal,” he snapped, his tone colder than Grandfather’s.

Behind him, Lilith, my mother, emerged from the same car, her movements as deliberate as they were elegant. She wore a tailored pink trouser suit, every detail meticulous, from her perfectly styled hair to her manicured nails clutching a designer handbag.

Her expression was unreadable, obviously didn’t love the crowd and her eyes burned with disapproval. She glanced briefly at the two reporters who approached her as her lips pressed so tightly together they almost disappeared, giving them a cold glare. If looks could kill as she followed Gregory into the building without a word.

The camera panned back to Frederick, who was now surrounded by a sea of reporters growing more aggressive. “Mr. Harrington, is your granddaughter still the CEO? Will she face repercussions for this decision?”

Frederick raised his hand sharply, commanding silence. “Harrington International’s leadership remains intact. That’s all I’ll say for now,” he growled, before turning on his heel and marching into the building.

“What is this?” Grandma finally turned to me, her eyes filled with disbelief.

I swallowed hard but said no words.

“Christine,” she called, her tone gentle as she stepped closer. “Is this true? Did you really reject a deal worth half a billion dollars?”

Just as I was about to respond, another notification buzzed on my phone. I peeked through the screen and saw it was an email from Cade Whitlock.

I grabbed the phone, my heart hammering as I opened the message.

Subject: Re: Proposal

I appreciate your interest in pursuing this partnership in your company name. However, after careful consideration, I’ve decided that aligning with a startup company at this time would be a poor business choice. I wish you the best in your endeavors.

Best regards,

Cade Whitlock.