Chapter 8: Consenting to Matrimony

Just as Emma’s facial complexion transformed into absolute pallor, Alexander’s voice suddenly pierced through the tension.

His measured tone resonated like celestial salvation to Emma’s terrified consciousness: “Now that the business briefing has concluded, everyone should resume their departmental responsibilities. There’s no requirement for continued attendance here.”

Uncle Robert emitted an enigmatic chuckle, exchanged a meaningful glance with Alexander, and subsequently maintained silent restraint.

Emma practically escaped the office in panic, her spine already drenched in nervous perspiration.

She inhaled deeply, deliberately disregarding the bewildered expressions her colleagues directed toward her; her mental focus had contracted into singular clarity.

Gratitude beyond measure! She’d survived unscathed!

If Uncle Robert had genuinely exposed her before the assembled gathering, her professional existence would have terminated irrevocably!

Nevertheless,Emma compressed her lips and cast an apprehensive glance backward toward the presidential suite.

What about Alexander?

Uncle Robert had clearly retained complete recollection of this complication; would he subsequently exploit this opportunity to lodge complaints with Grandfather Sinclair?

Preoccupied with mounting anxiety and inattention to her surrounding environment, Emma collided forcefully with Marcus, who approached hurriedly whilst transporting documentation, scattering the papers across the floor.

She rapidly apologized and knelt to assist Marcus in retrieving the scattered materials.

Marcus appeared noticeably hurried, collecting documents whilst repetitively consulting his timepiece. Finally, acknowledging his insufficient temporal capacity, he articulated to Emma: “I regret this unfortunate timing, Ms. Thompson, but I find myself substantially pressed for time. President Sinclair has urgently requested these reports, yet Chairman Sinclair has simultaneously tasked me with an alternative priority. I lack sufficient opportunity to remain here.”

“Could you possibly position yourself outside the president’s office entrance following your completion of tidying these documents? Should President Sinclair require them, please deliver them internally for me.”

“P-pardon?” Emma experienced momentary disorientation, then felt overwhelming humiliation.

This was absolutely ridiculous! She’d practically escaped catastrophic exposure, and if she ventured back inside, it would be equivalent to a lamb voluntarily approaching the slaughterhouse!

Emma protested with obvious reluctance: “Wouldn’t this be inappropriate? These represent confidential corporate documentation. Wouldn’t it be considerably more advisable for you to deliver them personally, Assistant Webb?”

Marcus responded diplomatically: “They’re merely routine operational reports,nothing genuinely classified. Ms. Thompson, I’m genuinely desperate for your assistance; I’m running exceptionally behind schedule.”

Director Foster, visibly irritated by what he perceived as Emma’s discourteous refusal, interjected promptly: “Emma, you should absolutely assist Assistant Webb. You were responsible for initiating the collision initially, and you possess no pressing obligations requiring your immediate attention.”

Given that her superior had mandated compliance, Emma found herself without viable recourse except to reluctantly acquiesce.

Before departing, Marcus smiled graciously at Emma: “You’re exceedingly kind, Ms. Thompson. Following document organization, there’s genuinely no requirement for you to enter President Sinclair’s office personally. Simply remain positioned at the entrance. Should he require anything, he’ll summon you.”

Emma nodded compliantly and, following document organization, obediently positioned herself at the office threshold.

Nevertheless, perhaps the final departmental member had neglected to properly secure the entrance, because the office door remained marginally ajar, permitting intermittent conversational fragments to escape through the aperture.

From within, Uncle Robert articulated initial remarks, his inflection carrying subtle derision: “Alexander, that Emma Thompson we just observed,isn’t she the woman captured departing your suite that morning?”

Alexander maintained his writing, his voice remaining imperturbable: “Whether that assessment proves accurate or not, Uncle, you really shouldn’t have referenced it within the public forum just now.”

“You’re protecting her quite diligently, aren’t you?”

“Has your second uncle’s allegation any validity, Alexander?” Upon hearing this, Grandfather Sinclair directed his scrutiny toward Alexander. Observing that Alexander refrained from categorical denial, his expression darkened dramatically, and he forcefully struck his walking cane against the floor.

“This is absolutely outrageous!”

Behind the door, Emma trembled violently and compressed her lips.

The conversation within persisted.

“Outrageous! You’ve permitted all manner of questionable romantic entanglements to contaminate the corporate environment! What will transpire if this information becomes public knowledge?!” The patriarch, who’d displayed cheerful demeanor merely moments previously, now radiated fury. “Alexander, you’ve profoundly disappointed me!”

“Father, please exercise composure. Alexander remains young. It’s entirely unremarkable for him to experience momentary lapses of judgment. His emotional maturity remains incomplete.”

“Nevertheless, Alexander, your uncle means no malicious intent, yet even if you possess limited self-restraint, you absolutely cannot engage in romantic entanglements with corporate personnel. Fortuitously, I’ve already contained this matter. Father, rest assured,no media outlets will disseminate any information.”

Alexander’s articulation remained composed: “I sincerely apologize, Grandfather. I will exercise appropriate management regarding this circumstance.”

“Father, I genuinely believe Alexander’s character still requires substantial refinement. Transferring the corporation’s control to him appears premature. Since Sebastian has returned to London, wouldn’t it prove beneficial to identify him a corporate position as well? This arrangement would permit the two brothers to maintain protective oversight of one another.”

…

Emma couldn’t discern the subsequent dialogue.

Her emotional condition felt profoundly burdened and anguished.

So her accidental transgression had genuinely positioned Alexander within precarious circumstances.

Momentarily afterward, Marcus returned and retrieved the documentation from Emma’s trembling grasp: “Gratitude, Ms. Thompson. I’ve completed my alternative responsibilities. I’ll manage the remainder.”

Emma nodded inattentively but paused before departing. She compressed her lips, pivoted back toward Marcus, and tentatively inquired: “Assistant Webb, are you aware of any connection between myself and President Sinclair?”

Upon absorbing this inquiry, Marcus adjusted his spectacles, maintaining his courteous demeanor, and responded with enigmatic gentleness: “Ms. Thompson, would you prefer awareness, or would you prefer continued ignorance?”

Clever, manipulative individual.

Emma couldn’t suppress internal criticism.

He absolutely possessed knowledge.

Recognizing this reality, she discontinued indirect questioning and solicited genuine concern: “Assistant Webb, I must understand,did my accidental transgression genuinely create substantial complications for President Sinclair? Is his position within the Sinclair family genuinely precarious?”

…

Emma departed with a profoundly weighted emotional condition, Marcus’s articulation still reverberating through her consciousness.

“Objectively assessed, President Sinclair currently navigates exceptionally difficult circumstances. Uncle Robert intensifies pressure relentlessly, and his father simultaneously creates complications through covert interference. Their paternal-filial relationship remains fundamentally strained. Following Uncle Robert’s discovery of your involvement, he’s persistently lobbied the Chairman, aspiring to engineer an opportunity for President Sinclair’s half-brother, Sebastian, to assume a corporate position. President Sinclair currently faces encirclement from all directions.”

“President Sinclair explicitly instructed me against disclosing these particulars. He respects your perspective and categorically refuses to pressure you.”

Following Marcus’s disclosure, Emma experienced intensified culpability.

She’d genuinely failed to anticipate that an inadvertent accident would generate such profound consequences for Alexander. He already navigated besiegement from multiple adversaries, yet he’d maintained composure before her, declining to impose any obligations throughout the entire week.

This was merely matrimony.

Reconsidering the circumstances, she genuinely possessed extraordinary fortunate positioning with Alexander as a matrimonial partner!

Furthermore, it constituted merely one year’s commitment. Following dissolution proceedings, she’d receive substantial financial compensation, permitting complete mortgage obligation satisfaction. From any rational perspective, she’d negotiate an extraordinarily advantageous arrangement!

Therefore, Emma fortified her emotional resolve and formulated decisive commitment.

Simultaneously, in Alexander’s Office

Following Grandfather Sinclair and Uncle Robert’s departure, Marcus entered and positioned the documentation upon Alexander’s desk.

“President Sinclair, as you instructed, I positioned Ms. Thompson outside the office entrance for an extended period just now.”

He paused momentarily, subsequently continuing: “Additionally, when Ms. Thompson departed, she posed inquiries regarding your Sinclair family circumstances, and I exercised independent discretion in articulating certain particulars.”

Upon completing this disclosure, Marcus observed Alexander’s countenance carefully.

Although the information he’d transmitted to Emma represented verifiable truth, it had genuinely constituted his autonomous judgment, and Alexander hadn’t explicitly elaborated additional specifics to him.

Nevertheless, having maintained position within Alexander’s employ for numerous years, Marcus possessed substantial certainty regarding Alexander’s unspoken inclinations.

Precisely as anticipated, Alexander demonstrated unperturbed composure following Marcus’s narration, offering no verbal response,which constituted tacit acknowledgment.

Marcus exhaled with relief, recognizing his action had aligned with his employer’s genuine intentions.

The patriarch has perpetually maintained pronounced aversion toward romantic entanglement, maintaining exemplary self-discipline and restraint throughout countless years. Numerous individuals have attempted introducing women into his intimate space, yet scarcely anyone could approach proximity, much less achieve entrance into his private quarters.

Yet presently, he’d demonstrated extraordinary exception toward Emma Thompson and orchestrated extensive arrangements for her welfare, demonstrating conclusively that this particular woman possessed exceptional significance.

As a subordinate, Marcus possessed sole obligation: facilitating his employer’s desires.

Following Marcus’s departure, Alexander positioned himself before the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows for an extended interval, maintaining one hand within his trouser pocket whilst contemplating the metropolitan panorama beneath him.

Truthfully, Marcus’s intervention aligned precisely with his authentic intentions.

He’d misjudged his little rabbit’s resilience; she demonstrated considerably greater caution than his initial assessment.

Nearly seven days had transpired without her contacting him.

Apparently, the incentive required intensification.

Providentially, his uncle and grandfather’s appearance at the corporate office that day had presented an opportune moment.

He desired Emma.

From that evening forward, he would perpetually retain her.

He’d cultivated emotional discipline and suppressed his desires throughout countless years, and no individual had ever penetrated his formidable psychological barriers until Emma’s arrival that night.

Her pristine innocence, her delicate fragrance, her vulnerable tenderness… He discovered all other individuals tedious and repugnant, yet Emma possessed differentiation.

Despite the week’s passage, his yearning for her had intensified exponentially rather than diminishing, manifesting as compulsive addiction he possessed absolutely no capacity to suppress.

He’d never characterized himself as virtuous; should he desire something, he’d orchestrate acquisition.

The temporal moment approached to progressively contract this net’s restraints.

The contemplation had scarcely crystallized when his personal mobile telephone, positioned upon his executive desk, suddenly emitted its summons.

Alexander pivoted, and a telephone number he’d meticulously memorized illuminated across the display.

Alexander’s countenance manifested a subtle smile, and he collected the device to establish connection.

“Hello.”

“President Sinclair, this is Emma Thompson.”

Her transmitted voice carried perceptible nervousness, yet possessed exceptional clarity.

She inhaled deliberately and ultimately marshaled absolute courage:

“I’ve contemplated thoroughly. I consent to matrimony with you.”