Chapter 12
I sat at my desk, the dim light of my office casting long shadows across the room as I reviewed the documents spread out before me.
The merger with Bass Banking was solid—every number, every projection, every piece of data pointed to a smart, stable investment.
It was a smaller company, yes, but it had the potential to expand Ashworth Financial's portfolio.
My fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk as I considered the proposal.
Vaughn had been less than enthusiastic when I first brought it up, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand and a muttered, “It’s not worth the effort.
” But I knew better. I saw the potential that he either couldn’t—or wouldn’t—see.
A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Vaughn leaning against the frame, his expression one of casual indifference. “Busy?” he asked, his tone almost bored.
“Just going over the merger,” I replied, my voice steady as I pushed the documents slightly to the side. “You know, the one you’re not impressed with.”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and walked over to my desk. “Bass Banking,” he said, more a statement than a question. He picked up one of the files, flipping through it with an air of disinterest. “I still don’t see the appeal, Joey.”
“It’s stable,” I countered, leaning back in my chair as I watched him. “Their figures are strong, their assets are solid, and they have a loyal customer base. It’s exactly the kind of company we need to diversify our holdings.”
Vaughn raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Stable doesn’t mean exciting. It’s a small fish in a big pond. I’m not sure it’s worth the resources.”
I crossed my arms, meeting his gaze head-on. “Not every deal needs to be a headline-grabbing acquisition. Sometimes the smart move is the one that quietly strengthens our foundation.”
He tossed the file back onto my desk, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “You’re passionate about this one, I’ll give you that. But passion doesn’t always translate to profit.”
I leaned forward, placing my hands on the desk.
“This isn’t just about passion, Vaughn. It’s about foresight.
Bass Banking has been around for decades.
They’ve survived economic downturns, they’ve maintained steady growth, and they’ve built trust with their clients.
That kind of stability is exactly what Ashworth Financial needs right now. ”
His smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more contemplative expression. “You really think this is the right move?”
“I know it is,” I said firmly. “This isn’t about making a splash—it’s about long-term gains. And when this merger pays off, Ashworth Financial will be stronger for it.”
Vaughn studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to see through me. Finally, he sighed and straightened up. “You’re really going to push this through, aren’t you?”
I nodded, determination hardening my voice. “Yes, I am. And you should back me on this.”
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly. “You’re relentless, Joey. I almost admire that.”
“Almost?” I quipped, raising an eyebrow.
His gaze flickered over me, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Just don’t let your determination blind you, Josephine. Sometimes the things we think are stable have cracks hidden beneath the surface.”
I met his gaze, unflinching. “I’ll take my chances.”
He stared at me a moment longer, then nodded slowly. “Fine. I’ll back you. But don’t expect me to save you if this all goes south.”
“I don’t need saving, Vaughn,” I replied, my voice cool and confident. “I need you to trust that I know what I’m doing.”
He didn’t respond immediately, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor, a hint of grudging respect. “All right,” he finally said, turning toward the door. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
As the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Vaughn might not have been convinced, but I knew this merger was the right move. And I was determined to see it through, no matter what obstacles stood in my way.
I didn’t see Vaughn for three days after our heated discussion, that was perfectly fine with me.
He’d flown to the London office to check on operations, a trip I had no desire to make.
I hated traveling, and with the weight of the merger on my shoulders, it was better he went anyway.
When he returned Thursday evening, I was just finishing up for the day.
The autumn days were growing shorter, and darkness had already settled outside by the time I packed up my laptop.
The office was eerily quiet when Vaughn stepped into my space, holding a crystal glass filled with amber liquid. He smirked, and my heart skipped a beat—a familiar unease creeping in. Vaughn was up to something.
“How was London?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.
“Perfect,” he replied, taking a leisurely sip from his glass. “I do love visiting. The new employee in accounting had no problem joining me for dinner.”
I sighed, leaning back in my chair, feeling the tension coil in my chest. “Are you looking for a lawsuit? With the merger, we can’t afford any problems.”
I rose, walking over to the small refrigerator built into the cabinets to grab a bottle of water. But before I could twist off the cap, Vaughn moved in behind me, his presence suffocating. His hand curled around my ponytail, his fingers sliding through the strands.
“My behavior is the last thing that will tank the merger,” he whispered in my ear, his voice a low, dangerous murmur. “You should’ve dug deeper, Joey.”
A shiver ran down my spine. There was nothing wrong with the merger—I had done my homework. Bass Banking was perfect. But as his lips brushed against my neck, his breath hot and moist against my skin, doubt began to creep in. I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, holding me in place.
“Stop, Vaughn,” I demanded, my voice trembling.
He ignored me, his mouth moving to my earlobe, sucking it into his mouth along with the diamond stud I wore. His breath sent a shudder through me, and I could barely keep my thoughts straight as his words sliced through my confidence.
“You didn’t,” he taunted. “Did you know Archie Bass is about to be arrested for sexual assault? Apparently, he made some unwanted advances toward his daughter’s nanny.”
I sucked in a breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “No,” I gasped, my voice barely a whisper. “You’re lying.”
If Archie Bass were arrested, it would be splashed across every news outlet in the country. The merger would be dead in the water, and Bass Banking’s stock would plummet, making it a worthless investment.
“I’m not,” Vaughn replied, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “Colson had private investigators on payroll for this very reason. I kept them on because I won’t allow a merger without a full profile of those running the companies we plan to acquire.”
My hand flew to my mouth, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. “I checked everything.”
“This was hush-hush,” he said, his tone almost mocking.
“Archie’s been keeping it quiet, waiting for the merger to go through before his arrest. He’s got friends in the department and the DA’s office.
He plans to offer the nanny a large sum to keep her mouth shut, and I doubt she’ll turn it down. It would help her family.”
“Vaughn…” I whimpered, the water bottle slipping from my fingers and hitting the floor with a dull thud. I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against the cool cabinet, the weight of my failure crashing down on me.
Vaughn set his glass down on the shelf and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. His scent—clean, masculine—was intoxicating, and despite everything, I found myself sinking into his embrace.
“Colson didn’t teach you everything,” he murmured against my ear. “Sometimes you need to be ruthless to advance.”
I clung to him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine.
It felt good—too good—to have a man’s arms around me, but I knew better.
Vaughn was a snake, and this moment of comfort would come at a price.
He would never let me live this down. He would use it against me, maybe even to push me out of my position and take control as sole CEO.
“What do I do?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
“We withdraw the offer,” Vaughn said, his tone firm and decisive. “I’ll handle it. Archie’s in for a rude awakening if he thinks he’s going to take advantage.”
“Vaughn…”
He tightened his hold on me, silencing my protest. “Shh. I got you.”
He had me—but for how long? The fear gnawed at me. Would he blackmail me? This was huge, and the board could easily remove me for such a colossal oversight. The realization of how much power Vaughn now held over me was terrifying, and I knew I couldn’t afford to underestimate him ever again.
I spent the night in my room at the mansion, the weight of my failure pressing down on me like a stone.
When I heard Easton’s door open, I couldn’t hold back any longer.
I slipped through the connecting closet and entered his room, my heart pounding.
The moment I saw him, the dam broke, and I burst into tears.
I knew Vaughn wouldn’t have told him about my colossal mistake—Easton wasn’t one to involve himself in the company’s inner workings, preferring to steer clear of the drama that often swirled around Ashworth Financial.
As Vice President of Sales, his focus was elsewhere, but right now, I needed him.
“Joey, what’s wrong?” he asked, concern etched in his features as he immediately wrapped his arms around me.
“I—I fucked up,” I choked out, my voice trembling with the weight of my guilt.
“How?” he asked gently, guiding me to his bed. He sat me down and took my hand in his, his touch steady and reassuring.
I took a shaky breath and began to tell him everything—the merger, the revelation about Archie Bass, Vaughn’s knowledge of it all. Easton listened quietly, his expression softening into sympathy as I stumbled through the details.
“It could’ve happened to anyone, Joey,” he said softly when I finally finished. “You didn’t know.”
“Vaughn did,” I muttered, wiping away the tears that wouldn’t stop falling.
Easton stroked my hair, his touch soothing. “He’s had more experience. Do you know he’s been working with my father since he was fifteen? Summers in the office, handling things when my father was traveling. Vaughn was his eyes and ears.”
I looked up at him, surprised. I hadn’t known any of that.
To me, Vaughn had always been a looming presence, someone who seemed to be everywhere I was—walking the gardens, swimming in the pool.
I used to think he was just lurking, but now I realized he had been absorbing everything.
He had been obsessed with me for years, and now he held my career in his hands.
“I’m unfit to run the company,” I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “I want to turn it over to Vaughn.”
“No,” Easton said firmly, shaking his head. “You can’t do that. This is just one mistake.”
I bit my lip, doubt gnawing at me. “It was a big one. I think I need some time.”
Easton frowned, his grip on my hand tightening. “What kind of time?”
“To be alone,” I said, the words coming out in a rush. “I’ve spent my days buried in the office and my nights crying over Colson. I don’t think I’ve taken the time to really grieve, to process everything. I’m sad, Easton. I’m so damn sad.”
He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of understanding and worry. “Joey, you don’t have to do this alone.”
“I know,” I whispered, tears welling up again. “But I don’t know how to stop feeling this way.”
He pulled me into his arms, holding me close as I clung to him, my body trembling with the weight of everything I had been holding inside.
For a moment, I let myself lean on him, feeling the comfort of his embrace.
But even as I did, I couldn’t shake the fear that I was losing control, that this was just the beginning of a downward spiral I might not be able to pull out of.