4. A bitter wedding wish.

Oliver

“You know you’re meant to give the shareholders weeks of notice before you call a meeting, right?”

“I know, but this was rather too urgent and pressing. I couldn’t let it slip from our fingers,” Benjamin said. I was more than surprised when he agreed that he would call the board meeting and tell them about the wedding, he was in love with me and he wanted to prove it by all means.

It had made my heart flutter and my cheeks reddened, I couldn’t even believe I was worried about the blonde freak. I rolled my eyes as he crossed my mind once more.

“So, what is so important that we had to break protocol?” asked Jones. No matter how cold it was outside, he always seemed to have a sheen of sweat across his wrinkled forehead and the stench of whiskey. He was drunk most of the time, but damn, he was a good business man and could hold his own.

“Okay, there has been so-“ the glass door slid open and the last person I wanted to see sauntered in and took the empty seat which was just beside Benjamin. What the fuck was he doing here?

Ben cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. I hated how Harvey held a room, the way everyone seemed to stare at him like he had fallen from the sky. He was the androgynous being that made straight men conclude that a hole is just a hole.

“This is for board members only,” I seethed. Since Benjamin wasn’t going to say anything, I might as well speak. He smirked as if he knew something that I didn’t.

“You didn’t tell him Ben?”

Tell me what?

“I was going to,” Benjamin replied. My brows furrowed, he was keeping something from me?

He cleared his throat once more, “this is the reason I had to convene this meeting on such short notice. You know how it has almost been impossible for our products to penetrate France’s market?”

There were chorused mumbles and nods scattered across the room, “Harvey is the CEO of Debreaux Ltd.”

Debreaux? Was that supposed to be impressive? Gasps erupted from the men and women around the table which answered my question, it was supposed to be impressive.

“You mean he is Harvey Debreaux?” a woman asked.

“Oui,” Hardshit responded in an impeccable French accent and a flutter of moans left the women, I could see some men adjusting their crossed legs, probably to hide a boner they must have started spotting. I hated how easily they played into his hands, was I the only one who could spot this two-faced bitch for who he truly is?

“He has agreed to partner with us. It is a symbiotic partnership, of course, he will push our products in France, whereas we push their products here in the States.”

If anyone else nodded more, their heads could have fallen off. Something was sketchy.

“When was this decided?” I asked and everyone snapped from their trance toward me. I could see some scowls on the faces of the men.

“Sorry?” Ben said.

“Don’t the board get to decide whether we can partner with someone else?” I asked. That damn smirk again on his stupid face.

“Look, Oli? Is it?”

“Oliver,” I deadpanned.

“Right. You must not know how the corporate system works. I will not fly all the way from Paris if this deal hadn’t been closed.”

“I was not privy to any information and I would know.”

“Well, it says in the communique that was sent to me that the board agreed to a partnership with a company based in France that could help push their product.”

I racked my head for any meeting I had attended with such agenda, there was none.

“You’re lying.”

“Liv,” Ben called softly. I snapped toward him and he shook his head gently signaling me not to push it.

“It’s simple, if you weren’t aware of the meeting then you must not have been invited to it.”

“That’s impossible, I have the right to attend all meetings.”

“Yes, general meetings. There are special meetings that your voting rights may not be privy to-“

“I don’t care. I hold ten per cent of this company’s shares, five more than all of them, I should have been informed.”

“It’s rude to cut people off while they are speaking, but I will allow you,” he angled toward his left, “can I see the notice that was given for this meeting?” He said to Betty, she would have gone on her knees and barked like a fucking dog if Harvey asked her to.

She fiddled with her phone and placed it softly on his hand, letting her hand linger for some time.

“Ah, yes. This is a notice for a special to be held on the 12th of October, 2026, to reveal the partnership with a formidable France company…” he continued to drone.

“It’s a good thing you have eyes and can read,” I stated.

“Oh, dearie, I was reading it for you. You see, this tantrum you are throwing right now wasn’t listed on the agenda for the special meeting, and only items that have been listed in the agenda will be discussed. You may hold ten percent of the company’s shares, but you don’t know jack about the corporate world. This isn’t bar.”

This was it, this was when Ben would get up and slam his fist into this fool’s face.

“Can you both stop? Look, we both need this partnership and I suggest that we put on our professional coats and forge ahead. Oliver, Harvey is right, we cannot discuss things outside the agenda and Harvey? Take it easy on him, he is catching up, okay?”

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

My cheeks flushed with shame which was amplified by the snickers beside me. I wanted to push off this fucking table, run into the bathroom and bawl my eyes out. Harvey leaned into his seat with a satisfactory smile on his face.

The words began to swim around me, muffled as I fought the urge not to cry. The sound of applause rattled me out of my reverie. I snapped toward Harvey and the smile was gone, replaced with a glint of something ominous…something dark.

Ben was smiling and staring at me, breathing like he had overcome a great feat. Why was everyone also staring at me?

“Congratulations, boss.”

“A wedding? Congratulations, man,” and other variations filled the room. Great, I had missed it.

“Well, I guess we are done here?” I said and pushed my chair backward. The applause died down as I gathered my things.

“Liv?” Ben called gently, “aren’t we done with the agenda?” the word left a bad taste in my mouth.

“I mean, we are, but won’t you say anything?” Ben asked. What did he expect me to say? I kissed my teeth and continued packing. Harvey stood to his feet and rounded the table, taking my hands from the table into a firm handshake.

“Congratulations on your wedding,” he smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He squeezed firmer till my bones started to hurt and I had to snatch my hand away from him.

“I will see you there,” he said.

“You’re not fucking invited,” I brushed past him and out of the room.