Merging Hearts (Smitten Hearts #1)

Chapter Seven

Rain

“Dad? What are you doing here?” I ask when I push open my office door and find him looking around my office.

It’s been a week of crazy work hours, with back to back meetings, and I just arrived from the third one of the day –the Kings House meeting that was postponed last week. I haven’t met with Renzo since his drama in my office, and fortunately for him, he hasn’t mentioned our discussion and the woman, in our group chat with Knox and Anton.

“I must say, you’ve outdone yourself with this office.” Dad ignores my question and continues touring around, his eyes lingering on my glass topped desk. It has always been a show stealing centerpiece that receives compliments from anyone who enters my office.

It cost me about seventy thousand dollars, and it’s worth it.

My Dad stands by the panoramic windows, his gaze sweeping across the bright view outside. I can’t help but feel a surge of pride as I take in his approving smile. A lot has been renovated, from the furniture to the leathers, since he handed me the office, and his approval is something I didn’t know I needed.

“I’m sure you didn’t come to admire my office though,” I say, walking closer to him.

He chuckles and pats me on my back. “Your attention is required in the conference room.” Then he’s gone, leaving me to wonder what the hell that is.

Though we still co-own the company, he barely comes unless there’s something important going on.

Have I missed something happening in the company?

I would never. This whole empire is my life. I give it my all.

I make my way into the conference room and Tia trails behind me as usual, with files in her hand. “Is something happening, sir? Big Sir is here.”

“I don’t know,” I answer truthfully.

Could he be here because I withdrew the company shares from Starlinq Industries? Did Reed Davins call him? A laugh threatens to break out. If that is why he’s here, then he’s going to return home with the same answer.

No.

Those assholes tried to trick me. They told me something on phone and sent a whole new project urgently asking for my signature like I wouldn’t read whatever I’d be signing for.

I enter the room and my eyes blur with the amount of people in there. The whole Florida’s branch departmental staff, the major shareholders and even the press.

Okay, this is big.

My Dad sits on the higher chair with Renzo on his left. I take the right seat and raise an eyebrow to Renzo who shrugs. The asshole. He won’t be here if he doesn’t know.

My Dad still has a smile stamped on his face, but that can’t fool me. He always has a calm demeanor, even when he’s angry and that makes him scarier than I who have a scowl on all the time.

“Thank you all for honoring me and attending this shotgun meeting.” He starts and wags two fingers at my assistant who walks to him with a smile on her face and files in her hand. I narrow my eyes on her.

Am I being betrayed at the moment?

My Dad collects the files and walks to the high table. “ As you all know my first son has been doing really well and thanks to him, I’m so lazy that I don’t ever have to worry about this company because I know it’s in good hands.” Murmurs fly across the room accompanied by several heads nodding in agreement.

“Which is why I have decided to step down and give up my part of the company to him. Which means that I’m now officially retiring and handing over the whole Dacosta Technology, home and abroad, to my first son, Rain Dacosta.” Applauds run across the room, while Tia and Renzo laugh, their claps louder than the others.

They’re both aware.

But why would my Dad do this? He knows how much I detest surprises. I’d rather have a full knowledge of what’s happening around me.

He inclines his head to me and I walk up to him. He signs his retirement papers and we both sign the Change Of Ownership papers in front of the press.

It really is happening. My Dad is handing the company to me like his Dad did to him years ago.

It’s even happening earlier for me, because my Dad got the company when he was a little over forty.

The media gushes around us, asking how we both felt and I can’t even be bothered to fake a smile on my face. I watch as Renzo makes the hand and mouth motion for me to smile and I glare at him.

He has a whole lot of explanation as to why he allowed this albeit knowing I hate surprises.

“You keep mentioning your first son, but we all know there can’t be a first without a second. If you truly believe that you have two sons, then why are you giving the whole company to only one of them?” Someone decides to say something over the celebration, and it isn’t one of the paparazzi personnels who are known to spit stupid questions, it’s one of the major shareholders on the seat.

A frown appears on my Dad’s face as his forehead creases and I glance at Renzo who shifts on his chair. I can tell he’s starting to get uncomfortable. He’s a sensitive person and words easily get to him.

“I don’t understand what you mean, Mr Stone. My second son, Renzo Dacosta, is a really successful fashion illustrator. In fact, magazines have numbered him six in Top Ten America’s Richest Fashion Illustrator of the year. I hope you do your findings well and realize that I support my children in whatever they do. Renzo is my son and he means exactly what Rain and Reina mean to me. I beg that you do not bring this up.” Mr Stone gives a stiff nod and the meeting continues.

After the meeting, the conference continues to hold for me to make my speech. My Dad and Renzo, on the other hand, had to go. My Dad; because he has a golf game appointment, and Renzo; because Mom is still keen about feeding him until he ‘recovers’ and apparently, his lunch alarm went off.

I’m never visiting her after returning from a trip.

“—thank you and I hope we work well together,” I round up my speech and they all clap. “With that being said. Mr Stone, I’d like for you to withdraw your shares away from Dacosta Technology or sell it to another shareholder.”

Gasps bounce from wall to wall, everyone shares eye contact with each other, and clicks of camera and white flashlights blind me.

Shocked is an understatement to describe Mr Stone. His jaw hit the floor and blood physically drains from his face.

He’s the same age as my Dad, and as a sign of respect, I should have called him into my office or written him a letter, but I prefer making him a public disgrace, like the one he tried to make my brother.

“What?” he asks barely audibly.

“I’d like for you, Mr Stone, to withdraw your shares from the company. Other than that, the HR and I will have to reconsider working with your firm again.” I repeat, voice stern, eyes hard.

“You can’t do that. I own one of the largest shares in this company.”

He does. His shares are worth over eight hundred million dollars, right below my Dad who has a billion, but I can survive the hit. What I cannot survive is a man who insults my family in my presence and thinks he can get away with it.

Since I already started my training to take over Dacosta Technology, Dad didn’t mind what Renzo wanted to be and he supported us all.

What matters is that the legacy is saved and everyone is happy. Renzo is a part of my family, and there’s nothing a stranger can say to change that. However, I’ll be teaching this particular stranger a lesson.

“I know, but I still stand on my decision,”

“I’m calling your father right now.” He starts to click furiously on his phone.

“Did you think you were here for a movie premier?” Snorts are heard around the room and I wave a file at him, though it’s not the papers I signed because Dad took it to get his own copy. “This belongs to me now, which means that like everyone else in this room, my Dad is only a shareholder and what do shareholders do? They suggest. I know you are smart enough to not make a bigger fool of yourself. Sell your shares immediately before the company decides to step on it.” I warn, my eyes darkening in a barely-controlled anger.

“Any other thing?” I ask the murmur filled room. “I hope we all have a nice day then.” Tia walks to me to arrange the files while I shake the hands of the board members one after the other. I get to Mr Stone’s table and hold his hand in mine, ignoring the anger and shame on his face.

“Don’t make me dig up dirt on you, Stone.” I whisper, throwing a fake smile at the camera. “I don’t know what it is yet, but I know I won’t have to look too far for it. Sell your shares.” I tap his back and make my way outside, Tia still trailing behind me. “So you knew.”

“I’m sorry sir,” she says in a tone that says she’s not sorry at all. “It was meant to be a surprise.”

A surprise. I can’t push it out of my head that this surprise worries me. It gives me anxiety and I’m hating how I feel. I hope I don’t regret putting my signatures on those papers.

It’s the first time I didn’t read the papers before signing, and it’s not helping that I don’t have it with me because my Dad needs to make his own copy of it, something that should have been done before.

What’s with the shotgun inheritance giveaway?

My phone beeps, breaking me from my thoughts. It’s a message from Anton.

ANTON: Hey Rain, we all can’t make it tonight because Knox won’t be available again. We’ll reschedule. Congratulations by the way. Renzo told me.