Chapter 5 #2
Grant heaved a sigh as his legal team tried a last-ditch effort that would likely cost him in the end, anyway, when it was revealed that Lydia had some involvement in Julex.
“I think you’ll find that you are in the minority, Mitch,” Lydia said. “Now, can we proceed.”
The double doors opened, and Evie scurried in, approaching Mitchell. She leaned closer to him, whispering in his hear. “I have the representatives from Julex here.”
Grant’s heart thudded faster at the words. So, in typical theatrical style, Lydia would flex her muscles and send him packing in the most embarrassing defeat possible.
“Show them in,” Mitchell said with a nod.
Evie twisted to face Grant, an encouraging smile on her lips. She reached for his forearm and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
He appreciated the reassurance she was trying to give him, but things looked grimmer now than ever.
“It appears the representatives from Julex have taken an interest in these proceedings. Mrs. Clarke is showing them in now, and once they are settled, we’ll proceed with the vote.”
“Good, this company shouldn’t have to wait any longer for a savior,” Lydia said.
The ticking clocked marked the agonizingly slow passage of time as he waited for the other majority shareholder to be shown into the room. His mind stretched as he searched options for who Lydia would have teamed up with. Luke?
That would be her style. He’d lose his company to the man he’d stolen Julia from. At least he’d gotten her, which was likely the better end of the deal.
Mitchell tugged two chairs closer to the table, sliding his down closer to Grant. After what seemed like an eternity, the doors popped open again. Evie stepped inside with a grin as she motioned toward the table. “Right this way.”
Grant slid his eyes closed, not wanting to see Julia’s former flame walk into the board room to rip his company from him.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Lydia’s voice exclaimed.
Was she really going to put on an Oscar-worthy performance and act like she had no idea what was happening?
“Sorry, Iron Lady, but the jokes on you,” a voice answered.
Grant opened his eyes, snapping his gaze toward it, his jaw unhinging as he spotted Julia with Alex Stone. He leaned closer to her. “Julia? What are you doing here?”
“Giving you the twenty percent you need plus five more,” she whispered.
“OMG!” Alexander shouted. “Alex Stone?”
The man leaned back in his chair, a smug expression on his face. “In the flesh.”
“Oh, wow, no way. Oh, this is so cool. Oh…” Alexander leaned across the table, extending his hand. “I’m Alexander Knight.”
“Of KnightRide, yeah, I’m aware,” Alex said, refusing to take his hand.
“Sorry, I’m just…fan-girling big time here. I mean…ha! I never thought I’d be sitting across the table from Wired magazine’s man of the decade. And…the…what? Sixth youngest billionaire?”
“Fifth, but…who’s counting?” Alex said with a smile.
“I think we need a minute,” Lydia said, pushing away from the table.
“No,” Grant said with a shake of his head. With their twenty-five percent and his nineteen, they had close to a majority on their own. They’d only need seven percent more to maintain control, and he had it. “You wanted a vote, Lydia, you’ve got one.”
“Obviously, we need to give these folks some time to settle in–”
“We’re perfectly fine,” Alex assured her. “I’m ready to vote.”
“Maybe we ought to hear from Julex about their thoughts on this situation,” Caroline said.
Lydia frowned at her. “That’s not necessary.”
“Well, he is the man of the decade,” Caroline pointed out. “Obviously, StoneCorp’s CEO himself knows how to run a successful company. His thoughts could make a difference.”
“I’d love to share,” the shaggy-haired man said as he tipped his chair back.
“I’ll admit, I had some…reservations about what would be best as I entered the energy sector.
But this company was built on innovation and integrity, two things that are vital to any leadership team.
Which is why Julex will throw its twenty-five percent behind Big G. ”
Mitchell nodded as he jotted a note on his legal pad. “HG currently owns nineteen percent of its own stock, voted by the executive team for Grant to remain CEO. That’s forty-four percent. Lydia, I assume your twenty-five percent goes against him?”
The angry glare she shot him before she hissed out, “Yes,” was terrifying.
“I control a five percent block,” Caroline announced, “and my vote is Grant.”
After two more board members, loyal to him, put their votes behind him, he’d secured the majority. All other votes became moot, and the meeting officials adjourned shortly after.
Lydia rose from her chair and stormed from the room, leaving her new husband behind. He raced around the table toward Alex. “So, is there any chance–”
Lydia returned, grabbing him by the ear and tugging him toward the door.
Mitchell rose from his chair, thrusting his hand toward Grant. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Grant said with a relieved grin as he stood and shook his chief legal counsel’s hand.
“We’ll discuss a way to move forward so this can’t happen again tomorrow. Enjoy your win tonight.”
Grant bobbed his head at the man. They’d dodged a bullet, and he wanted nothing more than to celebrate with the woman who had handed him the win on a silver platter.
Julia offered Grant a triumphant smile as she stepped toward him. “Congratulations.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “Thank you. For both the congratulations and the save. I’m dying to know how you pulled this off.”
She sucked in a breath as the last few board members wandered from the room. “That’s actually all thanks to Alex. He offered, and I took him up on it.”
Alex Stone wasn’t his favorite man, but he now owed him for three favors–Sierra’s photos, Kyle’s life, and now his company.
“I really thought Julex was Lydia-controlled. I expected Luke to walk back through that door and vote her way.”
Alex snorted a laugh from behind her. “Julex is a lovely amalgamation of Julia’s name with mine. Fitting, I thought.”
“Very,” Grant said as he pried his hands away from his wife and extended one toward the man. “Thank you for this. It seems I now owe you on several fronts.”
“Say, Sunshine, mind if I have a private word with the ball and chain?”
“Not at all. I’ll wait for you in your office.” She kissed his cheek before she left them behind.
Grant sucked in a breath as the door thudded softly closed behind her. “I really do need to say thank you in person about what you did for Kyle.”
“Like I told your better half, I’m fond of the little Grantling.”
“Well, he probably wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for you.”
“And Julia. She showed no fear in making sure Neanderthal Knuckles didn’t finish the job.”
“Yeah, and she nearly got hurt herself. I hope this never happens again, but if it ever does, please call me. Julia never should have been inside that building.”
Alex knitted his brows at the words.
“Come on, you can’t seriously think she should have been.”
“Well, I view Julia as a strong, competent woman who can take care of herself. Not a child.”
Grant’s shoulders slouched. “Alex, you can’t tell me you’d be okay if it was your wife facing that.”
“My dude, Ava is far better equipped to handle that situation than I am, to be frank. Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. What I wanted to discuss was this…predicament.”
“Yeah, sorry, we’ll agree to disagree on what our wives should and should not be handling. Again, thank you for the show of support and the stock buy up.”
Alex bobbed his head up and down. “I did it for Julia. In fact, while we’re being honest, I wanted her as CEO, but she insisted you were the better candidate.
I trust her judgment, so I went along with it.
You’ve got your second chance. Now get your head out of your you-know-where, and shut the former missus down for good before she takes something you can’t replace.
But trust me, I learned the hard way that being at the top means you’re a target. ”
The man’s serious expression gave way to a grin as he clapped Grant on the shoulder. “Congratulations, Grantster. See you at home. Oh, Julia may not have mentioned it, but I’ll be staying with you for a few days.”
He grinned at him as he backed to the door and pushed into the hall.
Grant heaved a sigh. Despite the difficult interactions, he’d won. His company was safe, and he remained in control. They’d finally beat DG Industries at its own game.
All that remained was putting Lydia behind bars for her role in the hostage situation and all of her many other crimes. Maybe now they could finally get their lives back on track.
As he sank into the chair, taking a moment to appreciate his win, his phone chimed. He tugged it from his pocket, expecting a congratulations text from someone. His features twisted into a frown as he spotted the unexpected text from a restricted number. You think you won, but you’ll pay for this.
His fingers tightened around the phone as the threat hung heavy. The room, suddenly feeling colder, pressed in around him. He’d defeated Lydia, but had he made her more dangerous than she’d already been?